The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1916-01-13
WILL BE PLEASED WITH THE
BILL REPORTED TO THE
HOUSE.
BILL ALSO PROVIDES
FOR REPAIR WORK
SUN OF 100000 COULD BE USED
ANNUALLY IN TENNESSEE.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 9.--Ad
vocates of good roads over Tennes-
see will he deeply interested in the
bill that has been reported to the
house of congress by the committee
on roads as a measure that all par
ties have harmoniZed upon as one
that can be passed. Under this bill
the government will spend in each
state a sum equal to that by the
state TO a certain limit that is based
upon the apportionment as to com
bined mileage of rural and star
routes and population. Under the
bill the sum that could be spent ev-
cry year in Tennessee would be
$706, ,O00. This is because Tennessee
has 2.39 per cent of the total popu-
lation of the United States, estimated
at one hundred million people; and
1926 per cent of the total of the star
and rural routes in the United
States.
Congressman Sam r. Sells, of the
first district of Tennessee, is ranking
republican on the roads committee
and is pleased with the action OF the
committee, especially since features
of his good roads bill have been writ
ten into the agreed measure.
Congressman Sells secured the
adoption of an amendment to this
bill eliminating that feature of the
proposed bill which provided for a
distribution of one-third the total
on the basis of area, and which
amendment will give to Tennessee
approximately $150,000 additional.
Sells Discusses Bill.
Speaking of the bill, he said:
ut is not what all of us wanted,
but it at least provides a beginning.
Even with the comparatively small
appropriation which it makes II
ought to prove a wonderful incent'
i've to road building. But perhaps
the greatest benefit will be derived
from its provisions for assisting in
road maintenance. 1t provides a
fund out of which the average coun'
ty in Tennessee may receive from
SC, 900 to $1,000 annually to he eX-
pended in the upkeep of it's roads.
Perhaps one-half of the counties in
East Tennessee have built, or are
building a thorough system of pike
roads. SO far as I know, no ade-
uuate provision has been made for
their maintenance, with the result
that in few years, the work will
have deteriorated for want of an in
telligent system of repair. This bill
will provide a large part of the sum
necessary to keep these ROADS IN
first-class condition, and ought to
prove great stimulus to road build
| ing. Tennessee badly needs addi'
tional road legislation-in order to
receive the federal aid to which she
is entitled under this bill, an act
ought to be passed providing FOL
closer cooperation between the
counties and the state. And then
too, we ought to abolish our convict
lease system and employ this labor
in building roads. Tennessee receives
about forty cents each day for con-
victs leased to private firms and cor
porations. She pays from $1.25 to
$1.5O per day for free labor on hel
roads.
"A concerted movement ought to
begin in all sections of Tennessee
looking to the enactment OF laws DS
the next legislature for the better
ment of our road system. No more
important matter will be presented
for it's consideration, and I hope that
both political parties will take sucf
action in their next state convention
as will commit both parties to al
improved program, and render it al
absolutely non-partisan measure.