New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-04-22

restrictions. The remaining obstacles
which are the heritance of c~apitalistic
exploitation must be removed and la
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
be 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 atten-
ton, because we are laying a fOunda-
ton for a long time to come and the
creation is very difficult to visualize
in its great possibilities.
The highways r not only feeders
to the railroads and afford relief from
their local burdens, they are actually
lines of motor traffic In interstate
commerce. They are the smaller ar
teries of the larger portion of u COM
merce and the motor car has become
an Indispensable instrument in our pO-
litical, social and industrial life.
There is begun. a 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 TO enormous
figures, and the country is facing such
outlay that 1t Is vital that every
effort shall be directed against wasted
effort and unjustifiable expenditures.
The federal government can place
inhibition on the expenditure in the
several states; but since Congress has
upon a policy Of assisting
the states in highway improvement,
wisely, l believe, it can assert a wholly
becoming influence in shaping policy.
With the principle of federal partici-
acceptably established, probably
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 a public return for money
expended.
Federal Aid to Be Guarded.
The large federal outlay demands a
federal voice in the program of expen-
diture. Congress can not Justify a
mere gift from the federal purse to
the several states, TO be pro-rated
the counties for road better
ment. Such a course will invite abuses
which 1t were 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 a consistent program Of uniform
ity which will justify the federal out
lay.
know Of nothing more shocking
than the millions of public funds
In improved highways, wasted
because there is no policy Of mainte-
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,
for which we authorize federal expen-
diture.
Linked with rail and highway is the
problem Of water transportation-in-
is not possible on this occasion to sug-
gest TO Congress the additional legis-
lation needful to meet the aspirations
Of our people, for a merchant marine.
In the emergency of war W. have con
a tonnage equaling our largest
expectations. Its war cost must be
discounted to the actual values of
peace, and the large difference
to the war emergency and the
pressing task is to turn u assets In
tonnage to an agency OF m
1t Is not necessary to say ii to Con
gress, but I have thought this to be
a fitting occasion TO give notice that
the United States means to estab-
lish and maintain a great merchant
Our differences Of opinion as to a
Of upbuilding have been removed
by the outstanding fact of our hav-
ing builded. II the intelligent and eff.
administration under the exist
ing laws makes established service inn
possible, the executive will promptly
to you. Manifestly u laws
governing American activities on the
seas are such as TO give advantage to
hose who compete with us for the car
rying Of u own cargoes and those
which ought naturally TO come in
American bottoms through trade ex-
changes, then the spirit of American
lair play will assert itself to give Amer
can carriers their equality of oppor-
This republic can realize
is righteous aspirations in commerce.
never be worthy the traditions of
he early days of the expanding re-
public until the millions of ions of
shipping which we now possess are co
,rdinated with our inland transporta-
ion and our shipping has government
Encouragement, not government opera
ion, in carrying our cargoes under our
lag. over regularly operated routes, to
every market in the world. agreeable
o American exchanges. 1t will
American genius and man