The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16
MR. OVERTON ISSUES
 GOOD ROADS ADDRESS

roads is the best that can be devised It has been tried for at least 50 years and the result has shown that the pres ent system of keeping the public roads is a complete failure and miserable makeshift. We expended last year on our roads In cash and statutory labor estimated at 75 cents per day, S1,500,- 900. This large sum was as good as wasted, because the roads are no better at the end of the year than they were at the beginning. This waste of money and labor was the result of lack of system and intelligent direction. With the Overton amendment adopted, and appropriate laws passed to put its pro- visions into operation, system of roads will be evolved that will save all this waste and in few years every county in the state may have good roads if they desire them
 It should be borne in mind that the amendment does not contemplate raising additional revenues or an increase of tax ation. The amendment does not appro- priate one dollar No appropriation can be made effective under 1t, unless there is a surplus in the treasury, above the regular and necessary expenses of the state. A reduction of salary or any ap- propriations for education or for the old soldiers or the insane or any other state institutioniis not contemplated or desired. It may be that the income from manu- featuring establishments in parts of the state have been reduced by reason of the recent panic, but we have not learned that valuations for tax purposes have been reduced or the states revenues de- creased.
 It has been suggested that to appropri- ate the net revenues of the convict fund, or any other appreciable amount, would necessarily result in reducing the appro- priations for schools and the old soldiers. If this were true, the controversy would end here. This suggestion appears to be an effort to misead the voter The last legislature wisely, as we think, largely increased the appropriations for educa- tion all along the line from the univer- sity down to the common schools, includ- ing normal colleges, high schools and az ricultural colleges. After all these had been liberally provided for it proceeded to specifically appropriate more than a,0O0,000 for building and equipping schools and colleges. It will be observed that this large sum must be applied ex- clusively to building and equipping these schools and colleges. To be accurate the following sums were provided to be paid within four years, so that in 1910, the whole appropriation will have been paid and the obligations discharged. The ap- propriations above referred to are as fol- lows:
 University of Alabama . . . S40O 900 Auburn Polytechnic institute :. . . 260 GOO Girls Industrial school :. :. .. .. .. 200, GOO Boys Industrial school .. .. .. .. :. 500C0 Mobile Medical college .. =. .. :. 4, LOGO Deaf and Dumb institute .. .. .... 10000 Tuberculosis sanitarium :. .. .. .. 1000
 Add to the above an appropriation of $50,000 to pay costs and attorneys fees in railroad rate litigation and numerous other small amounts and there is consid- erably more than s1,0OO,Ooo
 This is more than $250000 annually, and could be after 1910 distributed among the counties for road building and repairs. Besides the increase in revenues will be largely augmented on account of in- creased valuation on tangible and intan- gible property, and numerous other sources from which revenue will be de- rived heretofore untaxed and provided for by the tax laws of the last legisla- ture. The increase from all sources Is es- timated to be in excess of $1 000, GOO, and a large part of this su mean be appropri- ated under the provisions of the Overton amendment to road work. With these nu- deniable facts before us we necessarily large part or Ifl1S Bun Cd0 D05 appTOpT1- ly able to appropriate literally to road building, and at the same time. If de- sired, increase the appropriations to com mon schools
 It should be remembered in this con- nection that the state democratic con- vention in September, 1906, adopted the following resolutions:
 Resolved, CD That we favor the building of good roads and highways throughout the state of Alabama O. That we favor as liberal appropriations by the state legislature as the treasury can bear without interfering with the appropriations to the Confederate sol- diers and schools, to aid the counties of the state in building good roads,"
 National aid Is in the near future. Com mercial bodies, farmers organizations, consisting of millions of members, and other conservative, thoughtful men throughout the country are strongly ad- vocating the movement and the senti- ment has developed until both the great political parties in their recent platforms have indorsed the proposition. The dem- ocratic plank is as follows:
 "We favor federal aid to state and local authorities in the construction and main tenance of post roads,
 It is not expected that the national government will ever render assistance to any state in the improvement of post roads without the cooperation of the state, and unless Alabama adopts an amendment to the constitution, similar to the one now under consideration by which state funds may be used for road purposes it cannot reap the benefits of national aid. Many states are already prepared for cooperating with the gov ernment in road construction, and Ala bama must be prepared for it. Kentucky Is seeking to amend It's constitution at the next general election in order to be prepared for federal aid A system of cooperation by the government and the states and counties will be an ideal meth- cd of road construction and none other will insure permanent good roads.
 Good roads are avenues of progress, the best proof of intelligence; they aid the social and religious advancement of the people; they increase the value of products; they save time, labor and money; they are the initial sources of commerce, which swell in great streams, and flow everywhere, distributing the products of our fields, forests and fac tories. The highways are the common property of the country, their benefits are shared by all, and they are needed by all; they benefit all and all should con tribute to them.'
 This Is non-political and non-partj- san question. The whole people of Ala bama are equally interested Therefore we appeal to all the voters of the state. irrespective of party alignment or affil- iations to join with us in voting for the adoption of the Overton amendment
 JOHN W. OVERTON,
 Chairman