New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
ROAD QUESTION DEBATED
Growing Belief in Necessity for
Federal Aid.
SENATE TAKES MATTER UP
Several Members Think Trunk
Line Construction Would En-
courage Interstate Travel.

| National roads are coming in for re
relating to the postofice appropriations
| bill. II is evident that there is con
| stantly growing belief that the fedora
government before long should concern
itself with the construction Of trunk linc
roads, thus encouraging and making more
convenient tho great flood OF interstats
! travel (which according 10 the American
Automobile Associa lions touring board. IS
greater at the present time than II has
ever been since the coming OF the motor
driven vehicle. During recent debate in
the Senate Senator Swanson, of Virginia
made this comment:
I'VE are now confronted with the prop
osltion whether the federal government
shall or shall not extend aid for the de
veloDment, Improvement and construction
| Of highways. The time has arrived or
Will very soon arrive, when the people OF
the United States viii demand that the
federal government shall extend proper
aid
! Whatever may be the views Of some,
It Is question that must inevitably be
met and one that cannot be shirked
! When a government comes to extend ala
for roads there are two ways by which
| it can be done-it can furnish the money
and construct the road Itself. or II can
aid. stimulate and lend inducement TO the
local authorities to do the work of roa1
construction and improvement
! Senator Hepburn, Of Idaho. believes
| that when the government enters upon
this class Of work It should be for the
construction of roads up TO the standard
of the highest use, not all al one time
but continuously and gradually. not roads
one part Of which would be worn out
before the other was constructed. but
method OF progressive construction that
would result within a reasonable time IN
a system of permanent good roads.
Senator Williams. Of Mississippi. is
contender for first class construction He
says: You must make one road good
then YOU must make another good. and
then a third and then a fourth. There
must be some scheme whereby that could
| be done with fairness 10 tho states and
, the several sections OF the country"
senator l<Ouse. OF haSSdCnuSelbS, tpi-
tends that IL the country is 10 enter upon
the policy OF federal aid I'm good roads II
will involve an expenditure Of more mill
ions than the Panama Canal cost, and
Il ought TO be done only after most care
/ ful consideration and on a broad. wei
understood, we'll arranged plan, 80 that
for the millions expended We may get
value in the return We desire in good
roads.
! The resolution adopted at the Washing
ton Federal Aid Convention, IN January
last. for which the American Automobile
Associations national good roads board
was sponsor, calling for Joint commit
! tee of the two houses. was the basis Of
recommendation made TO the Senate b.
/, its Committee on Postofiices and Post
Roads This recommendation provided
that a Joint committee be created, COM
| posed Of three members Of tho Senate
committee and three members Of the
House committee. 10 make inquiry into
the subject Of federal aid In the con
struction Of Highways end 10 report at
| the earliest practicable date.