The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-03
CONGRESSMAN WILEY'S FRIENDS
 AT WORK IN HIS BEHALF
His Denomination by an Increased Majority April II is Looked Upcn as Certain---SecOnd District Representatives. Work in Behalf of GOVern-
 ment Aid for the Public Highways.

While Colonel A. 4. Wiley, the able and energetic Congressman from the Sec ond district is in Washington attending to his duties, his friends all over the dis trict are looking after his interests and will cee to 1t that he Is renominated by an increased majority on the 11th of April to succeed himself in place he has so acceptably, so conscientiously and so faithfully filled. colonel Wiley was fore ed to return to Washington after day or so spent at home, coming to Alabama to accompany the remains of his beloved and honored colleague to their last rest ing place at Tuskegee. as chairman of the committee as funeral escort, for the reason that he is charged with the addi- tional duty of looking after the inter ests of the Fifth district a responsibility and charge put upon by the request of Colonel Thompson, who knew, that be- cause of their close personal relations that Colonel Wiley knew more about the business he left undone than did anybody else. Besides there are many important matters in his own district demanding his attention, and the people will not for get public servant, who looks after the business of his constituents and while he is doing that his people will take care of his interests at home.
 For Good Roads.
 Colonel Wiley is one of the most enter prising and public spirited citizens. and he keeps hss prop srty in the best repairs and in perfect order all the while. He has all along known the value of good public roads and has favored their bet torment and improvement in both branches of the Legislature, and Is advo- eating government aid for the same cause upon the reminder that the we'll being A. fa. upon good public thoroughfares.' The movement IS growing more and more pop ular in Alabama every uay and the man who would keep pace with the times must stand for better roads or else get left in the rapid march of progress and advancement that is now characterizing all of our people.
 For Good Roads.
 On the 17th of March, Colonel Wiley spoke on good roads in the House. and a copy of that speech has been sent to al- most every voter in the Second district, and they should take the time and trou- ole to read it, to get the full views of our Congressman upon that question. Clearly defining his position upon the question. Colonel Wiley said:
 'In asking that tre revenues of the national government be applied in part to ne improvement of our public roads throughout the Union the only eensible and practical thing to do. in the first in- stance. Is to have the Census Bureau gather the data here called for, in order that we may have some intelligent ap- preciation of the probable cost of con struction. as we'll as maintenance, of a well-devised system of public highways, both on the part of the Federal govern ment and the different communities l through which these great thoroughfares are to be built and kept in repair. The scheme, however, is not free from diff clf.y.
 There are two bills pending in Con- gress-one H. R. S5, introduced in the House by Mir. Brownlow, of Tennessee. and the other, s. 409S. introduced In the Senate by MT. Latimer, of South Caro- lima. The provisions O. both these bills are substantially the same.
 q want to say, in this connection, that am in favor of some uniform system of granting government aid in the construc- ton of public roads, over which the Unit ed States mails are to be carried, at the least possible cost to the taxpayer. To this end I am willing to werk with un- Tagging zeal Twelve years ago I in- troduced in the Alabama Legislature, of which I was a member, bill, which be- came law, to authorize the board of revenue of Montgomery county to issue $3O0 900 of longtime bonds, bearing low rate of interest, and subsequently, $l00,- oO0 of like securities, aggregatlng s450,OOO. the proceeds of which were to be applied and were applied to the construction of our present magnificent system of public highways. which are to be found in every direction in my home county.
 While under the constitution of Ala bama, the various counties and munich pallties, under certain limitations, may engage in works of internal improvement, the sovereign State itself can not lend its aid for any such purpose.
 ''To harmonize the different and con- fiicting constitutions of the various States in such manner that uniform system of constructing and maintaining these pub lie roads is the great obstacle in our path way which Congressional legislation will have to surmount and overcome. It is with this end in view that have offered the resolution which I have just read in your hearing.
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