Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
FEDERAL. AID LEGISLATION
RESTS WITH CONFEREEs
Indications Point to an Agreement
and Harmonizing OF Bankhead
and Shackleford Bills.
A. A. A. ENDORSES MEASURES
senator Borall Says Bankhead Bill
Is step In Right Direction" for
Better Roads-First Years APP
preparation Will BE $4,000, 900.

ASiilNGTON. ID. c., May l3.-Fcd-
%rai roads legislation in the present
'ohSress now rests with the confcrecs
VI the Senate and the House of Rep
resehtatives. with Indications that an
asreemcnt is practically assured.
me Senate has just passed the Bank
mead bill. named after the chairman of
Inc Committee on Post Offices and
post-Roads. while the House previously
mad accepted the Shackicford bill Of
It's Committee on Roads.
Both measures had their basis in a
hraft prepared by the American Asso-
riation OF state Highway officials,
which had the endorsement Of the
American Automobile Association ana
other organizations interested in
highways Improvement.
The House hill omitted some things
"hich the Senate committee considered
should be included and one Of these
was area as one OF the three factors
In the distribution Of the Federal
money appropriated, population and
uost-road mileage being the other
items TIE ANSWER Of the Senate com
hittee was a substitute measure. which
ND no, suffer much revision under dis
'lSsion. except that rider was tackled
on By the insistence Of the Western
senator's providing for million dol
lars annually for the purpose OF con-
structinr roads and trails in the ma
tional forest reserves. such money.
however, to be paid back to the Federal
treasury from the revenues derived
from the forests. at the rate Of 10 per
cent year
During the discussion in the Senate
~ was quite thoroughly emphasized
that the adoption Of proposed leEis-
ation meant the return of the national
government to a form OF internal inn
protemcnt which had been discontinued
since the building Of the old Cumbcr-
operation between the national govern
ment and the several States proved as
advantageous as was contcndcd. il was
set forth there would follow AN in
creased quantity Of this aid to the
states.
Senator Borah. OF Idaho, thus COM
mcnted upon the subject: when you
take into consideration the amount Of
roads which must hc built in the
United States the amount which is APP
propriatcd in this hill is inhnitesimai.
compared TO what will finally he appro-
priatcd for that purpose. 1t Is simply
a step In the right direction
In the concluding hours of the dis
russion OF the Senate bin. Senator
Smoot. OF Utah. sought the adoption OF
the so-called Bourne substitute. 4 form
Of loaninC the national credit TO the
states so that they could issue road
bonds that would be replaced by Fed
cral bonds.
Senator Townsend OF Michigan. who
In previous Congress had been favor
able TO the bourne plan. practically
concluded rs chances in a speech in
the course OF which he said:
II did advocate the Bourne bill sew
eral years ago and AT that time be-
lieved II We could start IL under normal
conditions, IL might have been made
10 work. II would require a change OF
laws III many OF tn" States and con-
X IN
fore II could be put into operation.
That, OF course, would require consid-
cradle time in some Instances years
We are proposing TO spend tho money
belonging TO tho people of the various
states. Their experts have passed upon
this subject. and think with quite as
much Intelligent" as theorists in the
Senate have done Therefore being In
favor OF good roads leg slation and
being convinced the bill before us is
practical and economical and means the
building OF good roads, ] cannot vote
for substitute which, would mean the
end OF legislation and thus deprive
thc people who have given years Of
careful study IL this subject, the OPP
fortun!ty TO have desired lcGislation."
Se senate bill provides for a first
year appropriation OF 81. 600, coo. and an
increase each year OF that amount until
S25,o0o.oo0 is reached, or a grand total
Of 3I5,ooo,ooo. The States contribute a
like amount. and this sljO 900 900 Is
expended In the several states on
whatever roads State highway de-
partment and the Secretary "f hgricui-
t.-e mutually agree. The House bill
II allied for An annual appropriation
which should start with a comparatively
small amount and then gradually en-
pand as the efficacy of the arrange
ment was demonstrated.