Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-01-31
To ASK Funds For Roads.

Lines have been laid for the precipita.
ton OF fight at the beginning of the next
congress between the advocates of good
roads and the advocates Of waterways ovel
division of public improvement money
to be appropriated.
A steering committee has been named
by the friends of the better highways to
take up and digest all the pending road
bills and then to inaugurate determined
campaign in behalf of the measure that
promises to gain the widest support.
This campaign will be made at the ex-
pense of those interests which have for
half century turned successfully to the
United States Treasury for river and har-
Dor appropriations. Unless the waterways
people propose compromise whereby high
ways as well as harbors will receive ap-
propriations. the next waterway bill may
have rough shedding.
This fight has been brewing for long
time. Years ago individuals in both
branches of Congress pleaded in vain for
fairer distribution of public improvement
money, contending that roadways should
be given as much consideration as water
ways by Congress.
The opponents of comprehensive road
improvement plan. however. have held
these individuals in check and have pre-
vented any recognition whatever by Con-
gress of such project. Not in three-quar-
tiers of q century has Congress made an
appropriation for public highways. The
old National Turnpike. from Philadelphia
across the western end of Maryland to the
Ohio river, was the last effort made by the
Government in-road building.
There are more than 100 avowed friends
OF good roads in the present House, and
perhaps third that many in the Senate.
And they are backed by good roads associa-
tons from end to end of the country. Also
they are supported by farmers from Maine
to California. Theyrepresent an enormous
constituency. If the Automobiles are in
cluded they can make direct appeal to
perhaps as many people as do the water
ways advocates. Certainly the classes of |
population which they seek to serve are |
more widely distributed than the classes |
benefited by the annual rivers and harbors |
bills.
The highways people have announced |
that they will 60 over every bill that is
now or has been before Congress for Gov
eminent aid to road building and pick from
each the most feasible provisions. The
old original Brownlow BILL introduced by
the late Congressman from Tennessee, will
be dissected. The Bankhead, Swanson,
Borland and other bills will be taken apart
and their practicable features worked into
new measure. Then all hands expect
to get behind the new legislative product
and force Congress to vote upon it.
They will argue that the Government has
expended millions upon millions of dollars
upon waterways and public buildings; that
the cities and towns have been most bene-
fitted by these improvements; that it is
wholly proper for the Government to en-
courage commerce by deeper harbors and
safer streams, and that the money already
expended has been justified by the results.
At the same time they will argue that
public roads are also articles of trade that
the country people should have a share in
the largess of the Government, and that
unless the public improvement policies of
Congress embrace highways as well as
waterways, no further rivers and harbors
bills will be allowed to pass without fight.
The answer of the opposition to this
plan will be that once the Government be-
gins appropriating for roads the Treasury
will be drained. There will be no end to
the money demanded. Furthermore, road
building is strictly State business, it will
be said. and that to make it Federal
matter would be contrary to the Constitu-
tion.
The rejoinder will be that no bill will be |
seriously proposed that does not contem-
plate State appropriation at the same
time; that therefore the bottom will not |
drop out of the Treasury, and that it is
the established right of Congress to appro-
pirate for post roads as well as for other
general welfare projects.
Whatever may be the argument for or
against the movement, the big fact is that
the road people mean to fight for money
and everybody knows at Washington that
they can make trouble If they are not
placated.