Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
MAIN ROUTES
To GET FIRST
AID FROM j. 8.
Good Roads Convention at Wash
iagton Urges Through"
Lines Opened Up.
STATES TO HELP SELVES
Resolutions Favoring Local I'm
provements Adopted by the
Capital Gathering,
STATES TO HELP SELVES

of commerce supplied the greater
part of the several hundred repre-
acntatives from the &c States. which,
in one form o. another. We're en-
bTnCsd in the natiCl-w wide gather
Ing. Members Of Congress IN many
Instances spoke for their home or
ganizations and their utterances in
dicated growing knowledge Of the
hlgness Of the subject
One OF the features of the conven-
ion was the call al the White House,
President Wilson receiving the dele
gstes in the east room and express
ing to them his great interest In high
ways improvement. John A. Wilson
introduced the good roads advocates
to the nations Chief Executive who
paid a special compliment TO Chair
man George c. Dichl in reference
TO his extensive knowledge OF the
roads question
The speakers of the convention
were of national reputc and the sub
jet was considered principally from
a Federal standpoint. though refer
ence was repeatedly made 10 the
fact that State systems OF roads with
county and township tributaries were
of prime consideration in the round
ing out Of the country's roads trans
portation problem
What is Wanted.
No more concrete summing up Of
the situation was expressed than that
asaaV.Igvraa lt.H gHHnV1Ha %
chairman Of the executive committee
Of the National Grange, who, in con-
GLIDING his address, said
we do not believe that Federal
aid means the appropriating OF ma
tional funds for local Improvement of
roads. Il is certainly wrong TO ask
national aid to do what properly be
longs TO the local Communicity to
perform, and in any good reads move
ment the State is the unit To which
the municipality should look for aid,
and the State in turn TO cooperate
with the national government for in
terstate roads and other roads that
are of sufficient Importance To war
rant the employment of national aid
in building.
ANY other course is untenable.
Unconstitutional, and basiCally
wrong. But we do ask of the men
who are trying. and ConsCientiously
trying, 10 build Interstate ana trans
continental highways To remember
the necessity Of improving the road
from the home 10 the city of the man
who is promoting the great basic
Industry Of our country To the end
that all the people in this great Coun-
try may ultimately be benefited
The committee on resolutions COM
prised a member from every one of
the 46 States which sent delegates,
and before Chairman l.. X. Speare
and his associates concluded their
labors several sessions We're required.
In the adoption Of the committees
report the convention unequivocally
placed itself on record as fayOTing a
plan Of interstate roads. the pream-
BILE and resolution reading as fol-
lows
Whereas. In the development Of
our country's transporting appliances
for man and goods from place to
place. il has become almost the uni
versal viii of the people of the Unit
ed States for better roads, therefore,
be il
Resolved, That we recommend our
Federal government To build and
maintain an interstate system of
highways connecting the capitals of
the various States, and with the ma
tional capital"
States Are Urged.
In the following resolution all
States We're urged 10 establish high
ways departments
Resolved That We advocate the
creation. wherever they do not now
exist, Of effective State Departments
of Highways, in the various states.
and that a copy of this resolution hc
sent ia the GOvernu. of each state,
Congress was thus asked 10 create
a standing roads committee
whereas. Federal aid for good
roads has become of such national
interest and importance, and
whereas, The Second Federal Aid
Good Roads Convention feel that this
subject should be considered by
Congress with the greatest care,
therefore be il.
RESOLVED. That Congress be re
specially requested 10 create
standing committee on national
roads"
After the speech of stanton War
burton, Of Washington, ln which he
q system of national mill
tarv roads. and put forward the
proposition of paying for them hy
restoration Of the tobacco tax OF 1873,
a resolution was passed calling Tor
a renewal of the former tax rate ana
the use of the excess IN building "a
national or interstate system Of high
An amendment offered 10y Repre-
sentative Dorsey W. ShaCklefurd. Of
Missouri. providing that the money
raised by this taxation be set apart
as a fund TO be applied 10 the con-
struction or maintenance. or both,
~ such roads as Congress shall give
aid to by legislation" received only
two votes. Shackleford is the au-
thor Of the proposition for the pay
ment of roads rental by the IA
ffoual government for roads used IN
rural free delivery
The convention committee on res
buttons was authorized 60 appear be
fore the joint committee Of Congress
on Federal aid