The Dolores star., 1921-04-22

LET the public understand wherein oul
system and the federal regulations are
lacking in helpfulncss or hinderins III
restrictions. The remaining obstacles
which are the heritance of capitnlisti'
exploitation must be removed and Ia
Dor must join management in under
standing that the public which pays, Is
the public to be served and simple JUS
tice is the right and will continue to
he the right of all the people.
Transportation over highways Is lit
tie less important but the problems re
late to construction and development
and deserve your most earnest attcn'
tion. because we are laying founda'
ton for long time to come and the
creation is very difficult 10 visualize
in its great possibilities.
The highways are not only feeders
10 the railroads and afford relief from
their local burdens, they are actually
lines of motor traffic in interstate
commerce. They are the smaller ar
tcrieS of the larger portion of our com
merce and the motor car has become
an Indispensable instrument in our po-
liticnl, social and Industrial life.
There is begun new era in high
way construction, the outlay for which
runs far into hundreds of millions of
dollars. Bond issues by road districts,
counties and states mount 10 enormous
figures. and the country is facing such
nm outlay that 1t is vital that every
effort shall be directed against wasted
effort and unjuStifiable expenditures.
The federal government can place
no inhibition on the expenditure in the
several states but since Congress has
embarked upon Il policy of assisting
the states in highway improvement,
wisely. | believe, it can assert wholly
becoming influence in shaping policy.
With the principle Of federal partici-
patton acceptably established, probably
never to be abandoned, it is important
to exert federal influence in develop
ing comprehensive plans looking to the
promotion of commerce and apply our
expenditures in the surest way TO
guarantee n public return for money
expended.
Federal Aid to Be Guarded
The large federal outlay demands n
federal voice in the program of eXpen-
diture. Congress can not justify n
mere gift from the federal purse to
the several states, to be pro-rated
among the counties for road better
ment. Such n course will invite abuses
which it We're better to guard against
in the beginning.
The laws governing federal aid
should be amended and strengthened.
The federal agency Of administration
should be elevated to the Importance
and vested with authority comparable
TO the work before it. And Congress
ought to prescribe conditions to fed.
eral appropriations which will necessi.
tate consistent program of uniform.
ity which will justify the federal out.
lay.
| know of nothing more shocking
than the millions of public funds
wasted in improved highways, wasted
because there is no policy of mante.
nance. The neglect is not universal
but it is very great. There is nothing
the Congress can do more effectively
to end this shocking waste than con
dition all federal aid on provisions for
maintenance. Highways, no matter
how generous the outlay for construc
ton, cannot be maintained without
patrol and constant repair. Such con.
ditions insisted upon in the grant OF
federal aid will safeguard the public
which pays and guard the federal
government against political abuses
which tend to defeat the very purposes
for which we authorize federal expen,
diture
Linked with rail and highway is the
problem of water transportatiOn-in
land. coastwise and trans-Oceanic II
is not possible on this occasion to sug
Sest to Congress the additional legis
lation needful 10 meet the aspirations
of our people for merchant marine
In the emergency of war we have con
structed n tonnage equaling our largest
expectations. Its war cost must be
discounted TO the actual values OF
peace, and the large difference
charged to the war emergency and tn,
pressing task is to turn our assets In
tonnage to an agency of commerce.
1t is not necessary to say it to Con
gress, but / have thought this to be
a fitting occasion to give notice thai
the United States means to estab.
lish and maintain a great merchan,
marine.
Our differences of opinion as to 4
policy of upbuilding have been removed
by the outstanding fact of our hay
ing builded. If the intelligent and ef
ficient administration under the exist
Ing laws makes established service i'm
possible, the executive will promptl,
report to you. Manifestly our law.
governing American activities on tb,