Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-23

Oh the control OF lHuueHCS WHACA IAo
United States shall exercise over the
expenditure Of Its money The .ShAckle-
ford plan would cost the government
S25,000.O 900 year, and as the money
would be expended according to the
proportion of star and rural routes In
the states, naturally the more thinly
settled and less wealthy states would
receive the maximum benefits at the
expense of the others. Thus Missouri,
Mr.. Shackleford's own state, would
draw $1,O1S.750, an amount exceeded
only in the states Of Illinois, New York.
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Georgia,
having 2.S5 per cent Of the total popu-
lation. would receive s771,250. while
Massachusetts, with 1858 per cent Of
the population, would receive only
$53S,75O. Georgia is the home Of Mr..
Lee. North Carolina, the home Of
Senator Overman, would receive $780,
900. altho with only 2.41 per cent of the
population, and Senator Swanson's hne
old commonwealth Of Virginia would
be awarded $591,250. altho her pop
ulation is much smaller than that Of
Massachusetts,.
Crux Of Issue.
There IL, no doubt, substantial JUS
tice in improving the post and farm
ing roads of the agricultural states, but
whether this should be done at the
expense Of the other states, after the
style of the income tax collection. is a
question in which no doubt the more
popular and wealthy states might like
to have voice. The report does not
discuss this phase of the situation, In
terms. but this is the real crux Of the
whole isslSe.ys
Says the report in chapter q which
the democratic senators have repudl-
ated and the democratic representa-
tives ignored I'VE are clearly and
firmly of the conviction that when con-
gress enacts legislation upon such an
important subject as that Of federal
aid to good roads, thereby entering
upon a new sphere Of government ac-
tivity, there should be no evasion
whatever of legislative responsibility,
but that congress should, after giving
careful consideration to every phase
of the subject, enact "a law in such
comprehensive and specific language
as will leave as little discretion as
possible to the executive branch of the
government. We are proud to believe
and assert that this is a government
by law and not by men. There is, in
effect. government by men and not
by law when individual citizens or any
group Of citizens must consult some
official of the government from day to
day in order to know the extent Of
their rights and the limitations upon
their liberty"
Democrats Want One Man Supreme.
1t now appears clear why the demo-
cratic committeeman refuse to sub
scribe to this doctrine. for we find in
the shackleford bin, otter its provision
that the United States may spend>s25,-
o0C. 900 year in road building. that the
state authorities will, be unable to turn
a wheel In developing their roads with
ont the consent Of the secretary of ag-
riculture. Upon this one individual is
placed the responsibility for the ex-
penditure OF 100000 600 during his term
OF office and he Is authorized also TO
make all needful rules for the proper
administration OF the provisions Of this
act" Whatever agreements he may
make with the highway commissioners
of the various states Will be binding
upon thoae states and the United
States government,
This is bureaucracy with vengeance.
Chapter 2 of the report fatty charac-
terizes it as an ''unwise delegation OF
legislative power" we cannot look
upon this" says the report, "as other
than a partial abdication Of legisla.
tive power on the part Of congress and
the delegation OF its authority to the
administrative branch of government.
We care not by what subtle reasoning
II may be asserted that congress has
exercised It's legislative power. The
fact remains that legislation Of this
character is clear violation OF the in
tent and spirit OF the constitution" Al
ready the senate committee on post Of
flee and post roads has taken the sig
nificant step Of substituting for the
Shackleford bill that prepared by
Chairman Bourne and introduced by
Senator Bryan. OF Florida. This
m easure. which Is now on the calendar
of the senate provides for bond issue
Of 100000. 900 by the states at per
cent and for the same sum by the fed
eral government at 3 per cent. the dif-
ference OF per cent being used by the
state to create sinking fund with
which to cancel the state bonds at ma
turity. Under this plan the federal
government extends It's credit to the
states, taking state bonds as security
1t creates a United states highway
commission, consisting OF the chairman
of the senate and house post office
committees the chairman Of the house
committee on roads and the director OF
,, the office OF public roads this commits
sion to have an advisory voice In the
expenditure Of the highway funds: and
1t places upon the state highway com
mission the responsibility for spending
the money of the states. Ample finan-
cial safeguards against improper dis
bursement OF the money are provided
in the bill, which carefully avoids the
| creation of great federal bureau o.
good roads which could be made a pc.
litical instrument Of the highest potcn
| TALLY. AS reported on the bill adds
United States army engineer to the
| United States highway commission.
cieverIy Designed Graft.
The issue here is clean cut between
scientific financing and a: graft system
! so clevefly designed that the chic
! function Of the United States govern
ment in.tlis scheme Is to pay the bills
/, The states are accorded privileges ac
cording to their ability and their needs
in the Bryan or Bourne plan, and thu
dignity Of congress H. upheld alon'