The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-23

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In = recent speech before congress,
comments J. -. Love- presidsnt Of the
National Old Trails Road Associetion.,
Congressman shackleford Of Missouri
Designated all roads which 90 farther
than to the nearest railway station a.
peacock boulevards for 3oyriders
only He has obtained the passage OF
a bill in the lower house which. II 1t
passes the senate and receives the sig
nature OF the president. VIII put Z
quietus forever on the clamorinBs OF.
every good road organisation In the
United States for through thorough
fares that begin somewhere and go
somewhere else.
Judge Shackleford's attack against
peacock boulevards' was so bitter"
continues Mr. Lowe, that it must be
assumed that his bill is designed to
prevent or refuse federal aid for the
construction Of such highways. So far
as hts words had any meaning they
have been interpreted AZ indicating
that he ID uncompromisingl against
any road that leads from town to town.
across the state. or through several
states.
The truth il that the good roads
movement. now approaching success. IL
the direct result OF the self sacrificing
work Of business men and associations
promoting precisely this kind Of q
road. In every city in the country
there are from one to . dozen Of these
organizations boosting highways from
100 to 1000 miles In length. Tho officers
and members are among the most re-
sponsible business men of the COM
munity and far from being 'polecats
and lobbyists as openly claimed by
Judge Shackleford. These public mind
ed citizens have lent their money. time
and brains to the movement and unfor-
tunately there il nothing to prevent any
ambitious politician like the father OF
the notorious pork barrel bill. from
jumping astride and riding their well
intentfoned schemes to victory or death
as the case may be.
But, as Congressman Borland has
pointed out. there ought to be some rule
of fair sportsmanship against the rider
kicking in the face of the men who
furnished him the steed. without the
city and small town good roads boost
ers there would have been no good
roads movement of Importance and
Judge Shackleford would not be chair
man Of committee investigating the
merits Of the same.
There is nothing about the so-called
peacock boulevards' to suggest JOY
riding as declared by Judge shackle-
ford. That pastime Of rich mems sons.
everybody knows. is not transcontf-
mental or town-to-town sport. but 10
most perniciously conducted on sub
urban highways and city parkway
THE proviso in section 1 Of the
Shackleford bill as passed by the house,
makes its benefits applicable only to
public roads outside incorporated cities
over which the United States regularly
carries rural mails. either by free rural
delivery or star route carriers" What
then is a city within the meaning OF
this proviso? A city Is whatever the
statutes of the state defines 1t; hence.
there may be 4s different definitions
under this act, and 48 different appli-
cations of the benefits Of the aid pro-
poses by this tumble, Of n0rsenser For
instance, section S527 act 1, .clI4ptersSe.
of the Missouri statutes provides: So,
IAN cities and towns In this state.
containing Ave hundred and less than
three thousand inhabitants. and all
towns existing under any special law.
and having less than Ave hundred In
habitants which shall elect to be cities
of the fourth class, shall be cities Of the
fourth class
Hence. the people and property in
the cities of this state. no matter what
their population may be. are to receive
mona If ito benefits although they viii
pay from 60 to 80 per cent. of the road
taxes.
I'm my opinion the ShacklefOrd bill
is even more dangerous now than De-
fore its amendment"
Nor il Mr.. Lowe alone in his opinion.
The Shackleford bill appears to be the
very worst possible sort of a national
GOOD roads measure, and especially be-
cause of its pork barrel proclivities. II
II should become a law and becomes
the method Of extending national aid
in the building Of good roads. 1t will
mean the endless dumping OF millions
an0 millions Of dollars Of federal money
into the rural roads Of the land with
out any satisfactory return in the way
Of providing the country with anything
that savors of a system OF national
highways. In. fact. it Is a good roads
measure in name only. and the senate
win be doing the country and the good
roads movement a great public service
4 by putting 1t in a pigeon hole and per-
hitting it to sleep to death. ~
THE VALUE OF WORDS.
..Deeds, not Words il a platitude-