The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-13
TO ASK FUNDS FOR ROADS

Lines have been laid for the precipita-
ton of a fight at the beginning of the
next Congress between the advocates of
good roads and the advocates of water
ways over a division of public improve
nent 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 determin-
ed 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 a century turned successfully to
the United States Treasury for river
and harbor appropriations. Unless the
waterways people propose comprom-
Use whereby highways as we'll as harbors
will receive appropriations, 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 improve
ment money, contending that roadways
should be given as much consideration
as waterways by Congress.
The opponents of comprehensive
road improvement plan, however, have
held these individuals in check and have
prevented any recognition whatever by
Congress of such a project. Not in
three-quarters of century has Congress
made an appropriation for public high
ways. 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 E100 avowed
friends of goodI roads. in the present.
House, and perhaps third that many in
the Senate. And they are backed by
good roads associations from end to end
of the country. Also they are support
ed by farmers from Maine to California.
They represent an enormous constitu-
encY. If the automobilIsts are included,
they can make direct appeal to per-
haps 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 go over every bill that is
now or has been before Congress for
Government aid to road building and
pick from each the most feasible pro-
visions. 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 a 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
lboo ChPShQCA lhliilOIio utJOll lIllIllcliS VI
dollars upon waterways and public
buildings; that the cities and;towns have
been most benefited by these improve
ments; that it is wholly Iproper tor the
Government to encourage commerce by
deeper harbors and safer streams, and
that the money already expended has
haan iuctifi od nv, tho coc,,l+c
At the same time they will argne that
public roads are also arteries 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
begins apDropriating for roads the
Treasury will be drained. There will
be no end to the money demanded.
Furthermore, road building is strictly a
State business, it will be said, and that
to make it a Federal matter would be
contrary to the Constitution.
The rejoinder will be seriously propos-
ed that does not contemplate a State
appropriation at the same time; that
therefore the bottom will not drop out.of
the Treasury, and that it is the establish
ed right of Congress to appropriate 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 Wash
ington that they can make trouble if
they are not placated.