The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-08-27
Congressman Hamilton Talks on
Good Roads.


House of Representatives on
August 18th, Congressman John
M. Hamilton, of this district,
arose and made some pertinent
remarks on the bill under consid-
GRAFTON. He attempted to show
that instead of building two huge
battleships it would be better to
cut the amount in two and use
one-half for building better
roads.
His remarks were as follows:
Mr.. Speaker: | am opposed to
concurrence by this House in the
amendment of the Senate provi-
ding for the building at this time
of two new battleships. In the
spirit Of compromise and concili-
alton which seems prevalent in
both branches of the Congress, |
am willing to vote for one bat
tleship, but no further. The
cost of the building of two bat
tleships will be $30,000,0O0, and
it seems to me that the interests
of this country would be far bet
ter served by devoting one-half
of this money, if not the whole
thereof, to purposes of internal
improvement.
This bill was originally passed
by the house on the 29th day of
May. without any provision for
battles hips. Nearly month be-
fore that time the House had
passed the Post Office appropria-
ton bill, which carried a provi-
sion for assistance by the Gov
eminent in the betterment of
roads throughout the country.
This road provision, known as
the Shackleford measure. was
one of about so propositions
pending in the House for the i'm
provement of roads. | was
much interested in it because |
knew that in no other way could
/ as well serve the interests of
my constituency as in the advo-
cacy of some good-roads meas
ure. | was one of 25 Members
of the House who, some time
prior to the passage of the bill,
signed the petition for the pro-
curement of a rule by which the
Shackleford bill or proposition
could be considered in the House
under which rule it was consider
ed and acted upon, with the re-
suit that the House passed it by
an overwhelming vote. Now,
the Senate has stricken out of
that bill the provision for better
roads and has inserted in the bill
under consideration provision
for the building of two battle
ships. Both matters are in con-
ference. 1t seems to me that if
this House shall yield to a partial
extent its convictions on the bat
tleship question the Senate
should meet us half way, at least.
pom the road proposition, and in
qle hope that they will do so /
am willing to vote for one battle
ship.
1t is a very much disputed
question whether this country
needs any more battleships. but
there is not the slightest doubt
that there is a great necessity
for better roads. We are a ma
ton of peaceful people. without
the desire of any considerable
part of the people for territorial
conquest; and it is advocated
from the highest sources that our
present Navy is sufficient for all
purposes of defense. More than
so years ago Abraham Lincoln
stated that the armies of Europe
combined could not penetrate in.
to this country beyond the ALE
gheny Mountains, and if that
was true then what must be the
situation now when we have
coast defenses all along oul
shores and millions of young anC
vigorous men ready and willing
to respond to our country's needs
should a foreign war occur?
Battleships are useful only il
war. They subserve no gooC
purpose in time of peace. Road
are absolutely necessary to every
ill.,. Il IL I...J ,..,.oo so1I,, a.