The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-18
WAR ON MUD
TAX To BEGIN
HERE MONDAY
Roads Congress Will Have
Many Friends in
Congress
MANY BILLS ARE
ALREADY DRAWN
Resume of Measures by Means
of Which Federal Aid is
to Be Procured for
Highways

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1T.--W4th the
contention that the eggs and butter
that go onto the breakfast table, the
Hour that goes into the bread and the
beef and potatoes that go onto the
ufnner table Will be made cheaper
thereby. a strenuous campaign will he
waged In Congress this winter for the
passage Of n bill appropriating money
from the treasury for the construction
OF public roads throughout the United
States
The opening gun OF the campaign
il to be fired Monday. when road Ina
provement enthusiasts from all sec
,ions of the country are 10 gather In
conference In Richmond. Va and the
shot fired at that conference Is ex-
pected to reyerberate 20 impressively
throughout the land that Congress Will
consent to have some of the filthy lucre
shaken from the country's pockets
Objects OF the Promoters.
1t is proposed by this plan of tapping
the Federal till to do away with the
mud tax--the tribute that is exacted
from the farmers and market gard
eners by bad roads between their fields
and the nearest railroad or the closest
city market. Just as the Improvement
on railroads, making possible the
carrying OF larger loads at quicker
speed. has cut down the freight rates,
and just as the Improvement OF rivers
and harhors providing for larger boats
and better terminals has slaughtered
water transportation rates. SO. II Is
commended. the Improvement Of high
ways in the way of cutting down
grades. wiping out mud holes and
Strengthening curves VIII enable the
farmer to market his product more
cheaply and thus insure reductions in
the prices of the products of the farms
10 the struggling saiarfed clerk or
wage-earHer,
II rs altogether fitting that the
United States government should
spend money in such work insead OF
leaving to the States the entire ii
nancial burden and responsibility. it
viii be argued. because Uncle sam
has already spent hundreds Of mill
lions in improving water highways,
because the United States government
has poured out its funds III behalf
OF roads in Alaska and the Philip
pines and the Canal Zone. and be-
cause Uncle Sam is also making much
use of the highways of the various
States In delivering mail.
Power OF Congress.
Nor liz such an expenditure a vin-
latiou Of the Federal constitution. ii
will be maintained. because Congress
has the power to establish highways
In every State and Territory OF the
United States for mail. commercial
and military purposes. under the in
,erstate commerce clause. the war
clause, the gene raj welfare clause
and e clause authorizing the estab
lishment of post roads.
BY many advocates of such a course
II is conceded that the States and
Territories have responsibility in
the construction and maintenance OF
good roads Some proposed to have
Uncle sam spend money for road
building only in States which agree
TO spend out of their own funds an
equal amount. Still others proposed
to compel the counties also to con-
tribute another share equal to that
OF the national government. Some
only propose that the money Uncle
Sam gets from the sale OF public
lands III their States shall be devoted
to road construction, much as 1t has
been devoted, in some States, to irri-
cation.
That the national, government shall
not exact anything from the States
benefited Is the proposition put forth
by one group or advocates. 1t Is
Just as much the national duty to use
money for road building. without con-
ditions. as for river and harbor Inn
provements. they argue. and the pub
lie duty toward waterway improve
ments has been 50 long recognized
that 1t is no longer questioned.
Proposed Legislation.
About thirty bills will be before
Congress, when 1t meets the first Mon
day In December. proposing as many
different plans for the use OF money
from the Federal Treasury Ii, road
construction. All OF them are backed
by enthusiasts. both In Congress and
out. They propose. too. varying
amounts Of appropriations. running
from a few thousand to be used for
experimental purposes to $160.000.-
900.
Some propose the construction of
magnificent boulevards the length ana
breadth Of the land: others would put
and star routes in passable condition
In good and bad weather. and stiN
others project only the constructors
OF few miles Of object-iAAson high
ways N di6erent parts o. the United
States to servo - m inaplratlon and
- "a incentive 20 tho Stateo and .As
) basis Tor further appropriations
from tho Federal TreAauTy for road
building.
sessn Naaiousl Highways.
The most picturesque project II OUT
lined In = bill which Senator Cullom,
AZ Illinois, has introduced. Al tins sug-
xesktdn Of l&ader4 IN tbs movement
Tor bestAr hlE1lway1 thfQnxAont ne
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