Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-14

WhANh Dhtlll t9Cb RlONuNNo AANih NAN
farm to the nearest railway station
and enable the farmer to haul when
he can not be busy about his SOW
ing and reaping, and to haul at
lower rate. The railway will con-
tinue for, an indefinite time to be
the national highway. The emphasis
is needed on the community road.
1t is estimated that 1t costs twenty
three cents per ton mile to haul un-
der existing conditions on the coun-
try road, and that this could be re-
duced by half If the roads were inn
proved. The question is one partly,
Of course, Of means or of funds, but
even more largely of methods, of in
strumentalities, and Of administra-
tion.
The nation today is spending an
nually the equivalent of more than
two hundred millions Of dollars for
roads, an enormous increase in the
last decade. Much Of this is direct
ed by local supervisors and 1t is
estimated by experts that of the
amount so directed anywhere from
thirty to forty per cent is, relatively
speaking, wasted or misdirected. The
first requisite, therefore, is for eff
cient expediture and administration
and so far as the Federal govern
ment is concerned, to project 1t into
the situation so as to safeguard the
expenditure and to perfect the ad-
ministration. The Office Of Public
Roads is at present doing every
thing in its power to promote the
economical building Of good roads,
and especially to assist in the devel-
opment Of proper administration.
Local Administration.
The difficulties are presented
mainly in the sphere of State and
local administration. Less than half
the States at present have an ex-
pert highway commission, and none
have expert county commissioners,
II direct Federal aid Is to be ex-
tended 1t should be done only under
such conditions as will guarantee a
dollars result for every dollar OF
expenditure.
1t is clearly undesirable to dis
courage State and local initiative,
Cooperation between the State and
the Federal government is requisite.
The State should be the lowest unit
with which the Federal agency
should deal, and the representative
in every State should be an expert
highway commission. An automatic
check to assaults on the Federal
treasury should be provided, and the
requirement that each State makes
available at least twice as much as
is appropriated by the Federal gov
ernment should be imposed. II
there were the further provision that
the Federal funds should be limited
to construction projects and that be-
fore Federal money Is made avail
able for any projects, those projeCts
shall have been mutually agreed
upon by the Federal agency and the
State Highway Commission, With
clear understanding as to methods
Of construction, specifications, ma
terlals, and the development Of a
state system, great benefits might
result and dangers would be re-
duced to a minimum, This same
principle Of cooperation Is embodied
In the smith-Lever Extension Billi
and, In my opinion, in intelligent
cooperation Of this sort many Of the
problems which are presented by
our dual form Of Government will
find solution.
Not Invasion of State Rights.
II Is objected by some that such
injection OF the Federal Govern
ment In tho administration, in some
way, involves an invasion Of state
autonomy, II there 10 danger here
the easiest way for State to OBJ
yIate II is by not seeking Federal
funds, but II people do demand Fed
eral money they cannot easily de.
cllno to have lts proper and effl-
Client expenditure safeguardod, and
surely the people Of the nation have
a right to the best knowledge and
service Of the thoughts OF all their
governmental jurisdiction. All these
exist for the people, and all should