The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-31
Refusal Of Virginia Senate to.
Instruct for BrownlowaBill
Causes Comment.
The QUESTION OF
CONvlCTs LABOR
Representative Bartholdt Sees in
Proposition for Good Roads
the Settlement Of Vcxing
Problem Of Prison Labor.
Work Them on the
Roads.

(From Our Regular Correspondents 5

(From Our Regular Correspondent)
US INASHINGTON, y. c.. Jan. 30.-The &C.
tion OF the Virginia Senate in refusing to
instruct the senators from Virginia to
vote for the Brownlow bill. making an
appropriation for the building OF high
ways In tho rural districts, has been
mucli discussed to-day. Representative
Rixcy. OF Virginia, IS in favor Of the
proposition to have tho national govern
ment undertake the Improvement OF the
roads OF tho United States. although he
is not committed to any particular plan
by which this is 10 be accomplished.
81 have not given critical examination
to the different bills which have been
introduced. one by Representative Brown.
low. and another By Senator Latimer. OF
South Carolina. and, perhaps other bills. =
said Representative Rixeys to-day, .'but l
am in favor OF the general proposition OF
national, aid to the States and counties in
the building OF important roads, and cx-
pect to supportEithe proposition hooking
Il TO tina t end. \ believe that the farming
communities would in this way derive
more benefit than from any other, way
In which appropria tons could be applied
With the exception OF Tho postal facilities
1t Is probable that tho agricultural classes
receive less benents In proportion 70 the
taxes paid than any other class Of the
people.
The making and Improvement of the
highways Will require an ex-
Fpcndturc of money which think is be-
yond tho ability OF the loca! communities
TO bear, and for that reason favor
State aid and national aid"
Too Much Money.
Representative Thnyer, OF Massachu-
setts, is In favor of government aid for
highway improvements, but thinks that
the amount contemplated to be expended
Is too high. and that the experiment
should be tried with much less amount
of money. Later the appropriations could
be increased as the experience justified.
lie spoke OF the Improvement OF the
roads in Massachusetts, and said they
were the best roads In the country. In
this work the State had aided tho various
communities.
civilization OF this country any better
than the improvement OF the highways
he said After We entered upon the I'M
proyemont Of tho roads with State aid, it
marked an advancement that has been
hardly cqualcd in any form in any State
of the country"
Representative Curtis, Of Kansas, said: !:
II think that the government can't do
too much toward assisting the various
States in having the very best roads. and
< + think tho congressman and leading
citizens of the States should take an In
terest in the matter and do all they could
to have the very best roads possible in
each community. I have been reading
very carefully the proceedings OF the
Z Good Roads Association, and was we'll
pleased with tho splendid advancement
that it has made, thing .hat Congress
should take the matter up and give the
bills that arc now pending before 1t very
careful consideration"
For Home Folks. s
''r am lii favor OF the general idea OF
the good roads bills that have been In
troduccd In Songress," said Representa-
tive Griffith. OF lndiann. "Ever since
have been In Congress we, have been
spending vast sums Of money for the
peopIe OF Porto Rico, Cuba the Philip
pines and Hawaii. and nm Very anxious
To SEQ some money appropriated hero AT
home where the 4Ircct benefits will be
given to our own people. see no reason
why the idea Is not practicable and II
might be considered as akin to the rural
free mail system.
Representative Taylor, .& or Aabnma,
said: II am in favor of national aid to
good roads. regard the good roads I'm
provement MS of equal Importance With
tho river and harbor improvements
Transportation Is In my judgment an ex'
ceedingly important factor In our clyili'
zation, and good roads is one Of the
chief factors In farm transportation, Ny
opinion Is that the cost of production
can bo reduced at least twenty-five pei
cent, probably thirty-three and one-thirG
per cont, by Improvement In the -roa6
systems Of tho country. think there
should be at least system of roads thai
will connect the courthouses OF, every
county In tho State where travel can bs
had easily and rapidly without the neces
sity for steam and rail-"
Representative Bartholdt. of Missouri:
& "While am thoroughly In favor Of the
national government going to the constl
tltional limit In aiding the construction
of good roads all over the county, also
see In this proposition for good roads
a timely chance, and. IN fact, tho only
means to solve the YeIed question ol
prison labor. The goods manufactured tr
the prisons of the country are now &
menace to free labor, for the reason thai
the latter cannot compete with conylcts
and, therefore,, 1t is my, deliberate judg
ment that we should no longer turn prts
ons into factories, but employ our con
yicts all over the country IN the makini
aud Improving Of our hishways ans
r roads, " 54 lsfy NJ q ff AS AZ n Il !.