American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-02-10
HOUSE PASSES S25.OO0,000
APPROPRIATION FOR ROADS
II Measure Passes Senate and Becomes
Effective, IdahO's Share VIII BE
About $4,000.

sf"H -
About $4,000.
BY a vote of 2S1 to 81 the House OF
Representatives at Washington has
passed what is called the "Shakleford
Bill" carrying an appropriation of
$25, 900, 900 to aid the state in improv-
ing their public roads used in the
postal service 70 the government. Six
teen or seventeen bills, probably more
relating to the same subject have been
submitted to the house at its present
session, and all of them, though diff
fering somewhat IN minor details are
to the same general effect that it is
well within the constitutional rights
and certainly the imperative duty of
the Congress to provide out OF he
public treasury for this great public
necessity.
The bill as it passed the House,
provides that in certain cases, clear
ly defined in the bill, the Secretary
OF Agriculture shall aid the states in
the construction and maintenance of
rural post roads, which means, "any
public road over which rural mail is
or might be, carried outside of incor-
porated cities, towns or %boroughs hav-
ing a population exceeding 1000" The
expense of administering the funds
thus provided is to be paid out of the
fund. Each state Is to receive out
right the sun OF sos 600 and one-half
Of the remainder to be divided is to be
apportioned among the states accord
ing to population and the remaining
half according to the mileage of rural
free delivery routes to the extent
that such population and rural free
delivery routes bear to the popula-
tlon and free delivery routes of the
states.
The administration of the fund Is to
be under the general direction Of the
Secretary OF Agriculture and its dis
tribution Is to be regulated upon
terms which will protect the Federal
treasury and assure the satisfactory
completion of the work undertaken.
The Secretary viii do his part through
the highway departments of the sew
eral states. and In the absence OF such
departments, through such represen-
~tatives of the state as may be agreed
upon by the Secretary and the Gov
ernor. Upon application OF states for
aid In the construction of any rural
: post road the Secretary is to decide
whether or not the aid Desired ome
within the provisions of the bill and
: II he shall decide IN favor of the pro-
' posed road he shall require plans,
specifications and estimates OF cost
, for his approval. Upon approval and
' the acceptance of the state OF the CON
= ditions upon which Federal aid will be
y givor, the Secretary will have the
authority to igve not less than thirty
. per cent nor more than fifty per cent
of the reasonable cost of construction
@ or maintenance of the road tubs ap-
. proved.
All construction and maintenance
! OF roads under the bill shall be under
y the supervision and control of the
q State Highway departments OF the
Estates. In such states as v a High
way department the apportionment OF
h the fund for such state shall be *
pended In such manne as the Secre'
n tary and the Governor may agree up
It on. The Secretary is authorized t.
a make or direct such examination anC
n inspection of any road constructed ol
Il maintained under the provisions o
l. the Act. and Ito prescribe such rule,
n and regulations for the Administrative
Ir OF this Ace as he may consider exped
lent" All payments for road con
struction under the Act are to be pail
a upon warrants drawn by the Secre
@ tary OF Agriculture. The state de
string aid under the Act may paply'
IT and the Secretary may approve or re
ject the application. So far rs thu
d Federal treasury is concerned. tn,
elAct is ~"horse-high. bull-strong an,
q pig-tight." 1t ia pure business an,
without the least touch OF sentiment
al II the maximum Of SIS, 200. 900 pro
vided In the Act be appropriated. th'
\ total amount of aid 10 each state
counting population. rural free deliv
Q cry roads and star routes, will be
Alabama. s57s.1S0; Arizona, $ll7.512
d Arkansas. 3430.Ss6; California, 1904.
Q Iyss; Colorado. ss5s, lSs: Connecticut
ss6S.6 Delaware. $1oS. 200; Flori
. da, Ssso.S4s; Georgia. sTs2.ss4; Ida
bo. Sl70,024; Illinois, $1,372, $50; In