The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-10
WHO'LL REALLY PAY FOR
THESE ROADs3

The two houses Of Congress have
passed measures for Federal con-
tribution to building country roads;
the 'Shackleford bill in the House,
and the Bankhead measure In the
Senate. They differ in details, but
In the essence Of giving national
money to build State roads. are alike.
The postroads clause Of the Consti-
tuition is stretched to give authority:
the money will 60 to roads used for
free delivery.
Thus rural delivery, which already
costs heap Of millions more than
Il produces in revenue, becomes the
excuse for dumping in more mill
lions.
II there is any one function that
the States ought to perform for
themselves, It Is this Of building
country roads. The States are con-
stantly protesting the looping of Of
their powers, and the increasing con-
centration Of power and authority in
the Federal Administration; but the
process Of Capitalization will 60
right ahead SO long as the States
continue demanding Federal money
to do all manner Of things that ought
to be State concerns, pure and sim
pie, IL there is any excuse whatever
for maintaining State sovereignties.
What on earth are the States for,
II they are not going to build their
own country roads!
The difficulty about Federal con-
tribution to road building is that It
is outrageously inequitable in sew
eral ways. The -Bankhead bill
coolly takes national money and
gives it to the States. The appor-
tionment Of the total fund is made
to particular State, one-third In
the ratio which the States popula-
ton bears to the total population;
one-third in the ratio which it's area
bears to the total area; and one
third in the ratio which its mileage
Of postroads bears to the total mile
age Of postroads. This Is indecent.
Rhode Island has a highly concen-
trated population, but a small mile
age Of country roads and a very
small area. It will give to the gen
eral Federal road system many times
as much as 1t can possibly get out
Of that system; while a sparsely set
tied State like Arizona will get vast
ly more than its fair share, to be
paid by States like Rhode Island.
So much for that feature. There
Is one yet worse. The State Of Mary
land is one of the poorer common
wealths Of the East. IT has not the
wealth Of the small States at the
North. Yet it has been particularly
enterprising and enlightened in It's
attitude toward roads. It has spent
its own good money, raised from
taxes and bond sales, to provide t.
self with a splendid system Of mod
ern roads. Those roads. are built.
The Bankhead law doesn't contem-
plate paving back to Maryland any
part Of the expense Of them.
On the other hand Iowa, for ex-
ample, has been as irapressively
backward in road building as Mary
land has been progressive. Iowa
has been waiting for the time when
Federal aid would be rendered. TIE
time has come. It has sparse pop
uiation, a large area; SO II will get
a big share Of the appropriation, as
compared TO tight little Maryland
The Bankhead plan is fine thing
for Iowa and Nebraska and Texas;
hut It perpetrates an outrage or
States that have already spent ten:
Of millions building their own roads
and that will now be required, In
addition, to help build the roads Of
less enterprising States. 8
The whole schene Is bogus. It il
the sort Of legislation that only
passes for political effect; and tbs
effects Of it ought to be a bitter re.
buke for its authors from every
State that stands to be skinned un
der this inequitable scheme.
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