New-York tribune., 1912-01-07
FEDERAL AID FOR ROADS
oeT'nlte Plan TO Be Outlined at
washington Convention.
SENTIMENT GROWS RAPIDLY
PRESIDENT Holds Opinion That
congress Has Power to
Make Appropriations.

IN admitting unquslAedly that the fed.
Vi" government has the power TO build
national roads President Taft In a recent
speech settled the question Of the consti,u-
"""a' rlsht or Congress 10 sppropriste
ieueral tunds in aid OF national system
o' improved highways, This declaration by
president Taft, coupled with the fact that
PRESIDENT Jefferson also believed IN the
power OF the federal government 10 build
roads across the states, will be brought
forward AZ the federal aid good roads con-
Nention Of the American Automobile Asso.
citation I'm Washington. January ls and H.
The convention has been called particular
ly to discuss the subject Of federal aid, in
an effort to arrive at some definite pro-
gramme behind which all users Of the
roads can put their influence
The necessity for cooperation on this i'm.
portsnt question is indicated by the fact
that some thirty-ive different bills dealing
with the subject Of federal participation In
highway improvement are now pending IN
Congress. Some OF these provide for COM
missions TO investigate the subject: others
call for immediate appropriations for cx-
tensNe schemes of highway Improvement:
particular roads such as the proposed LIN
coin memorial road from Washington 70
Gettysburg, the Washington memorial
highway from Fredericksburg. Va. n the
| national capital, and various other specific
| stretches of turnpike. These bills have been
| introduced by Senators and Representatives
! from every part Of the country, and reflect
| the sentiment which IL growing rapidly I'm
,gy
/ roads work
/ Many of the Senators and members who
/ have introduced these bills have consented
to address the convention and explain their
measures, while more than fifty other mem
! bers of Congress have already promised 10
! attend the sessions and take part In the
| discussion. The Governors of several states
! have already taken steps to appoint dele
! gates to the convention, while the forty-two
! state associations and 315 local clubs afiil-
! lated with the American Automobile hsso-
! citation. "a well rs many business, farmers
and other organizations, nre sending
4 delegations. Among men prominent in
/ public affairs who have expressed them
| selves in favor OF federal aid for good rosds
! Is Governor Austin L. Crothers of Mary
! land. who says: 81 not only indorse such
l
! the present Congress adiourns It should
enact laws giving most liberal financial
I and moral support"
| Senator Joseph +. Johnston. Of Ala hama.
| says: Il am sincerely in favor Of lettering
the public roads and I'm giving federal aid.
These are merely specimens Of some OK
! rrnssions from scores Of public men. Among
B those who have promised to speak at the
| Washington convention and dscuss III.
question of federal aid from various points
of view are Senators r. NJ. simmons, OF
North Carolina; Claude A. Swanson. oi
Virginia: John II. Bankhead, OF Alabama,
| and Representatives r. T. Hobson and
William Richardson, OF Alabama; Edward
r. TAYLOR Of Colorado; William s. Howard
! Of Georgia: II. NJ. Towner. Of Iowa; Philtr
T. Campbell and d. II. Anthony. jr OF
! Kansas; j. Charles Linthicum, of Mary
! land: D. W. Shackleford and William Z
BorIand, OF Missouri; j. J. Whitacre, OF
Ohio; James +. Byrnes. of South Carolina
II. D. Flood. Of Virginia, and j. y. Hughes
of West Virginia. Besides these others wnc
! are expected TO address the convention are
Champ Clark, Speaker Of the House o.
Representatives: c. s. Barrett. president o.
the Farmers Union, and +. J. Brooks q
its legislative committee, and DR.. i. Stast
Within. secretary Of the National Commit
tee on Prison Labor.
The convention will be held in the Hote
Raleigh. instead OF the New WIZARD al
! was planned.