Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-17
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF
BANGOR AUTOMOBILE CLUB
ON RECORD FOR THE MILL TAX
Addresses by Paul D. Sargent, Carl E. Mliken,
Frederic H. Parkhurst Timothy F. Callahan
and Others

Congress has been memorialized on
the subject.
The question of Federal aid in road
construction did not become one OF
very great interest to Congress until
after the calling of a convention ny
the American Automobile Association
in Washington, D. C., in January. 1912
\ significant indication of the state
Of public opinion was obtained in re-
Spouse to a letter sent out by the Joint
committee to large number of news
papers, commercial organizations and
oranges asking for statement Of the
consensus Of opinion on the subject of
Federal participation in highway de-
velopment. Following is an extract
from the report:
Replies covering 100000 individual.
came from each state in the Union and
since the request for opinions were
made without discrimination and the
answers received were from all parts
of the United States the replies show
with reasonable accuracy the consen-
sus Of public opinion on the subjects
mentioned. Ninety-seven per cent of
the replies favored Federal Aid and
three per cent We're against it."
In December, 1914, the American AS
ISOLATION of State Highway Officials,
composed of the executives of the vari-
Gus state highway departments. assem-
bled at Washington and after very Sc
riors and earnest discussion framed a
bill based on the experience Of these
various officials in the administra finn
of state aid and submitted this hill
to the committee on Roads of the
House OF Representatives as embody-
ing the principles which should be in
cluded in any Federal Aid legislation.
The bill substantially as drafted by the
state highway officials was introduced
into both the House and Senate at the
present session. IN the House it was
known as the Shackleford bill and af
ter consideration by the committee was
reported with few minor changes and
passed by the House on January %,
last. by vote of PSI 70 81
The bill provides for an appropria-
ton not to exceed $4,000, 900 per year.
This appropriation shall be apportioned
by the Secretary Of Agriculture as
follows:
Sixty-five thousand dollars to each
state; one-half of the remainder to be
apportioned in the ratio Of population
of the state to the total population of
the county and the other half in the
ratio which the mileage Of rural free
delivery and star mail routes in each
state bears to the mileage OF rural free
delivery and star mail routes Of all
the states. Under this distribution
Maine would receive substantially
s276,0oO. The bill made it discretionary
with the Secretary Of Agriculture as
to just what proportion of the cost Of
any road the Government would pay,
but specified that it should not be less
than cne-third nor more than ore
half
The selection of the roads to he iln-
proved, or maintained, for the bill pro-
vldes for maintenance Of roads already
built, was to be made by the state
highway department. subject, of
course, to the approval of the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture. The state high
way department is charged with MAX
ing surveys, plans and estimates of the
cost of construction, all Of which must
be submitted to the Secretary of Ag-
riculture for his approval
When the location. plans and esti-
mates haze been approved the state
highway department proceeds with
letting the contract and looking after
the work and the Secretary Of .Agri-
culture is authorized to make such
inspection at such time as he sees fit
This bill was reported on March }
to the Senate with amendments. J'ne
phraseology Of the entire bill is
changed. but every provision Of the bill;
as 1t passed the House IS included,
with the exception IL the Government
participating in maintenance. TIE
Senate bill places the burden Of main
tenance entirely upon the states and
allows the Secretary Of Agriculture to
withhold the payment Of Federal aid
already apportioned from any state
which fails to properly maintain the
roads already built.
The Federal appropriation carried by
the Senate bill Is as follows:
Five million dollars for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1917 $4,000, 900
for the fiscal year ending June 80 1918;
$15. 100000 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1919: $4,000, 900 for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1920: and s25, OOe,-
600 for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1921.
The basis Of apportionment is
changed in this respect. The Secre-
tary Of Agriculture is directed to use
not to exceed five per cent Of the ap-
preparation for administrative pur-
poses. The remainder is to be appor-
toned in the following manner to the
states:
One-third in the ratio which the
area OF each state bears to the total
area Of all the states, one-third in the
ratio which the population OF each
state bears to the total population Of
all the states and one-third in the
ratio which the mileage of rural de-
Hverv routes and star routes in each
state bears to the total mileage of
rural delivery routes and star routes in
all the states.
l have made some computations and
find that under the provisions Of the
bill reported to the Senate that the
State CT Maine would receive from the
s., 100000 Government appropriation
SAG, 1884. This apportionment would
be increased by similar amount each