Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1913-02-07
EXCELLENT PLAN OF NATIONAL
ASSISTANCE IN GOOD ROAD
BUILDING.


Senator Jackson, of this State iasl
week introduced a most excellent
bill for the construction Of good
roads The measure introduced by
Senator Jackson apprcpristes &c.
10000 tor this purpose to be expend-
ed annually. The measure is per-
haps the bet of its ind ever intro
duced IL ii her branch Of our nation
al legislature. y bile il miyht be
said to be novel il is most commend
able.
The expenditure Of this money,
however, is based upon condition
that the States must first bald the
road and then the government will
pay for one half Of the cost OF It's
construction after it has been APP
proved by the Pest Master General
as road helpful TO commerce and
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
road constructed along t h r
latest ideas Of scientific road
building.
The bill is free from any charge
Of apork barrel methods, b, cadse
no state can derive any benefit from
il until it has first shown its own
willingness to do its share.
The details Of the bill are set forth
BY Mr.. Jackson himself.
@That good roads are desirable Is
truism that need not be rel Gated, =
said he this afternoon to The Ameri-
can correspondent, sand that federal
help would stimulate road building
is also proposition that needs no
argume nt. The bill introduced By
me today is designed to encourage
the building of modern highways by
granting aid from the national ,reas-
ny in a way which, while .stimulat-
ing the states to build road, amply
safeguards the Ulited States against
extravaganza or i'll advised efforts in
road making.
"The plan is simply thi,; Any state
may suggest I ad 10 the P0stmas-
ter General for his approval. Wher
at least e mile has been completed
to the satisfaction of the Secretary
of Agriculture, the Secretary OF tht
Treasury is authorized to lay TO the
State one half the certified cost OF
construction, not to exceed $500
for the half cost per mile. This u
sures that the road be- actually bull
before the United States is called up.
on to expead dollar, willie the
maximum limit iusures the United
States against the hi. h cost of Ger
tam constructions due l., peculiar To-
cal conditions.
sin these two respects the plan is
superior to that of the Swanson bill.
which virtually makes the United
States partner with the states 10
the undertaking; divides the cost
between the United States and the
states and places no limit upon the
expenditure. This being national
law, it is not fair that United States
should be required to pay for local
difficulties OF construction.
aThe bill carries an appropriation
of sl0,O00,000 annually, to be APP
portioned among tue states according
to number of miles If public roads.
This would seem to be a more Just
method than Accord ig to population
as proposed in the Swanson bill. But
in estimating tie cost for the pur-
pose OF the {, deraI aid, charges for
rights Of way, damages 10 property,
etc, are excluded, which is another
guarantee that the federal govern
ment shall pay only for the actual
road constl uction. Any part of the
annual appropriation not used in q
given fiscal year lapses. Furthermore,
in order to contine the provision To
roads in the ordinary meaning ii e
term, / have excluded streets Ia
towns of over 1900 inhabitants
There is further provision requiring
the states to maintain the road SC
built TO a standard of efficiency pre-
sribed by the Secretary Of AgricuI-
ture, under penalty Of refusal Of
fu. ther aid until the required stan
dard Of efficiency is re-established.
Il believe thas this is a bill which
al advocates of good roads can afford
to support. believe it is as impor,
tant to the material welfare Of thin
country as any bit of legislation eve'
proposed. | shall use my utmosi
tndeavors to secure its passage.