Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-26
PLAN TO ELIMINATE
PORK BARREL FROM
\ HIGHWAY BUREAU
Pennsylvania Motor Fedora
ton Will Introduce Bill for
Equitable Apportionment
of Funds of State.

The Pennsylvania Motor Federation
viii Introduce in the next Legislature a
bin TO eliminate "porR-barrel" methods OF
expending state highway funds. The
bill will provide a definite plan for the
equitable apportionment among the coun-
ties OF the Commonwealth OF all funds
expended by the State Highway Depart
ment.
The measure is now being drafted by
the Road Committee of the federation,
and will be submitted to Governor Brum-
baugh In an effort to obtain his support
before II is presented In the Legislature.
Joseph II. Weeks, chairman OF the COM
nittee. said today that the federation
members expect the Governor TO support
tho bill because II provides n strong fea-
ture in a reorganization plan of the State
Highway Department to which Doctor
Ehumbaugh pledged himself during his
campaign.
PLAN EMBRACES WHOLE PROBLEM.
The plan will be known as the Weeks
pended by the state Highway Depart
ment.s including all appropriations, prob
able bond issues. automobile license fees
and money paid to the department by
counties and townships under the State
aid plan of road building.
The Weeks plan, in brief, is as follows;
One-third of the funds are to be d.
vided among the counties in the same
proportion that the mileage of State
highways in each county bears TO the
total mileage of State highways In the
Commonwealth.
One-third is to be apportioned among
the counties in accordance with the mile.
age OF township and county roads In
each county as compared with the total
mileage OF such roads in the Common
wealth.
One-third is to be apportioned accord
ing to population, emitting cities of the
nrst and second class.
SMALLER COUNTIES PROTECTED.
This last provision would prevent Ale
Eheny and Lackawanna Counties from
getting an undue share, because of the
large population Of Pittsburgh and Scran-
ton. The entire county OF Philadelphia
would be eliminated from the apportion-
rnent of the last third under the provl-
sions of the plan.
part of the funds should be appor-
toned on the basis of population in order
70 equalize the apportionment according
to the wear and tear on the roads and
highways in the different counties" ex-
planned Mr.. Weeks, the father Of the
plan, today.
Take Delaware and Chester Counties,
for example. Chester is almost Ave
times as large as Delaware. but has
about 1000 less in population. Each mile
OF road in Delaware. because of the
larger population per square mile, has
five times the amount of travel over 1t
as there is over a mile of road in Ches-
ter. Under the proposed plan each Of
these two counties would receive about
the same share Of the State highway
funds.
The plan has been worked out during
the last two years. and has been drafted
to meet general dissatisfaction through
out the State over the way the State
highway funds are now being expended.
Many counties are claiming that they
have not received their share. Many
others are claiming that proper political
pull is now necessary for an appropria-
tion for their counties. Incidentally,
do not agree with this last claim. Dis
satisfaction is bound TO arise over the
present system, however. 1t has arisen in
4 small amount since the plan originated
In 1911. The Weeks plan is the result OF
a careful study of the situation, and will
be advanced as a permanent system for
the equable distribution OF State highway
fundsp