The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-07-27
Does Iowa Want Government Aid For
Roads.

Is Iowa going to accept the 49,
10000 which the federal government
offers as gift for help in the con-
struction of better highways, or, is it
going to tell the federal government
that Iowa has all the money it needs
and refuses the help of Uncle Sam?
Last week President Wilson at
tached his signature to bill that
previously had passed both houses of
congress, appropriating 100000
as federal aid in the construction Of
good roads. OF this sum, Iowa's
share Is just $2,250,0OO.
However, one of the provisions OF
the bill is that this money will not
be available to any state which does
not exercise state supervision Of Its
highway improvements. Are the tax
payers of Iowa going to be misled
into urging the adjustment of state
supervision Of highway improvement
in Iowa, in the face of the saving in
dollars and cents Of $75O,UUO a year,
and the further knowledge that, ii
they do eliminate state supervision,
they will lose this gift from Uncle
Sam?
OF course, every appropriation by
the federal government is paid out
OF general fund of the federal gov
eminent. 1t Is also true that wheth-
er or not Iowa accepts this $780,
900 from the federal government,
that we, as individuals, will continue
to pay our share of the gift that
uncle Sam is making to tho other
states in the union which are devel-
oping their highways under proper
state supervision.
According to the bill, $4,000
will be available this year; 100000
the second year; $45O,O00 the third
year; 100000 the fourth year; and
$75O,0OO the fifth year.
The Greater Iowa Association is
anxious to know how much longer
the leaders of the Taxpayers League
will demand the elimination of state
supervision of Iowa's highway devel-
opment. The association has shown
that the expenses OF the Iowa State
Highway Department are paid for ex-
,clusively by the counties in which the
larger cities of Iowa are located and
that all of the other counties of Iowa
not only do not contribute anything
towards the expenses of the state
highway commission, but receive
back from the automobile fund
sum in excess to that which the auto
mobile owners of that county pay into
the fund.
The Greater Iowa Association is
now compiling a statistical record
showing the exact amount of moneys
paid into the state treasury by each
of the counties and the exact amount
received from such fund by each
county. 1t is estimated now that tif-
teen out of the ninety-nine Iowa
counties pay all of the expenses of
the State Highway Department and
that the other eighty-four counties
either pay nothing to, or make pro-
fit from the state automobile fund.
Under the circumstances, and with
gift of $L,25O,OOO awaiting Iowa
from Uncle Sam, the Greater Iowa
Association thinks it about time for
all those who are honestly in favor
of road development to get together
and endorse a progressive plan OF &C
ton and discontinue these efforts to
get the road question into politics,
,clouding the real issue by character
izing those who are actively in favor
tof better roads and permanent
bridges as either fools or grafters.
1t is now possible to get 365 day
roads, concrete bridges and culverts,
permanent draining and grading, and
"a gift of $2,25O,OOO from the federal
government, without any increase in
taxes of any kind. How much long
,er is political buncombe going to
blind the people of Iowa from doing
that which is to their best interests?
1t is time to think.