The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-23
Committeeman Go There
to Work Hard for
Federal Aid.
DELEGATES GET
TOGETHER NOW
Resolution Adopted Calling for
Ambitious Project of Highway
Construction-Joint Conven-
ton Planncd-Session
Closes With Ad-
dresses To-Day.

Bent upon carrying the war into the
enemy's country. the faction favoring
Federal appropriation for highway i'm
provement carried the day at the af-
ternoon session of the Road Congress
yestei day, and ratified a resolution
providing for the creation of a com
inittee on national highway legislation.
to consist of ono member and an alter
nate from every State and Territory
represented in the congress. The mem
bers OF this committee. 1t is further
provided. are to be appointed by, the
chairman. upon the recommendation OF
the delegation from the respective
states and are to proceed at once 10
establish an agreement upon q unified
plan for the establishment of the prin-
ciple of national aid in the policies Of
the government.
1t was openly stated On the floor OF
the convention that this committee
VIII proceed at the earliest possible
moment to Washington and there take
active steps to rsalize the object for
winch 1t was appointed. and which fur
nished the First American Road Con-
sress. which comes to n close to-day,
with its most holly discussed problem.
Plan for Joint Convention.
w AcSS Important, from the view
point Of enlisting Federal aid in the
project, was the action taken ycster-
Day at the directors meeting OF the
American Association for Highway In
proVement when Representatives OF the
last named organization, the American
Automobile Association. the American
Road Builders Association and tho
National ASSOCIATION of Road Mate
rial and Machinery SIanufacturers-
cpio a. -
road building world-entered Into an
agreement to hold joint conventions in
the future. 1t was agreed by the rep
resentatfves present to recommend to
their respective directorates favorable
action toward the corporation suE-
gested and to request the appointment
OF committee OF two from each body,
TO meet and work out the details for
each corporation. the results to be
submitted to each directorate for final
action.
The significant thing behind this
agreement 1t is said, is the fact that
each of the bodies has separately de-
clared itself in favor of governmental
aid for highway Improvement and will
join hands in this joint convention, IN
order to present more forcibly than
could be done II each met as separate
body. the combined sentiment and de.
mand of the American people on this
point. 1t will be q solid alignment OF
all road interests on Federal aid
platform.
Cox Bill Favored.
A-ydecided reaction against the am
bilious $5o.ooo.O00 hopes which fired
the congress In the earlier days of the
present meeting has begun, and with
the convention safely on record as IA
voring governmental aid. the majority
of the delegates are leaning strongly
toward a far more nodest appropria-
ton. The crisis which threatened to
shipwreck all hopes OF Federal aid dur
ing the Tuesday sessions has been safe
ly weathered, and sentiment Is fast
crystallizing In favcr OF the bill intro
duced during the last session of Con-
gress by Representative Cox, of the
Oyster Bay District. New York. and
which, it is stated IN excellent author
ity will be rein.roduced in the next
Congress by his successor, Martin w.
Littleton. Roughly speaking this bill
provides for an annual appropriation
of s250.000 to support a committee of
five. to be appointed by the Pres dent
of the United States, whose dutr it
shall be to Investigate" inters tate
roads and turnpikes, make surveys for
The location of such highways. furnish
estnnates of the cost of various types
of roads. assist the States in the super
vision and construction, ana suggest
methods for the cooperation OF through
turnpikes.
The committee authorized by the
resolution which was adopted yester-
day Will proceed to Washington, ana
Will draft such notifications TO the bill
outlined above which may seem neces-
sary to 1t, and will then officially in
dorse 1t for the Road Congress- This
was a statement made by a delegate
high in the secret councils OF the con-
ventiun and member of the commit
tee which drew up the epoch ma king
resolution. In connection with this It
was stated that the committee Will co.
operate In the matter of putting the
bill in final form. with the Federal Aid
Convention of the American Automol
bile Association. which will be held in
Washington January 1917.
Meeting Place Undecided.
The question of the next meeting
be decided at the Richmond conven.
ton. Action upon the matter was taken
at yesterdays meeting of the Board Of
Directors, the question being deferred
for settlement at the joint meeting to
be held later in the year OF the two
delegat lions from each of the four or
CARNATIONS which have agreed to meet
together In the future. The committee
OF eight thus created 1t Is reported,
will meet In Washington with the A. a..
A. convention in January. and thore
decide upon the next convention city.
Despite the fact that another reso-
luton, adopted yesterday. recommend
cd that the Board of Directors select
for the next. meeting place Some con-
venicnt point In n different section OF
tho country from tho present meeting
place" 1t is freely predicted by the
knowing ones that the joint.comrnfttee,