Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-12-26
THE GOOD ROADS
IDEA WON'T DOWN
BILLS INVOLVING MANY MIL
LIONS OF DOLLARS ARE
NOW PENDING.

Good roads bill involves an ulti-
mate expenditure of five billion dol
lars, and yearly appropriations rang
ing anywhere from S2,00000 to
s10,0000,009, now pending in con-
gress. The problem of dealing with
the good roads movement is a seri-
| Gus one with the leaders in con-
| gress at time when there is uncer-
| tainty as TO the volume of govern
ment revenues and the cost of ordin-
ary government activities increasing
| there comes demand for good road
Improvement that they prove ire
sistible- Congress is deluged with
bills on the subject. and the idea
- popular with the folks back home
Formerly constituencies were salts
nsd with appropriations for pub
lie buildings, for rivers and harbors.
and for other public works. Now
new field has been opened up for
exploration by members anxious to
make hit with the people who send
them to congress.
There are districts with cities
large enough to demand public build
ings, there are districts that need
river and harbor improvements, and
have made no demands for the ap-
preparation of public money. All
districts have roads, and few of
them may be classified as good
roads and for that reason members
from all districts will demand rec
ognition when the good roads bill
is framed.
There's the rub. The leaders are
session without appropriating s2O.-
100000 or more for roads they win
thank their master. The chances
purpose will be authorized, and at
the same time congress committed !
to a policy of making annual al
lowances for roads just as it makes
an annual allowance for the improve
ment of rivers and near-rivers.
All sorts of proposals have been !
made to congress for the improve
ment of roads. The one most likely
Of adoption is that providing that
the cost shall be shared by the
federal and state governments, the
federal government, of course, to
contribute the lions snare in every
instance. Some members would
lave the states and the federal gov
srnment issue bonds to defray the
'ost of making bad roads good; at
east one member would have the
tates and counties issue bonds for
he purpose, the bonds upon presen-
alton to the secretary of the treas
Try to be converted into currency. !
,ther members would have the gov l
rnment make appropriations direct
ndimproye roads without the aid
I states. counties or other subdi yis-
ons. All of these measures are a
rodigal in proposing the appropria-
ion of money. The members inter- |
sted, or at least some of them. do I
OF intend to quarrel about method. c
What they are seeking is results. T
The good roads movement has Z
lerit that is recognized by the lead r
rs. They know that for social and
reasons it would be good a
hing to adopt systematic policy S
'r highway improvements. They n
ealize that in the attainment of this a
nd it will be necessary for the fed Il
'al government to assist the states G
hey fear that if the pork barrer' n
rinciple is applied to good roads u
lat the cause itself will be dam j.
sed. Accordingly, they are trying fa
reason that the good roads advo- Vi
ties. to point out that if roads are OF
be used for exploration as were
vers and harbors and public build to
gs in the old days that there will sf
a reaction IN public sentiment m
Among the bills providing for m
cd roads ray De mentioned chat er
lbo3yire whet is known as the ~