The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-01
Wilson Measure Up
h ol din G Pr esent
; Sproul System Is Re.
ferred to Committee
TIE QUESTION OF
REVENUE RAISED
e. E. Jones Prods Ways and Means
Committee for Not Taking Action
to Raise Additional Funds-Shaffer
Says Bills Will Soon Be Reported

The House of Representatives this
morning placed the resolution which Us
against the turning back to townships
of any roads which have been taken
over by the State Highway Department
and N general terms upholds the Sproul
act of 1911, in the hands Of the Com.
mittee On Public Roads. The chairman,
E. e. Jones, of Susquehanna, gave as.
surance that the committee will "treat
it fairly"
The resolution, which was introduced
in the House on March "a by Henry l.
Wilson, of Jefferson, was a gentle re-
minder to the administration that
definite road policy had not been an
nounced and asked the House to 90 ON
record with definite policy. The res.
olution sets forth that much valuable
time will be lost, much money wasted
and agricultural and other work re-
tarded if work is not begun soon ON the
upkeep of the State roads. There is APP
proximately 100000 available for this
purpose, according to the resolution.
y Mr.. Wilson called up his resolution
at the opening of the session this morn-
ing. He intimated that the administra-.
tion's road policy is ready for an
nouncement as, he said, he had assur-
anees that the matter will receive
prompt attention. He said he offered
the resolution in good faith and did
not wish to embarrass anyone. His mo-
ton that the resolution be sent to the
Committee on Public Roads was prompt-
ly seconded.
Calls for Revenue Measures
Chairman E. E. Jones, of that COM
mittee said the resolution is a good
one and the committee will treat it
fairly.
Little is being done for the roads,"
he said, "and the session is drawing
toward close. Unless We have some
revenues road legislation will be seri-
ously handicapped. The Ways and
Means committee is tardy in not taking
action ON revenue bills. We ought to
have SIS, 100000 for roads and $780,
100000 for schools in the next two
years. Revenue bills ought to be passed
providing for $10,Oo0,OOO additional
revenue"
MIR. Dell, of Huntingdon, said it would
be a mistake to drop any roads already
provided for and revenue should be pro-
vided., Mr.. Oaks, of Cambria, said some
of the supervisors of his county are
after measure providing for half
mill of special tax for road purposes.
Mr. Dunn, of Philadelphia, attacked
the country voters of the State, blaming
them for defeating the constitutional
amendment which would have permit.
ted the Commonwealth to issue bonds
to the extent of ssh, 900, 900 for roads.
Promises Revenue Bill Soon
"They were falsely influenced - he
said, "to believe that the money would
be misspent. 1t is the fault of the
country people in this State that Penn.
| sylvania does not have roads superior
to any other Commonwealth. The people
who would mostly benefit by good roads
are the people who defeated it,
N1r. Shaffer, member of the Ways
and Means committee, said that revenue
bills will be reported out very soon.
The Wilson resolution provides "that
it is the sense Of the House that the en-
tire mileage of the State highway sys.
tenn as originally outlined in the Sproul
bill and as subsequently increased by
the General Assembly of 1913 be kept
intact as a nucleus for State highway
policy and system and that the State
Highway Department be directed ia
proceed at the earliest date in the ac.
tual work of repair and maintenance. u