The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1912-04-18

Ithas always been admitted that
Congress may lay taxes to build and
improve light houses, public docks,
and all such properties, whereof the
United States is to hold the title. The
general improvement of harbors, onthe
other hand, the Constitution meant to
leave to the States all wing each to
cover the expense by levying. tonnage
duties. The practice for yeals corres-
ponded with this. The inland COM
monwealths, however, as they we're adj
mitted, justly regarded this unfair, UNI
less offset by Governments aid to
them in the construction of roads, ca
nails, and riverways.
1t may be mentioned, also, that the
war of 1872 revealed the need of better
means for direct communication with
the remote sections of the Union.
Transportation to Detroit had cost fifty
cents per pound of ammunition, sixty
dollars per barrel of flour. All admit
ted that improved internal routes were
necessary. The question was wheth-
err the general government had a right
to construct them without amendment
to the Constitution. The Wings. like
the old Federalists, affirmed such right
appealing to Congress- power to es-
tablish post roads, wage war, super
wise Interstate trade, and conserve the
the common defense and general well
fare. AS a rule the Democrats, have
always denied such right. Some of
them justified outlay upon national
rivers and commercial harbors under
the Congressional power of raising re-
venue and regulating commerce.
al fnr1ak Of
subsidies to States even for lettering
inland routes. Treasury Surplus at
times, and the money appropriations
which by common consent, had been
made under Munroe and later for the
old National Road, encouraged the
Wing contention, but the whole Ques-
ton was taken out of politicts by the
rise of the railroad system after 1882.
The National Road had, however, been
built across Ohio and Indiana on it's
way to ST. Louis, and was made over
in 1880 tothe States through which 1t
passed.
This, in brief, is the history of a
measure of the greatest import to the
Nation, which at one time was to the
fore, and has been left in the back
ground only because, in the rapid de-
velopment of National resources, other
measures have seemed the more inn
portant. 1t must be understood that
this is not a measure that any party,
not even for party success, has de-
clared without the pale of the Consti
tuition and as not belonging within the
function of the National Government.
Natural Means Of Transportation
RIVERS
Ny contention is, that the growth OF
the country and the consequent new
needs of our day, demand the giving of
this great measure its proper perspec-
tive. IL cannot be successfully denied,
that the future happiness, contcntment,
and prosperity, of the American peo-
pie depends more on good roads than
on any other type of construction for
at this time, with the already construct
ed railroads, that any additional num-
Der of railroads would mean so much to
any large section of this country, as
system of thoroughly modern highways
would mean to the people, and, and no
other endeavor could be freighted with
greater possibilities for increasing the
wealth of the country people. Rome
made an Empire, not so much by the
Roman sword, as by the net work of
of Roman roads.
If one will take any single county,
in the great State of Florida, in the
less favored sections of the State, and
will make a calculation in the saving
Of teams and vehicles, the increase in
the tonpage in hauling, the increase in
the number of trips per day, the great
err contentment on the part of the rural
the culture, from ease of
communication with centers where
women and children can observe the
habits and customs of more advanced
! am persuaded that such
a one will conclude that the greatest
need of our great State, at this time,
is more extended and better highways.
am pursuaded, that the bringing of
this great issue, as factor in the
building of the Nation, before the Con-
gress of the United States will be the
PLAYING of part In the political de-
velopment of ovr government, as impOr-
tant and as beneficial as any played by
our great fathers in the more formative
period of the Nation and Of the Consti-
tuition. Therefore, come before the peo-
pie of this great Commonwealth, ask
ing for their suffrage for congressman
at large, plegding myself to the adyo-
cacy of this great measure Of National
aid in the building of highways in the
several States.
realize the ease. which tho part new
needs have played and may play, In d.
rectlng our governmental conduct, may
be lost sight Of, and understanding as !
do, that measure Is not feasible simply
because they hear dlslnterested or Indif-
fferent public men speak lightly OF such
am therefore, at the greater
pains 10 show what large part new need
have played 10 shaping orr policies. Per-
haps there Is no tenet 70 our government
now clearly showing IT'S evolution, thru