The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-10-09

prOpOSdlS oeloio Inc puUuc m1nC
which would bankrupt the fedora
treasury and suggest possible abuses
before which those Of the wor pork
barrel bills Of the past would pale
into insignificance. No proposal which
does not carry with it the assurance
OF safeguarding the treasury in this
direction seems to me to stand the
ghost of a chance Of favorable con
sideration. 1t is not alone the fear
that there would be no stopping place
There is the question of precedent
This is not the only proposal before
the American congress involving the
suggestion of huge appropriations
There are others which, to their advo
Gates, are just as important and are
being just as insistently urged and
many of the veteran congressman
have naturally contracted the habit
of baking automatically at such pro.
posals.
1T would be especially pernicious
if such aid should result in sitting the
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 lead.
Another difficulty to be avoided is
the decentralization Of activity in
these intimate internal matters and
the building up of a great and power
full bureau in Washington, with an
ever-inCreasing control over the high
ways of the country. The dictates of
prudence and experience are that so
far as possible such agencies as may
be required should be efficiently de.
veloped in the several states and that
the federal agencies should work in a
spirit of complete and helpful cooper
alton and assistance.
The first practical essentials in the
planning of road legislation would
seem to be to recognize the states as
the smallest unit with which the fed
eral government might deal. This
would give relief in a from
the insistent demand that would come
from every township and every dis
trict in the Union for it's share OF
state or federal assistance, without
'eference to the merits of the case or
he practicability of the undertaking.
As has been stated, many of the states
have efficient state highway de-
and thus afford organized
with which the federal Office
.ould deal. 1t would seem that the
'asic feature would be such co-cpera-
between the states and the fed
raj government as would leave with
he states the initiative in the selec-
Of roads to receive aid, and as
much of the immediate construction
nd maintenance as would be prac-
icable. In the case of roads on which
ederal money is to be expended it
Tohld seem essential and wise that
he federal agency should have the
equisite power Of the approval of the
election, supervision of the construc-
ion and maintenance, and the right
( inspection, for the plain and simple
rdinary purpose of seeing that the
ederal money is applied to the pur-
'ose for which it was voted and is
Efficiently expended.
1T is reasonably clear that for every
eason there must be some automatic
heck upon the demands to be made
pom congress and that this should be
through the requirement that
he states and the localities should
an amount both for con-
truction and maintenance at least
'Qual to and possibly double that con
ributed by the federal government;
md that, in the apportionment of any
federal funds q number of
'asic factors such az population. area,
wealth. or minimum cost OF construc-
ion, should control, I have not the
east doubt.
There may be those who will view
With alarm any suggestion that the
government cooperate with
he states financially in road building
Ind more especially that 1t exercise
In adequate measure Of control and
even Owe the expendi-
Iure Of Its own funds. The cry of GEN.
tralization-that the federal govern
nent aims unduly to extend its
may again be raised. Yet, in
\ field OF common interest and of
activities what could be
more natural than cooperation and
mutual assistance? Why should the
jurisdictions serving the same
people forever stand apart and view
zach other with suspicion and dis
trust while nothing IL done Dr. much
wasted? And IL II not worthy of
note that the alarm never seises such
D0oule at the akago or The d~iacusxion