New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08
WANT NO ROADS BARREL
American Automobile kSSoCla-
ton Makes Hot Protest. I
BETTER HIGHWAYS SOUGHT
Annual Convention in Chicago
Favors State Systems with
Federal Aid. r

National roads" is the exact form in
which federal aid" should be supplied
bv the national government, according 20
the opinion expressed by the American
Automobile Association at its annual
meeting held in Chicago during the past
week The big organization OF automo-
bilists. while pledging the best endeayors
of its state bodies and local clubs IN OBJ
tanning comprehensive state systems, un-
equivocally placed itself on record as
against pork barrel" methods IN ma
tional roads appropriations.
The tenth annual meeting OF the asso-z
citation. with the accompanying banquet
was the most successful since the organi-
cation gathering in March, 1902 when
likewise took place in Chicago. Laurens
Enos. of New York succeeded Robert Z. Z
Hooper, Of Pennsylvania in the presi- G
dency, the latter having served most ef-
fciently for two terms. The list Of VICE
presidents is as follows: First vice-presi-
dent John A. Wilson, OF Pennsylvania:
second vice-presldent, II. NJ. Rowe. OF
Maryland; third vice-president, Ralph W.
Smith. Of Colorado; fourth vice-president'[
Fred l.. Baker, OF California; fifth Vice
president. Asa Payne, Of Minnesota. John
n Brooks, OF Connecticut, was reelected
secretary; II. a. Bonnet, OF New Jersey,
also succeeded himself as treasurer, and
A. c. Batchelder, OF New York City, re-
mains as chairman Of the executive
board. which includes representation from
every state These chairrnen Of boards
were reapponted by the incoming presi-
dent: Good roads. George c. Diehi, Of
Buffalo; legislative, Charles Thaddeus
Terry, Of New York; touring, Howard
Longstreth OF Philadelphia; contests,
William Schimpf. Of New York City.
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 in obtaining state built and state
maintained roads, with state aid and SUI
| pervision of county, market and town
| ship tributaries. Furthermore, attention
was called 70 the general acceptance b.
Automobiles Of an unconstitutional tax,
called a registration fee simply be
cause the money so raised is used for
/ highway maintenance purposes.
| Ii Is contended that the distribution of
/ teQeral IullQb 10 LONnSAApS dAlA IyAAklra
/ for the Improvement OF local roads would
/ be such q plecemeal and unsystematio
use of the public money that it would
result in great waste and extravagance
and bring a positive reaction against the
good roads cause through opening the
way for extensive appropriations without
! proper safeguards for expenditure. The
association is definitely opposed 70 any
project of federal participation in high
ways construction that does not compre-
bend a general interstate system Of ma
/ tional roads. constructed and maintained
under the supervision Of the federal gov
eminent and equitably apporuoned
among the several states.
| In referring TO the great increase OF IN
| terstate and intrastate roads travel the
A. A. A. maintains II now demands fed
eral attention, including the necessity
for a systematic working OF national ana =
state roads. Therefore the association
urges upon Congress 70 provide for
/ Bureau OF Road Travel" 10 be under the
direction OF the Secretary OF the Interior,
and In the conduct Of which all organi-
cations involved nationally in roads travel
shall have representation.