Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1916-01-27
$500 Per Year
FEDERAL AID IN ROAD BUILDING
Congressman Smith Introduces a
Measure to Assist States in
This Important Work.

We have before us copy OF the
House Bill 264, as presented by Con-
gressman Addison T. Smith, provid-
ing for federal aid in the building
and maintenance of good roads in
the various states This bill is of
the utmost importance to the state
of Idaho, where the efforts in good
road building has practically just
commenced, and we believe will meet
with the hearty approval of every
resident of the state.
summary of the proposed law is
as follows:
That in order to establish, con-
struct, improve or maintain public
roads there is created fund to be
known as the United States highway
fund to be handled by the treasurer
of the United States on the order of
a highway commission. To create
this fund, the secretary of the treas
ury is authorized and directed to is
sue and sell on and after July l,
1918, bonds to the amount of $780,
900, 900, payable in coin so years
from date of issue. These bonds may
be offered at par as a popular loan,
giving opportunity to citizens OF the
United States to participate in it.
Before any safe can take advant-
age of the funds raised by the bond
issue, it must first have highway
commission. These commissions are
required to make a report TO the gov
ernor of the respective states in
which they operate, showing expenses
expenditures, revenue, etc, which
will be forwarded by the chief execu-
tive to the secretary of the treasury
= and United States highway commits
sion. The United States highway
= fund is to be apporitoned to the vari-
= GUS states based on 4 per cent for
' each as compiled from population. as
g sessed valuation, mileage of high
e ways and total land area of the re-
:. spective states. The state commits
Il sion may apply for not to exceed 20
: per cent each year of its share of the
e fund so apportioned and secure ii by
depositing a bond with the treasurer
i covering such amount secured, pay
e able in so years at per cent. The
n bond of state will not be accepted
IS if 1t exceeds 10 per cent of the total
le amount of assessable property. Any
10 state desiring to do so may deposit
is 4 per cent bonds with the treasurer
~, mo
Id less than 20 years from date of issue,
ry but on redemption the state must pay
it per cent per annum on balance due,
do together with accrued interest
of On Feb ! of each year, following
or 1918, the treasurer of the United
by States shall pay to the respective
re states from any funds in the treasury
lr- not otherwise appropriated, al
in amount of money equal to one-hal
nd the amount the state has expended
of out of its own funds during the pre-
Dol ceding calendar year, but in no cas-
to exceed u per cent of the amour
sts of state bonds deposited with tn
of United States treasurer by the re
hat spective states. This money is 70
be maintenance.
the The L. S. highway commission
elf to be composed of the chairman an
low ranking minority member of tn
he senate committee on post offices an
hat post roads, the chairman and IN
and ranking minority member of II
house committee on roads, the d
ave rector of the office of public road
to and a United States Army engine
ear to be detailed from time to time
ool the secretary of war. This commit
l, is sion is to have an advisory voice
in the expenditure of the United Stat
erly highway fund in the several STATE
Its head office must be in the ID
Aus trict of Columbia, but it may crea
has highway divisions not exceeding
OBJ number one for each state and m
ding maintain division office in charge
L. S. highway engineer in each
vision. 1t is empowered to emp
clerical help, provided for by &c
gressional appropriation, and n
.,... require the assistance and co-ope
w .r ton of the officers and employees
any department in its work.
s The bill is now in the hands
- the committee on roads.