The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-10-04
HOUSTON ON FEEDER
AL AID FOR ROADS
Continued from Page One)

spirit of local self help. In this field
as in others, the states have recently
made great Roadway, and any action
taken should unquestionably result
in the fostering of this spirit and in
the efficient direction of the activities
to which it may read.
1t is reasonably clear that for every
check upon the demands to be made
upon congress and that this should be
afforded through the requirement that
the states and the localities should
contribute an amount both for con
struction and maintenance at least
equal to and possibly double that con
tributed by the Federal government;
and that, in the apportionment of any
possible Federal funds a number of
baeie factors such as population, area,
wealth, or minimum cost of construc-
ton, should control, / nave not the
least doubt.
There may be those who "will
view with alarm any suggestion that
the Federal government cooperate
with the states financially in road
building and more especially that it
exercise an adequate measure of con
troll and supervision even over the
expenditure of its own funds. The
cry of Capitalization that the Federal
government aims unduly to extend its
powers may again be raised. Yet, in
a field of common interest and of in
seperable activities what could be
more natural than cooperation and
mutual assistance2 Why should the two
jurisdictions serving the anne people
forever stand apart and view eachother
with suspicion and distrHst while
nothing is done or much is wasted2
And is it not worthy of note that the
alarm never seizes such people at the
stage of the discussion in which it
would be of most value2 They are
not in the least timid in their APP
proaches to the Federal treasury and
their courage fails them only when it
is suggested that the Federal govern
ment has a right to see that the money
of the people of the nation is wisely
and efficiently expended. If they are
to take counsel of their alarms let
+bon, IL On Iafnro +hox. 1oFarpafna 20
assault the treasury.
In short, as a practical program, !
believe that this matter is one in
which haste can best be slowly made.
The people will sanction a reasonable
expenditure of their money-and it is
their money and theirs only, whether
it be expended through the Federal
government or the state-when they
are convinced that it is applied to a
wise purpose and will yield the results
anticipated. And | am impressed by
the wisdom of the action of congress,
in tht midst of so much clamor, in
constituting a committee "to make
inquiry into the subject of Federal aid
in the construction of post roads, in
providing an appropriation of a half
million dollars to be expended CO.
operatively with the states in the
proportion of one to two, and in re
quiring the secretary of agriculture
and the postmaster general to report
to congress the results of such ex-
penditure together with such recon-
mendations as shall seem wise for pro
viding a general plan of national aid
for the improvement of postal roads
in cooperation with the states and
counties, and to bring about as nearly
as possible such cooperation among
the various states as will ensure uni
form and equitable interstate high
way regulations This indicates n
wholesome desire to know the facts
as well as a generous interest. Toe
short a time has elapsed to judge of
the value of this undertaking, but that
it is in the right direction few viii
question. That it might be extended