Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08
AUTO ASSOCIATION
PLEDGES SUPPORT
FavorS National Roads With
Federal Aid-0pposes
''POrk Barrel"

National roads is the exact form in
which federal aid should be supplied
by the national government, according to
the opinion expressed by the American
Automobile Association at it's annual
meeting held in Chicago during the past
week. The big organization of autOmO-
bilists while pledging the best endeavOrs
Of it's state bodies and local clubs in OBJ
tanning comprehensive state systems I'M
equivocally placed itself on record as
against pork barrel methods in national
roads appropriations.
The tenth annual meeting of the asso-
citation, with the accompanying banquet
was the most successful since the Or
ganization gathering in March. 1902.
which likewise took place in Chicago
Laurens Enos of New York succeeded
Robert p. Hooper of Pennsylvania in the
presidency, the latter having served most
efnciently for two terms. The list OF vice
presidents is as follows: First vice preSl-
dent, John A. Wilson of Pennsylvania;
second, H. NJ. Rowe of Maryland; third,
Ralph W. Smith of Colorado; fourth,
Fred l.. Baker of California;; fifth, Asa
Payne of Minnesota John N. Brooks Of
Connecticut was reelected secretary; H.
A. Bonnell of New Jersey also succeeded
himself as treasurer. and A. G. Batchel-
der of New York city remains as chair
man of the executive board, which in
cludes representation from every state.
These chairmen of boards were reap
pointed by the incoming president: Good
roads. George c. Diehl of Buffalo; legis-
latve, Charles Thaddeus Terry Of New
York; touring, Howard Longstreth Of
Philadelphia: contests, William Schimpf
of New York city.
Pledges It's Assistance.
In the preamble Of the national roads
resolutions the association asserts belief
in the principle of state aid and state
highway systems. and pledges itself to
assist inn obtaining state-built and state
maintained roads, with state aid and SUI
pervision Of county, market and town.
ship tributaries. Furthermore, attention
was called to the general acceptance by
automobiles of an unconstitutional tax,
called a registration fee.'' simply be-
cause the money SO raised is used for
highway maintenance purposes.
1t is contended that the distribution
of federal funds to townships and
counties for the Improvement of local
roads would be such a piecemeal and
unsystematic use of the public money
that it would result in great waste and
extravaganza and bring a positive re-
action against the good roads cause
through opening the way for extensive
appropriations without pIopet safe
guards for expenditure. In placing the
association as definitely opposed to any
project Of federal participation in high
ways construction that does not COM
prehend general interstate system
of national roads. constructed and
maintained under the supervision of
the federal government and equitably
apportioned among the several states,
this concise phraseology Is Employed:
To Discourage "Pork Barrel"
THAT this association hereby declares
itself in favor of national roads the
specific object upon which federal ap-
preparations for good roads should be
spent. and shall do all in its power
to discourage pork barrel methods
in national roads appropriations. and
shall use it's influence with its con-
stituent state bodies and local clubs