The Washington times., 1920-06-03
HOUSE KILLS
ROAD BUDGET
District Rebuked for Not Fore.
Ing Traction Companies
to Make Repairs.

Refusing to appropriate $4,000 for
the repair OF suburban roads In the
District Of Columbia. the House yes
terday passed the buck" to the Sen
ate. after severely criticising the Dis
trict Commissioners for not compel
ing the street railway companies to
do their part In maintaining roads
over which their cars are operated.
TT seems that the District Com
missioners allow the street car COM
panies practically to control them
with regard to suburban roads where
there are street car lines" Chairman
Good. OF the Appropriations Commit
tee. declared.
I'VE called their attention very
| sharply to. IL, and until they show
some disposition to spend money In
a business-iike way with regard to
these roads and compel the Public
Utilities corporations do their part,
we are going to hold down on them.
somewhat IL we can"
zihiasn's Bnort Fails.
Congressman Zihlman OF Maryland,
who rides the District roads every
day. tried In vain to get the House to
reinsert the $40. 900 estimates for local
roads urged by the District Commits
sioners.
Mr.. Good called his attention to the
! fact that Congress already has ap-
proved $35. 900 for roads leading to the
suburban roads.
No attempt was made by Chairman
Good to claim that there Is no neces-
sity for repairing the roads leading
out OF Washington. He admitted they
were in bad condition" but declared
that II was a question of unwise ex-
penditure. citing the case Of the Chevy
Chase road as an example.
"The District of Columbia keeps
this road repaired on both sides of
the street car tracks," he said, land
do just as It pleases. The company
! dumps rock in the center. and after
every rain the rock is washed over
in the road which the District Of Co
lumbia keeps in repair. By permit
, ting the street car company to dump
rocks between the tracks the Com
missioners keep automobiles off that
part OF the road"
Mr.. Zihlman declared $35, 900 was in
sufficient to keep all roads properly
repaired. This led to a discussion of
the Maryland automobile license law.
which discriminates against the Dis
one reason why Maryland autoists are
arrested frequently In Washington.
Let Maryland and the District Of
Columbia do what is fair and honest
in regard to the repairs of roads and
with regard TO taxes and there will
be no difficulty in getting all the
money needed to make the roads in
the District OF Columbia ideal. just as
they ought to be-" Chairman Good de-
clared.
Mr. Zihlman did not agree with
Chairman Goods statement with ref
erence to the Chevy Chase road.
Avenue Has Heaviest Traffic.
Connecticut avenue is the most
heavily travelled road in the District,
and under the appropriations which
have been made the Commissioners
have been spending 20 cents per
square yard for its maintenance each
year. The District Commissioners
came before the Committee on Appro-
priations and asked for an appropria-
ton to pave Connecticut avenue at q
cost Of 81 per square yard. so that in
fiye years the road would pay for It.
self" said Mr.. Zihlman.
This great Committee on Appro-
priations did not give cent to repave
and when the matter went over to the
Senate sufficient money was appro-
priated to pave one side of Connecti-
cut avenue only" Mr.. zihlman con-
tinued. Now. when the Commission
ers ask for the small sum OF $4,000
to put these suburban roads in repair
the committee turns them down and
reports $40, 900 has been saved for the
District of Columbia"
MIR. Zihlman took issue with a
statement by Chairman Good to the
effect that the people in the District
did not want to repair the roads at
their own expense. because II would
entail additional taxes.
Il believe that the people Of the
District would be satisfied to pay a
fair tax and have these repairs made,
notwithstanding tho statements that
have been made to the contrary" he