The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-21
BANKHEAD BILL IS
PASSED BY SENATE

specifications and estimates for such
project have been submitted to him
and approved by him, nor until he
mas received satisfactory assurance
that the state has provided In money,
TABOR and material an amount equal
TO the amount to be received from
the United States for expenditure on
such project; nor until satisfactory
agreement shall have been made on
the part of the state that the rural
post road built under the terms Of
the act will be properly maintained
by the state. or any subdivision there
or" The secretary OF agriculture
cannot pay any payment for road
I construction under the act "in ex-
cess of $4,000 per mile, exclusive
OF the cost of bridges or more than
twenty feet clear span"
Admirable Management.
These are in general terms the
I principal features of the Bankhead
good roads bill. His management of
II In the Senate was altogether ad-
mirable. He insisted upon the full
est discussion of its terms, preserved
his patience under severe provocation
at times, sought to have every con-
stitutlonal or legal objection re-
moved and after hard but inspiring
contest carried 1t through practically
In its original form. No measure
providing federal aid for public pur-
poses has ever passed the Senate in
which greater care has been taken
Of the interests OF the government.
OF course the Constitutional law
yers" were on guard throughout the
debate and the guardians of the
rights Of the states also: and there
/ was, besides, 4 most instructive dis
cussion OF the good roads question
in all Its economical, business and
social aspects. AS, for example.
when Senator Owen showed by care
fully prepared statistics that the
commercial value OF good roads
would mean n saving OF thousand
million dollars annually" to the peo-
pie of the country; that improved
roads mean improved schools and
churches" that good roads in the
rural districts would prevent the
drift from the country to town.
would obviate the congestion Of traf-
file, would promote the public
health. would make 1t possible. by
"reclaiming waste places with proper
cultivation" for the farmers with
easier and passable roads to market
to easily produce over twenty BILL
lions Of wealth per annum-a sum
nearly equal to the fatal accumula-
tion Of a century in the banking re-
sources in all our $4,000 banks"
Emphasizing the necessity Of gov
eminent aid in the construction of
good roads. Senator Underwood said:
The whole history of the building
of roads in the civilized world has
demonstrated the fact that there has
never been great system OF roads
built in any country until the gov
eminent stood behind 1t in some
way"
Senator John Sharp Williams, who
has the reputation OF being some
thing OF a strict constructionist, de-
clared that the constitutional power
tof Congress to pass the BILLY is I'M
doubted. Obvious. plain and palp-
able" and that wherever there has
ever been any people who ever prof.
, mated civilization, self developed
civilization. Characteristic civiliza-
ton of any sort, good roads have ac-
J the roads Of Rome were strategic
. roads. and commerce grew up upon
the road, so that the road was the
j cause OF the commerce rather than
the existence OF the commerce the
cause Of the construction Of the road.
But with us we have not only the
! strategic military reason, which is
. national, the interstate commerce
] reason, which Is national, the post
$ road. which is federal. but the other
: reason which have mentioned,
g which is educational. There can be
: no interstate commerce Of any great
e power unless there be good roads for
n q local commerce forming connectins
D links upon which the interstate CON-
: merce Is founded. nor can there be
J. any great international commerce
n except for the interstate commerce
: OF the various countries which form
: the family OF nations"
: Sound Statesmauship.
: 1t will be seen that the Bankhead
: good roads bill is the work OF sound
q Craftsmanship and not merely an Of.
= fort to separate the government from
4 Its money in the aid Of local enter.
Q prises or to promote a doubtful un.
e dertalslng. The bill Is as big as the
: great country 1t represents and as
n broad as the humanity It would
g serve. Its enactment will take the
@ public highways out Of politics and
n make them thorougfares for com
merce and industry instead Of paths