The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-19
Which Pertains to Federal Aid
to the States in Construc-
ton of Good Roads.

WASHINGTON Mar. a1ss-one OF
the most important ana pressing mat
terra with which the Congress must
deal at Its present session il the mat
tor OF good roads. A month ago, or
more. tho so-calIed Shackleford bill
passed tho House by an overwhelming
majority md was sent to the Senate,
Il carried mn annual appropriation OF
%26.O00,O00 out OF tho general treas.
4 ury to air tho states In the conAtruc-
! ton and maintenance OF rural post
i roads and was sent to the Senate for
itS consideration. There was some-
thing OF a passing furry In that body
40 to which committee tho measure.
should be referred. which was ami
cahly adjusted by reference from the,
committee on agriculture and forestry
to the committee on pnstotticeH and
postroads. That committee has COM
pleted lts work and reported q bill
very much like the House measure
In its general terms but differing in
important features from the House
bill to such an extent aa to make II,
as 1t has been described by one Of
the experts who has made a lifetime
study OF this problem, "the best roads
measure that has ever heen proposed
in the national legislature"
Wise Provisions.
Tho Senate bill which has been
pressed with fine intelligence by Sem
ator Bankhead of Alabama, provides.
for the year 1917 an appropriation OF.
$h,O0O,00O. for the year 1918 an Ap-
preparation of $1O.00O.000. for the year
1913 an appropriation OF $15,000,000
for the year 1920 an appropriation OF
ET20.O00,000. and for tho year 1891 an
appropriation OF $25. 100000. The man
agament distribution and expenditure
otthc appropriations 30 provided are to
be entrusted TO tho secretary Of ngri-
cultIre and under conditions, clearly
stated In the measure. which he rs
1 directed to require. These condl4
lions, briefly stated. are to prevent the
waste of the funds taken but OF the
federal treasury so that each dollar
Expended In the work OF making good
roads shall have q dollars worth OF
work to show for Il. 1.-THE secretary
OF agriculture Is authorized to cooper
ate with the states"; the secretary Of
agriculture and the state highway de-
lpartment OF each state shall. agree
unon the roads to be constructed
therein and the character and method
Of construction. . After making certain
clearly stated deductions to cover the
expense OF administration from the
fund provided by the United states
tho secretary or agriculture shall APP
portion the remainder of the anprn-
prlatlpn for each fiscal year among the
several states" one-thlrd in the ratio
which the area OF each state bears TO
the total population OF all the states,
and one-third in the ratio which the
mileage or rural delivery routes and
star routes In each state bears 10 the
total mileage Of rural delivery routes
and star routes In all the states at the
close OF the next preceding fiscal
year The secretary OF agriculture
and the state highway department Of
each state may Jointly determine al
what times, and In what amounts.
payments, as work progresses. shall
be made under this act, and payment
OF these amounts Is TO be made by The
secretary OF tho treasury ON warrants
drawn by the secretary OF agriculture
All road projects under this act afe
to be approved by the secretary OF
agriculture before they can be made
q charge against the appropriations
made by Congress, the net providing
that he shall approve plans. Bpeciflca-
tions and estimates. The states or
their subdivisions must maintaif, tho
roads built with the federal aid. for
the secretary Of Agriculture is author
lied to withhold further such aid
where maintenance ID not properly
carried on. ~ win be seen that the
secretary OF agriculture III the most
Important factor, next b the money
70 be taken out OF the treasury. In this
effort to improve Tho, highways Of the
country, and those who know him viii
DO perfectly content, it they really
mean business to load this additional
burden upon his broad shoulders.
feeling assured that because Of his
character and acute business sense
there will be a square deal under the
terms OF the law.
Purely Business.
The Senate bill lis q purely business
measure. There Is no politics In 1t,
no sectionalism. no Sfayuritisr. no
partnership. The conditions are plain
and simple ratio I'm area. In popula-
ton, i'm mileage Better than ali this,
however A. the. provision thnt the
building Of good roads for postal pur-
poses. which will be available for I'm
Hif4tr1n1 and I slettt m a5ntnt t,tt,.,.r.,r..