The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-30
FOR CONGRESSIONAL ATTENTION.


The immense revenues of the Government
are drawn as much from the agricultural areas
as from all other sources combined, and yet it
is a matter that cannot escape emphatic men
tion. that in the distribution Of this treasure
not ten per cent. Of it is expended in the rural
districts. The cities and greater towns get the
lions share. This discrimination has resulted
very largely from lack of attention and con-
sideration.
The time has come when Congress should do
something directly beneficial to the farming
classes, and that thing can best be done by ex-
tending the aid of the general Government to
the states in road construction and improve
ment. The proposition to do so, in the form
of what is now commonly known as the
Brownlow- Latimer bill, has been generally
discussed by the press. and has been endorsed
by the National Grange, the National Good
Roads Association, by farmers societies. coun-
ty organizations, state legislatures, state school
officers and college presidents Of eminent char
acter, by leading ministers of the many
churches, by state governors, county officials,
legal bodies. medical societies. trade and labor
organizations, and by the President Of the
United States, who declared in a speech two
years ago that thepeopie had right to demand
it. Everywhere throughout the country 1t is
considered only right that the Government
should contribute share to the necessary inn
provement of the highways. The Government
has expended several millions in road making
in Porto Rico and the Philippines.
That our own people need good roads no sane
man will question. That they are entitled to
the Governments first thought and liberality
no true American will dispute. Congress has
munifcentIy fostered every industry but agri-
culture. Agriculture has been left 10 work out
its own salvation as best it could, under most
disheartening conditions. Indeed, any other
industry with similar unfavorable environ
ments would long since have been abandoned.
Even the manufacturing interests recognize the
inequality put upon farmers in this road build
ing business. 1t is not very long since that the
president of the St. Louis Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION took the position in public speech
that the agricultural interests, which have SO
long borne the burden of tariff taxation in sup
port of the manufacturing interests of the
country, are now entitled to reciprocal benefits
in the way of Government aid in building up
and permanently improving the public high
ways. We quote his words:
ut was the early and continued policy of the
United States to foster and encourage manu-.
featuring. even as a recognized burden upon
agriculture and commerce, until it should have
its equal share in the progress of the country.
We are now ready to cooperate with the agri-
cultural, commercial, transportation and social
fano
so essential to our continued prosperity. Mod
ern thought and experience has determined
that the only successful method of securing a
system of improved public roads is by national,
state and county CO cooperation. In no other
way can we equalize the burden of their cost
and maintenance. 1t is unjust and inequitable
to lay the burden of cost of improved high
ways upon the agricultural districts. The pub
lie road is the common property of all, and its
cost should be shared by ALL"
We call the attention of Senators and Repre-
sentatives to these thoughts from leading
manufacturer for the purpose of showing the
widespread sentiment back of the national aid
proposition. The advancement in social, eco
nomic and educational interests so conducive
to the national welfare demand that the gen.
eral Government give substantial aid to com.
mon road improvement. We cherish the hope
that the Fifty ninth Congress will periodically
view this great question and give the country
the needed relief.