The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-23
FEDERAL ROAD AID
PRESENTS PROBLEM
PROBABLE BASIS OF APPoHTION-
MENT OF APPROPRIATION
DISCUSSED.
NEED FOR INSPECTION
A. A. A. NATIONAL ROAD BOARD
HEAD DENIES FEDERAL AID
WILL sTEFLE EFFORT
IN STATE.

THE basis OF apportionmeat OF fed
eral appropriations to the respective
States is matter upon which there
is very little disagreement, and it is
proba bIe that population, area. aud
post road mileage viii he the factors
finally adopted for determining the
proportion Of federal money TO which
each State viii be entitled, writes
Chairman George e. D}efli, Of the
national road hoard, A, y A.. IN
southern Good Roads" Continuing
he submits:
FINALLY our solons will proba big
begin the PR gram Of fedora aid With
4 modest appropriation, probably not
% exceed S., aQe GEO This sum, to-
gether with an equal amount % be
provided by the States. Will involve
an expenditure IF $4,000, 600 during
the first years operation. To start
with moderate appropriation and
Increase III ar conditions warrant
would re to insure the success OF the
policy from the outset.
The question which has threaten
ed To become the rock upon which the
federal aid 10 good roads forces would
split Is that ef federal inspection.
There are les slators who stand aghaSt
a the posi- bslitT III another great
federal bureau growing 10 such pro-
portions az u cast its SHADE upon
local autonomy They profess - see
the crumhliag of States rights, the
sa1filnc q local initiative and endeav-
or and the growth Of a political ma
chine Il federal inspection involved
these consequences, il would be a
dangerous and highly undesirable pol
iSv As "A matter Of fact federal In
spection under reasonable legislative
restriction, involves no menace what
ever ~ I9cal liberties.
Government Supervision.
The weight Of precedent. and the
common sense Of congress are SUI
tc!ently powerful to make certain tha
inclusion In any federal aid hill that
may be passed Of an adequate amount
81 government supervision.
Federal revenues come from all
~ the States. and the right If a
State To do "a X pleases with its own
properly does not carry with II the
r.Ehf 10 do what II pleases with the
property that comes from all OF the
sta II say that federal inspec-
zion ef work for which the federal
government pays portion Of the
cost "a either unwarrantesi ar uH-
wise. is to sa> that the federal gov
eminent should from year 10 year
make appropriations for specific par
poses. and vet take no stems what
ever to ascertain whether the money
IS applied To such purposes
The contention that federal aid
under a plan Of federal inspection
Will stifla iacai self help is net borne
out by experiences in the respective
states where an antlogous plan has
been In effect for some years between
States and counties In 1904 the to-
tai expenditure on public roads
throughou tho United States amount
Sd to $50 coo. 0o0 In 1918 the total
expenditure aggregated about s266
Gee 600. and this In spite OF the fact
that State participation in road wor X
has had Its spirit OF greatest devel-
opment since 1904. and that the total
expenditure II State funds up 10 and
Including the year 1913 amounted To
about s155, 900, 600"