The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-04-20

estopped from making any captiou'
objection to the use of the most Ell
cient means of increasing the interna
commerce of the country by the judi
| ciOus construction of a system o
highways.
THE DOCTRINE OF STATE
RIGHTS
is the most i~nsuperable objection tC
many. If it violate the principal O.
State rights for the General Govern.
ment to build roads, why does not the
improvement of the small river con-
fined to a State violate this principle
also? Does not granting relief to the
sufferers of Galveston and Jackson
vile violate it? Do not the apprO-
priatiOns to expOsitiOnS violate it:
There is no wisdom Dr. common sense
or craftsmanship in urging such OBJ
jectiOns. Craftsmanship adapts it.
self to the requirements and necesS-
tiles of the aye and of the people and
seeks to guide. not to hinder the great
march of development, especially If
such craftsmanship does not violate,
but is in harmony with. the COnstitu-
JlOl Vi tIlc HCIlCI dl NoSCI
Gentlemen of the Convention, every
dollar in the public Treasury of the
United States belongs to the people.
1t should be distributed where it will
be of the greatest benefit to the people.
Not less than $40. 900. 900 should he
appropriated annually to carry on
this most necessary work. and it
should be distributed among the
States in proportion to population.
The Federal law should hold out in
ducements to every political subdivi-
sion of the State. to organize and
raise funds by the issuance of bonds
or by an increased taxation. The
Government, within the limits of the
appropriation for the State, should
contribute an amount equal to that
raised by the political subdivisions
applying for aid. Government en-
gineers should lay out and superin-
tend the construction of these roads.
Whatever the Government does. it
does we'll. No more money should be
wasted with amateur rOad-builderS.
A blind man cannot polish a diamond.
A deaf man cannot use the telephone,
nor an ignorant man translate
l1OAllCI , llldu. AoI oil uIlbI Il
nan build a good road. Whatever
work is done should be permanent.
The French Government spends SlS.-
900. 600 a year upon it's roads, and the
work gives employment to 5000 per-
sons. England spends $15. 900. 900 a
year upon its roads which is 1886 for
every square mile of its territory.
1t should not be forgotten that the
Government alone has the
power to impose tariff duties. This
power was surrendered by the States
upon the adoption of the Constitution.
No direct taxes by the States a ever
be levied great enough to build the
highways of the nation. A
TAX ON MANUFACTURED TOBAC-
imposed by the general Government
yield annually between $4O,-
200. 900 and $50, 900. 600. If this tax.
which was more evenly distributed
han any other, could be set aside for
assistance to the States or
counties in the building of highways,
It would in every way be most bene-
icent and would be felt less than any
that could be levied. In one
decade, by the judicious en-
plOyment of such a tax, the United
States would be as noted for its good
roads as ever Rome was. The Roman
power, which was greater probably
han that of any other ancient nation,
and was made possible by the ex-
,ellence of its roads, which were built
the time of Appius Claudius
Caecus, 2.3OO years before Christ up
o and including the age of Caesars.
No progress IN any nation IA be
made aud no power can be perma-
held without the aid of those
great highways, which add to the
increase the intelligence and
the purpose of the nation.
Rural routes are being established
N every part of our country. They
are powerful auxiliaries to our educa-
institutions in diffusing knOwl-
edge and increasing the intelligence of
the country people. Let these routes
and good roads 60 o with an I'VE
pace until the United Statec reaches
The highest pinnacle ever attained by
any nation on this earth-a nation
that is destined to march onward and
upward from universal liberty and
tolerance to universal good.
School Board Proceedings.
Lafayette, La, April IA, 1904.
At a regular meeting of the
Parish School Board all the