The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-09
Supporters Under Fire in At
tempt to Save Measure.
Attempt to Make 1t Conform
With Federal Act.
MONEY IS READY FOR KANSAS
More Than S43O,0OO Is. Avail
able at Present Time.
Fear That Only Few Counties
Would Receive Funds.

House members opened an all day
fight this morning over provisions of
the committee road and highway bill.
Friends of the bill are this afternoon
under a cross fire of questions and
the battle concerning the big road
measure will not be decided until late
today-possibly not until Saturday.
Provisions of the committee meas
ure were drafted in a general way to
conform with the new federal aid
act Bardwell of Riley county. chair
---an of the house committee, is fight
ing frantically to hold the bill to-
gether. During early consideration of
the bill, he was under fire from every !
section of the house. other friends
of the bill came to his rescue. A big
lobby representing the various high
way interests and the county COM
missioners organization, came to To-
peka today for the fight and the bat
tie will be the prize attraction before
the house during the fifth week of
the session.
Share to Kansas.
Bardwell explained that under pro-
visions of his bill, Kansas counties
would be able to receive $2.14S, 900
appropriated to the state under the
federal aid act. OF this amount $780,
600 is now available, he aid, and an
additional $4,000 will be placed at
the disposal of the state this year
The balance of the fund would be
paid in annual installments.
IF this bill passed, might not
few counties receive the bulk of the
money!" asked Graves of Crawford
They might If the state highway
commission and the highway engineer
deemed advisable, said Bardwell
Then Stone of -Shawnee came to the
rescue with the statement that parti-
cipatfon under the federal act was OPP
tional with individual counties and all
road plans must be approved before
funds are granted.
eff Shawnee county should decide
not to come under the act. might not
the government spend money here
anyway" asked Endres of Leaven-
worth.
IF this county were in chain of !,
counties thru which a road was to be !
built and refused to participate. il
would not receive aid" said Stone,
such action, tho, might result in dis
approval of the road plan"
Must Have an Engineer.
Bardwell and Stone were on their
feet much of the time. They answer
ed scores of questions from all sides
of the house. They Sought to eases
the way from the passage of the bill
and before the first two pages of the
measure ndQ DeeI reaO, CONSIDERATION
of the bill generally was under way.
Does this bill require counties TO
hire a county engineer" Bardwell
asked.
Every county or district that par
ticipates under this law must have an
engineer" said Stone. That seem ed
to settle the judgment of the men who
opposed appointment of county en-
gineers. So friends of various brands
of highway building took chips in the
game.
What about dirt roads?'' asked
Martin of Reno. DO you consider
dirt roads permanent highways under
the federal act 2"
Stone answered the question. He
said that where hills had been cut
down, grades reduced and bridges
built, dirt roads were undoubtedly per-
roads.
They have been so held by official
we have received under
the BILL" explained Bardwell. Then
Stone added: IF that were not so,
the bill would not benefit western
counties where dirt highways are the
best possible permanent highways.
Fight over. provisions of the bill
was resumed at O'Clock this after
noon, following the morning consider
alton of the measure. The legislature
recessed until o'clock that members
might attend the funeral of the late
Frank e. Mcfarland.