Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
Arguments Advanced.

How Uncle Sam is TO be convinced Is
indicated in the bill offered by Mr.. Bank
head, for the experiments are to be made
1t specifies, for the purpose of ascertain
ing "the possible increase in the terri
tory which could be served by one car
rier and the possible increase of the num-
Der of delivery days each year, the
amount required for proper maintenance
in excess of local expenditure for rural
delivery routes and the relative saving
to the government in the maintenance
Of rural delivery routes by reason of such
improvements" and also the relative
saving in the cost of the transportation
Of agricultural and other products from
the farms or other points of production
to the usual market place by reason OF
such improvements"
Representative Byrnes has gone Sen
ator Bankhead one better, by proposing
in similar bill that double the amount
Of money shall be used in the expert
ments. And Senator Simmons also
wants, coupled with the report Of the re-
suits of the experiments In road I'M
prov ement, report on the feasibility Oh
a federal automobile tax on those ma
chimes engaged in interstate travel.
Proposed by Senator Gore.
Another scheme for the improvement OF
the public road, to which the o. K. Of
Congress is necessary and will be asked.
is to devote the proceeds or part or the
proceeds Of the sale or rental of public
lands in specific states to the better
ment of the roads In those states. Sem
ator Gore wants one-half of the proceeds
Of the sale Of public lands in Oklahoma
TO be used as a trust fund to be loaned
to counties and subdivisions of counties.
at interest. for the construction OF pubic
roads in Okla onla-
Representative Mondell would create
such a permanent fund in Wyoming OF
moneys received from the sale OF pupNc
coal lands in excess of SlO and S2o hAeu
by law and of lands under the timer
and stone act over the minimum price
Of $3.50 per acre.
Representative Taylor OF COLORADO
would have Congress give each state ia
which public lands are now located, Ioo.
COO acres of the lands, to be sold al not
less than So per acre, the proceeds to De
used solely for constructing, improving
and maintaining public highways.
Senator Gronna would allow the rental
of public lands and devote one-1ourtn oi
the proceeds to the pupHc scHooiS oHo
public roads.
Representative French would have Con-
gress give each of the public-land states
100000 acres of land, the proceeds Oh
the sale of which, at not less than $iU per
acre, shall be used for road betterments
and extensions.
National Governments Obligation.
That the United States government
should pay the states for the use Of the
roads in delivering the mails Is the prop
osition made by Representative Shackle-
ford. through which he hopes to coax
some Of the gold out of Uncle Sans
Treasury to be used In paving highways
throughout the various states. The rate
of pay he proposes varies from $50 per
annum per mile to $40 per annum per
mile, according to whether the road is
of macadam. compact gravel. clay and
gravel. or just compact with a smooth
surface.
Representative Sheppard OF Texas pro-
poses that Congress shall direct the office
Of public roads OF the Department OF
Agriculture to advise with the proper
state officials having Jurisdiction over
roads used for rural delivery routes as
to the best methods Of maintaining them
In a passable condition throughout all
seasons of the year and to cooperate
with the state officials in other ways. be-