Evening star., 1920-06-03
APPEAL TO SENATE
C0MM|TTEEF0RD.C.
ROAD UPKEEP ITEM
Good Roads Conference Ad-
dresses Senator Warren,
Urging $4,000 Fund.

Strenuous efforts are being made by
the good roads conference of the Dis
trict of Columbia to have an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the emergency
repair of the suburban roads carried
in the deficiency bill. which is now
being considered by the Senate ap-
preparations committee. The House
passed the deficiency bill omitting
the item, which the District Commis-
sioners recommended as most urgent
ly needed for the repair of the roads
William UIlman, president of the
National Capital division OF the
American Automobile Association and
an officer of the good roads confer
ence. conferred with senators today
on the question of having the ap-
preparation restored to the bill.
The following letter has been writ
ten by Mr.. Ullman to Senator Francis
E. Warren, chairman of the Senate
committee on appropriations, and was
read at the committee meeting today;
Since the House committee on ap-
propriations has seen fit to report the
general efficiency bill without includ-
ing the $4,000 asked by the Commis-
sioners of the District of Columbia
for suburban road repairs and main
tenance. an item that represents
crying and vital local need. appeal is
made to you by the undersigned to
have this item restored when the bill
comes before your committee for con-
Sideration.
Expressions Of Mr.. Ullman.
'If the ole-dotted and ragged con-
dition of the Districts streets and
roads were dark and closely guarded
secret it would not be surprising If
repair funds were hard to get; but
with their disgraceful condition wide
spread and spreading. and known on
every hand to all who walk or ride;
with all the diversified interests of the
District combined in an effort to have
them saved from utter degeneration,
and with all the Washington news
papers almost daily reporting their
condition in words and pictures, sting
mess in roads appropriations surely
is not understandable.
False economy certainly marks the
House committees report. Unless this
$4,000 asked is Immediately forth
coming there will be no suburban
road repairs during the month OF
June; and this would mean that de-
terioration would be so great by July
that $50, coo would be required to do
what can now be done with 100000.
There are now about forty miles OF
arterial highways in the District of
Columbia which need attention. These
connect the paved streets of the Dis
trict with the paved roads of adjoin-
ing states.
Under Nose of Congress.
''The highways conditions of the Dis
trict are under the very nose of Con-
gress, and it ought to be easy to get
at the truth Of these statements and
the justice of this appeal.
"Againr in the matter of seeking
funds for road repairs, the entire
District OF Columbia acts in unison.
This petition is marked by no divided
sentiment. No voice has yet been
heard against it. 1t represents some
thing that the entire citizenship fa-
vors. 1t represents also real and
urgent need. Hence we are certain
that your committee, in a spirit of
fair play and justice. will see that the
100000 road repair fund is immedi-
ately restored"
The good roads conference of the
District of Columbia is composed of
representatives from the following or
ganiZations:
Washington Board of Trade, Wash
ington Automotive Trade Association,
Washington Chamber of Commerce,
Federation of Citizens Associations,
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation and the American Automobile
Association.