The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-14

first appropriation made was in 1906,
when $4,000 was set aside for the
purpose of commencing work on the
famous old Cumberland road. These
appropriations then continued, with
but little interruption, until May 20.
1893, when the last appropriation of
t.$f50,000 was made, which made the
total amount expended on road con-
struction during this period about
| So, 000, 900.
On March IA, 1913, the House OF
Representatives passed the following
resolution:
Resolved, That Congress has power I'M
! der the Constitution to appropriate money
! Tor the construction of postroads. military
the Improvement of waterways.
! Mr.. President, what was the atti-
tude OF the leading statesmen in the
early days of the Republic? Thomas
Jefferson said, in a letter to Mr.
Lieper, in 1908:
Give us peace till our revenues are lib
Grated from debt, and then, IL war be
| necessary. il can be carried on without
! new tax or loan, and during peace we
may checker out our whole country with
| canals, roads, etc. This is the object to
4 rected
Henry Clay advocated the building
of national roads in speech made
o, III
said
OF all the modes in which a Govern
ment can employ it's surplus revenue
none Is more permanently beneficial than
the soil. it becomes durable part of
| the land itself diffusing comfort and
activity and animation on all sides. The
nrst direct effect is on the agricultural
community. into whose pockets comes the
difference in the expense of transporta-
ton between good and bad ways Thus
-
nour BY the erection of the Cumberland
turnpike should he lessened 81. the pro-
ducer of the article would receive that
- more now than formerly.
In addition to this, Congress has
stronger and more specific warrant
for making this appropriation, under
the authority conferred by the Con-
stitution ito establish post-offices and
post-roads." Cooley, in his book on
Constitutional Law, says:
Every road within a State. including
railroads.. canals, turnpikeS, and naviga-
bic streams. existing or created within
State, becomes postroad, whenever by
me action OF the Postoffice Department,
OF the mails upon over 1t.
Post-roads and public highways are
highways of commerce. as much so
as are railroads or rivers and har-
bors. They are the small arteries OF
our commercial body, which extend
and bring to the market, railroad
station, and wharf the great volume
of the raw products of the country,
which are the real constituent ele-
ments of our commerce. They are
equally indispensable to our CONNER
cial growth and welfare, and are
equally deserving of the fostering
care of our Government.
IL is argued by many that the
question of road Improvement should
be left entirely to the people of the
states. 1t is argued that Federal aid
savors too much of paternalism. and, |
therefore, the general Government
should leave it alone; but this OBJ |
lection is irrational and without |
foundation, 1t is not proposed to ap-
propriate money out of the national |
treasury to aid the people in their |
private business. 1t proposes to ap-
propriate public funds for a public |
purpose, which Is not paternalism. |
Before any State can secure its share.
or any portion OF its share, of the |
money appropriated under the Fed
eral aid proposition, it must first
show an equivalent amount of self
help and invite the cooperation of the |
Government. This will be a direct |
stimulus to the States to put forth |
their very best efforts Federal aid. |
therefore, instead of sitting and caus-
ing a relaxation of the efforts of the
people or the States, places a
premium upon their efforts
Congress has been exceedingly gem
erous in it's appropriations for Cuba
Porto Rico, and the Philippines. II
mas spent large sums in these island
territories for internal improve
ments. and much of it has been ex-
pended on the. construction and i'm
proVement of the public roads. These
were made to an alien
people who add but a measer contri-
button TO our national revenues. have
out little more than humanitarian
cla m upon our Government and have
shown no thrift, no spirit of pro-
sreSSlveness. and no industrial enter
prise or aptitude
Tnese appropriations. it would
seem, have found sanction under
our constitution and general pubic
policy If so, then what valid objec-
tion can be interposed to appropriate
ing money for a similar purpose to
our own people. Our own people de-
serve the first consideration at our
hands. They have demonstrated to
the world their superior thrift. en-
ergy. industry, and enterprise. 1t is /
rom them that we derive our nation
al greatness and our national reve-
nueS, and they have a right TO ex-
pect to be first considered and TO re-
ceive even-handed justice from our
Government of its !benevolence and
the distribution of its revenues.
Mr.. President, let US now consid-
er the rural free delivery system.
which Is so intimately connected
with roads. What has been the his
tory of this service? The friends of
this measure were a long time gain
ing the ear Of Congress, and the |
question was agitated many years be-
fore it received legislative approval.
1t was regarded by many an i'm
practical theory, an iridescent dream,
so. TO give il a trial. Congress, in !
1897. appropriated the sum of sac
900, only $4,000 of which was used
the first year. This appropriation
met with such popular favor, and
there was such a demand for rural