Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-13
Advocacy Of Federal Aid.

shIiOHS IfOSc W uU Will Sp6dh Ill SupPOiI
| Of the federal plan are Representatives
Byrnes of South Carolina. Campbell of
Kansas. Shackelford of Missouri. Prouty
Of Iowa. Sulzer Of New York, Linthicum
of Maryland. Towner Of Iowa, Borland
of Missouri, Howard Of Georgia, Flood
Of Virginia, Whitacre Of Ohio. Anthony
Of Kansas, Hobson Of Alabama, Hughes Of
West Virginia. Austin Of Tennessee; Sen
ators Bankhead Of Alabama, Williams of
mons of North Carolina, Chamberlain OF
Oregon. Other speakers will be Rooert
p. Hooper, president Of the American
Automobile Association: George c. Diehl,
chairman of the good roads board, A. A.
A; Judge j. T. Ronald Of Seattle. prei-
dent of the Pacific Highway ASSOCIATE n;
C. c. Gilbert OF the Nashville Board OF
Trade; DR.. e. Stage Whiting OF tae ma
tional committee on prison labor. and
Charles s. Barrett, president If the
Farmers Educational and Cooperative
Union Of America.
1t is pointed out that there can be no
objection to federal aid in highway build
ing on constitutional grounds, as prior to
aided in the construction Of number OF
interstate highways. notably the old ma
tional road" from Washington to st.
Louis and the Cumberland road, con-
struction work on which was abandoned
at the outbreak of the war. The good
roads advocates say 1t is more important
for the government to assist the states
in building an adequate system OF high
ways than to spend vast sums of money
on deep waterways or river and harbor
improvement, and. that, If there are con-
stitutional inhibltions that will operate
against government aid in road building.
they will apply with equal force as re-
CARDS the waterways.
Good Roads Funds in States.
IT. eoox &, tro,,rLt o,,% .h,x x,,oro tho -
half of the states have less than 10000
in available taxable resources to support
each mile Of road, and that a highway
system that will be adequate to the needs
of the farmers and the business inter-
ests can be built by the states unaided
only in thickly settled regions.
The sentiment in Congress in favor of
federal aid, it is stated, is surprisingly
strong, and among the supporters Of the
movement is Representative Oscar Tn
derwood, democratic House leader, who
recently said: There is no doubt in my
mind as to the attitude the government
should take on the question of aiding In
the building of interstate public roads.
At this time, when the Treasury is not in
very good shape. it might be inadvisable
far distant when the government will
take the advanced stand OF giving federal
aid to the building Of important inter-
state highways. Nor Is there any ques-
ton of the constitutional right OF the
government to give such aid. It was
done in the case of the old Cumberland
road, and was abandoned because Of the
exigencies of war. When the govern
ment can afford to make the necessary
appropriations the system Of federal aid
should be restored. more equitable
| tariff system would put the Treasury in
better shape and the public might then
have the advantage OF federal aid in road
building
| Gives Promise Of Success.
| With the united support Of the auto
mobfists, as expressed through the
American Automobile Association, and
| the cooperation OF the various farmers
unions and similar OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the implacable foes of the automobile
owners, but now working hand in hand
with them-in addition to the active sup
port and assistance Of boards OF trade,
chambers Of commerce and other bust-
ness mems organizations throughout the
country, it is believed the movement In
! favor of federal aid to the states in the
construction of interstate highways is
more formidable now than 1t has evel
been, and next weeks convention is ex-
pected to crystalline the movement and
to bring 1t before Congress in such form
as to secure adequate recognition.