The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-12-21
LAUNCH CAMPAIGN
FOR ROAD BONDS
AFTER JANUARY |
Every County and Precinct
In State to Be Organized
With Beat as Unit,
Says Harold

The entire state is being strongly
organized for the ratification of the
SIS. 600. 600 bond issue amendment to the
state constitution and when the active
work of the campaign begins Janu-
airy /, every beat and county will have
its committee of prominent citizens who
will urge upon the people the great
economic good to come to the state if
the amendment is approved.
Charles L. Harold, chairman of the
Jefferson county campaign committee,
announced yesterday that by January
/ every beat in Jefferson will have its
campaign committee. Under the plan
of organization w. F. Feagin, county
superintendent of schools of Montgom-
cry, and former state superintendent of
education. has been named state cam
paign manager with large state COM
mittee under his supervision.
A county committee has been named
IN each of the 81 counties of the state
and each county committee is now busy
naming committee for each beat The
beat committee will report to the chair
man OF the county committee and he in
turn will report to the state campaign
manager.
THE precinct will be the unit basis
of organization and in the organization
of county committees the very best
business men and others from various
lines of activity have been elisted in
the work" said Chairman Harold yes
terday Our committee in Jefferson
county is an unusually strong one and
reports from over the state show that
equally strong committees have been
named in the other counties.
Failure to ratify the amendment in
the election which has been called for
February 16 would be a calamity to the
state. The great need for a permanent
highway system is clearly seen by all
of the best interests of the state. Fail
ure to ratify will mean that the state
will lose 100000 of federal aid for
good roads which has already accrued
and a large annual sum yearly there
after"
THE issuance of $4,000, 900 worth of
state bonds for highways will not be
an additional tax. Under a law passed
by the legislature at the time 1t sub
mitted the amendment the state auto
mobile taxes will be used as a sinking
fund for the payment of the interest
.on bonds and will eventually pay the
principal Those who use the roads
most will pay for them and it will not
be an additional tax, even in their case
out tax thaC they are already Dy law
compelled to pay.
Every safeguard which human in
genuity can devise has been thrown
around the bond issue money for its
protection from within and without
There will be double check on the ex-
penditures. Not one cent can be drawn
out of the treasury without the ap-
prevail of the governor and the state
auditor. The accounts are to be re-
vised by the state highway commission
and the state highway engineer. Be-
sides the check that the state throws
around the money, the federal highway
engineers must approve the plan of
the state for the construction of q
highway system before federal aid will
be forthcoming. All persons handling
the money will be under heavy bond in
addition to these safeguards"
Preparations have been made for a
strenuous campaign, according to Mr..
Feagin, state manager, and Mr.. Harold,
Jefferson county manager. Active work
will begin January /. and continue up
to election day, February 16. Mr..
Feagin successfully conducted the s.
mill amendment campaign few years
ago for educational purposes and has
taken charge of the good roads bond
issue campaign because of the good
that permanent roads will do for the
educational system of the state by max
ing schoolhouses more accessible.