Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-20

finally has gone the Shackle-
ford good roads measure.
passed in the House of Rep
resenta1ives by a vote of 2s1 to ST.
opinion at the moment IN Wasnlhs-
ton is divided as to whether this means
as favorable a consideration OF the OIL
al; seemed to be assured at the hands OF
she committee on agriculture, to whlch
the measure first was referred. Sena-
tor Gore of Oklahoma. in a bill OF MS
OWE, is squarely on record for COM
prehensive federal policy in roads, ana
his fellow committeeman in great de-
gree share his views. Senator Shep-
paid Of Texas has q draft which con-
;itias much of the House bill
:, hiie Senator Bankhead of Alabama
l. =. highways advocate of many years,
s5,f- g his associates on the
post ONCE arS.Isost ~oads COMMITTEES
arc very much divided as to the plan
which will logically concern the ma
full cooperation between the Secretary
of Agriculture and the highway de-
partnents of the several states
Senator Bankhead has his own bill.
which. like the House measure. OBJ
t:,ils its fundamentals from the bill
drafted by the American ASSOCIATION
OF state Highway officials. and that
proposition obtained the approval OF
the american Automobile Association
ard other bodies interested in roads
progress throughout the country.
Senator Swanson of Virginia and
Senator Bryan of Florida. both mem
bers of the post roads committee, have
Introduced bills which have been re-
ferrsd 10 their committee. The Swan
son plan is not dissimilar to the
Baukuead bill but the Bryan PROPOSE
ton is renewal of the so-called
Bourne idea. wherein the federal credit
would he loaned to the several states
SO maj they could issue 4 half mill
lion 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 It score of states would have to
change their cousti tutiouS before they
could participate in its provisions.
Urged against the House bill are
arguments which represent two eX-
trenes. II is asserted by city spokes-
men that federal money would be en-
aloy ed dirt and other practically IN
improved roads to do work which
should devoive upon township or coun-
ty. Ii is also alleged that the purpose
touring.
Before d dollar is expended of the
join federal and state money the Sec
ietary of Agriculture and a state high
WIZ department. must agree on Inc
roads which shall receive extension.
Hence, it is set forth. this double check
Oh the money means minimum of eX-
travagance and waste.
ANY well travelled road serves the
double purpose of getting the products
of the farm to market and the trans
portation of commodities and the car
rying of mail to the man in the coun-
try. of course, the touring motorist
uses the roads. for which he con-
tributes much OF the cost and then
PAYS yearly large part for mainte-
nance, But in seeking first aid to
the main arteries and the gradual
working out of connected systems he
is finding that this commonsense 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 somewhat amend
e. form and embracing some things
contained in the Bankhead Gore,
Swanson and Sheppard measures.
Highways, it is vigorously insisted.
must be included in any effective war
Preparedness program.
Senator Shafroth, recognizing grow
ing tendency of men of means to give
money for roads, has introduced leg
islation which provides for its accent
ance by the states. For instance, in
the building of the Columbia river
highway well known citizens of Port
land contributed quite literally