Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-05-22
TO AID GOOD ROADS
RURAL DISTRICTS BRING PRES
SURE ON CONGRESSMAN TO
HELP ROAD BUILDING.
PLAN NEW HOUSE COMMITTEE
Opponents Of Proposal Say II VIII Be
Another "Pork Barrel" Body-Fear
Cut In Public Building and River
Improvement Fund.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington.-Press from con-
gressmen representing rural districts
it seems likely is to result In extensive
government aid In the work of road
building. II seems to be certain that
the house Of representatives will have
new subsidiary body to be called
the roads committee, which is to con-
sist of FL members whose duty It will
be to consider the making of good
roads for these United States of Amer
lea The opponents of the proposal
to create the committee say that 1t
will be another 'pork-barrep body.
while the proponents of the plan de-
clare that its work Is one that Is es-
sential for the progress of the rural
communities.
Robert La Henry, chairman OF the
committee on rules. is ready to re-
port a resolution providing for the
formation Of the new committee. This
resolution must go before the Demo
cratic caucus, where 1t will be opposed
by some Of the members Of congress
from the big towns and from others
"hOs bSNodoo VI bhCAA AhNCA OoS 49, 49,
lie buildings and river and harbor i'm
proyements, do not care to see the
funds yearly made available for these
projects to be split again In favor Of
new undertaking.
No one realizes except members Of
congress. perhaps. just what the pres
sure has been from all parts Of the
country to secure legislation for the
benefit Of the highways. Most OF the
constituents Of members apparently
do not understand how to go about
the work of getting what they want.
The petitions In the main are not d.
rected along the short routes Of leg
islation, but are principally requests
that the office of public roads In the
agricultural department be given
more money for Its experimental
work.
OF Equal Importance.
Members of congress from rural dis
tricts seem to believe with their con-
stituents that the land highways are
of Just as much Importance as the
river highways. and that In these days
Of automobiles for pleasure and bust
nesE highway Improvement will lead
to increased interstate commerce &C
tivity and that the government rather
than the states should undertake the
work of making easy communication
by land possible.
There are Democrats in both houses
who oppose the good roads movement
on the ground that 1t is violation of
states rights. These Democrats say
that the states should legislate each
in its own behalf.
The friends OF government road
building say that interstate commerce
is involved indirectly II not directly.
and that the constitution will not be
blamed II the government should ap-
propriate money to make commerce
between the states easy. In truth. the
men who hold to the states rights
theory do it, 1t Is limited. because 1t is
an easy way of objection that because
they think 1t would bear up under the
test of the courts.
The belief seems to be that the
Democrats will support the chairman
OF the house rules committee In his
attempt to secure the appointment of
a new committee of the house to give
its attention to matters concerning
highways.
AUTOMOBILES 10 Responsible.
The automobile industry, of course,
is interested In good roads. and one
Of the arguments that has been used
against government aid for highway
building has been that private man.
ufacturing interests were trying to Sc
cure expenditures Of Uncle Sans
money to benefit their business. The
automobile men apparently do want
good roads. but 1t probably may be
| accepted as true that II the automo-
bile never had been invented there
| would be no great cry at present from
the country for government aid In the
| construction of roads. The automo-
bile In Its various forms, 1t Is urged,
has added to the usefulness in a COM
merce sense. to say nothing OF the
pleasure sense. Of the roads OF the
I land.
1t Is probable that the most potent
argument which will be used against
government expenditures for high
ways will be the enormous cost which
will fall upon the United States treas
ury.
1t seems to be virtually assured.
however. that even IL any money is
appropriated by the present congress
for highway construction. that subse.
quent congresses win vote the money,
| for the demand for government work
on the roads has been increasing year.
ly for is years, and now the pressure
has proved to be strong enough to SCI
cure recognition OF the movement by
Material Eror, No.,