The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-23
DANGER IN DELAY.

DANGER IN DELAY.
State Road Projects Face Disorganiza-
ton Unless Congress Acts, Say
Highway Officials.
| Unless the short session of congress
adopts definite policy Of federal aid
in road building a majority of the
states will be disorganized, according
to representations made to the house
committee on roads by delegates to
the national convention of state high
way officials in session at Washington
last week.
The committee was informed that
each Of the 48 states has accepted it's
share Of the $275 ,0O6,444 already APP
propriated by the government and
that contracts for the expenditure of
this money will have been executed
year from now
To match the federal aid most of
the states must know before their
legislatures adjourn next spring just
how much money the government is
going to put up. Once the govern
ment decides on definite program
the states can make their financial
plans for road building in the future.
Failure Of congress at the short ses-
sion to act on the question of federal
aid, it was pointed out, will leave
the states in the dark and will deny
the opportunity to take advantage of
any more federal aid until their 1egis-
latures meet again in 1928.
The state officials, who declared the
people generally are satisfied with the
present plan of federal aid, urged the.
passage Of the Macarthur bill appro-
priating $10OOOO,OOO annually for four
years.
| According to their testimony the
various states accepted $50, 100000 in
federal aid the past six months. On
this basis it was estimated that the
states will be able to use at least
100000 a year for the next four
years.
Minnesota's share of the proposed
500, 100000 would be $2,84O,OOO or
$11 100000 for the four years. While
the committee appeared to be sympa-
thetic to the appeal for continuing
federal aid several members indicated
they favor reducing the size of the
appropriation for the present. Fail.
ure Of the states to spend the first ap-
fpropriation more quickly was respon-s
sible for this attitude.
It was pointed out to the committee
that the states were slow first be-.
cause of the war and then because of
the tremendous task Of getting started
to build. Once the working organiza-,
ton was completed and the state fl
nancing completed, building opera
lions progressed rapidly.
A break in the federal aid, it was
said, would disrupt these organiza-
lions and force many states to start
all over again. Pennsylvania, which
has big start on 4,OOO-mile pro-
gram for permanent roads, estimated
that failure of congress to appropriate
at the short session would set it back
five years. The state authorities must
know shortly what the federal govern
ment is going to do if they are to plan
for the future intelligently.
C. M. Babcock and John H. Mullen
represented Minnesota at the hearing.
Eve arc heartily in favor of continu-
ing the present policy of federal add
Mr.. Babcock said. I'VE are getting
ready to build roads in Minnesota on
a big scale and are anxious that the
federal government decide it's policy
without delay. Otherwise we will not
be able to plan far enough ahead to
work out comprehensive program"
Mr.. Babcock and Mr.. Mullen called
on the members Of congress from Min
nesota and were assured Of their sup
port for federal aid in road building.
Officials from other states are making
personal canvasses oftheir delegations.
IF congress understands the road
building situation there is no doubt
about immediate action" Mr.. Babcock
said, 1and we are going to furnish that
information"
Mr.. Babcock is member of the
legislative committee Of the state Of
fficials' association and Mr. Mullen
secretary.
I,