South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-22
i. S. Senate Passes
Shackleford's Road
Bill With a Whoop


/ WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.-To the
senate committee on postofices and
post roads finally has gone the
/ Shackleford good roads measure
4 passed in the house of representa-
tiyes by a vote of PSI TO 81
Opinion at the moment in Wash
iEgton is divided as TO whether this
means as favorable a consideration
of the bill as seemed to be assured
at the hands of the committee on
f agriculture. TO which the measure
+ first was referred. Sen. Gore of Ok
lahoma in bill Of his own IS
squarely on record for compre-
hensive federal policy in roads, and
his fellow committeeman in great
I degree shared his views. Sen. Shep-
pard Of Texas has a draft which
contains much Of the house bill.
While Sen. Bankhead Of Alabama
is a highways advocate Of many
years standing some of his associ-
ates on the pOstoffice and post roads
committee are very much divided as
TO the plan which will logically con-
Germ the national government and
insure resultful cooperation between
the secretary of agriculture and the
highway departments of the several
states
Sen Bankhead has his own bill.
which. like the house measure, OBJ
tains ITS fundamentals from the bill
drafted by the American Association
Of state Highway officials, and that
proposition obtained the approval
Of the American Automobile asso-
citation and other bodies interested
in roads progress throughout the
country.
Sen. Swanson of Virginia and Sen.
Eryan Of Florida, both members of
the post roads committee, have in
troduced bills which have been re-
ferred to their committee. The
Swanson plan is not dissimilar to
the Bankhead bill. but the Bryan
proposition is a renewal of the So
called Bourne idea, wherein the fed
eral credit would be loaned TO the
several states so that they could
issue a half billion dollars worth Of
highway bonds. Opponents of this
bill point out that many states do
not want nor require this federal
backing, and, furthermore, over a
score of states would have to change
their constitutions before they could
participate in its provisions.
Urged against the house bill are
arguments which represent two ex-
tremes. IT is asserted by city
spokesman that federal money
would be employed on dirt and 9TH
or practically unimproved roads TO
do work v hich should devolve upon
township or county. 1t is also
alleged that the purpose of the bill
is to provide roads for touring.
Before a dollar is expended of the
Joint federal and state money the
secretary Of agriculture and a state
highway department must agree on
the roads which shall receive atten-
ton. Hence, it is set forth. this dou-
bic check on the money means a
minimum of extravaganza and
waste.
ANY well-traveled road serves the
double purpose of getting the prod
ucts of the farm to market and the
transportation of commodities and
the carrying of mail to the man in
the country. OF course. the touring
motorist uses the roads. for which
he contributes much of the cost and
then pays yearly a large part for
maintenance. But in seeking first
aid TO the main arteries and the
gradual working out Of connected
systems. he is finding that this COM
mon sense and economical view has
accumulated a multiplying support
Good roads advocates are hopeful
that the house bill will be reported
favorably by the senate committee, !
though probably in a somewhat
amended form and embracing some |
things contained in the Bankhead, |
Gore. Swanson, and Sheppard meas |
tires. Highways, it is vigorously in !
sisted. must be included IN any ef-
fective war preparedness program.
Sen. ShafrOth, recognizing a grow |
ing tendency of men Of means TO |
give money for roads has introduced |
legislation which provides for its ac-
ceptance by the states. For in |
stance. in the building of the COlum- |
bia river highway well known citi- /
zens of Portland contributed quite