The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-20
KELLER DECLARES
 SECOND ROAD BOND
 ISSUE WILL CARRY
State Engineer Insists State Cannot Afford to Lose Federal Aid, Nor Postpone Better
 Highways Campaign
By FRED H. GoRMLEY Montgomery Bureau, The Age-HeraId 221-2 First National Bank Building


 Kiby will call an extra session of the legislature for tho fesubmission of the highway bond issue amendment to the voters if he has reasonable as- surance that the voters will again ratify 1t, W. S. Keller, srate highway engineer, in a statemeny rate Saturday called upon the people to rally to the state $2,1o0,0 900 of federal funds this year and the same amount next year.
 MT. Keller said all other states have made arrangements to match the fed eral appropriation anG that the Ala bama highway department has been assured the bureau or public roads at Washington has. confidence in the fu- ture of road building in Alabama and believes the people WITT take immedi- ate action to correct rne errors which caused the loss of the sz5, 100000 bond Issue approved last year.
 The engineer said some little opposi- ition may be expected from those who do not understand that automobile li- lcenses will meet the interest on the Fbonds and that not one penny of taxes will go into the road building scheme lor to the payment or interest He pointed out that arrangements had al- ready been made for tne construction Iof S54 miles of roadway, and work fwould have been almost completed the lend of this year had not the bond is- sue been rendered invalid by the de- -cision of the supreme court.
 ISSUE WILL CARRY
 He expressed the opfuron that an educational campaign, which will be put on after the legislature resub- mits the amendment will result in the qualification of the amendment by a good majority.
 For one I am violently opposed to giving up the fight for a system of good roads for Alabama and do not propose to remain passive while other states divide A1abama's allotment of federal aid" concluded Mir. Keller's statement No state in the union has so far failed to take every dollar the government has offered Should Ala bama fail, we will by so such failure be advertised to the world as the only state in the Union not engaged in building roads. It matters not how much we may do with our own re- sources, the stigma Alabama fails in road building,' will remain.
 After all, the government is only returning to us a part of what is justly ours. Every year millions of dollars paid in income tax goes to the government from Alabama Why should we not make provision to get cur share of 1t back?
 I now appeal to the many good road advocates in the state to rally under the good roads banner and again show that fighting spirit that has been So often and gloriously exem- pltfied both on field of battle and on our native soil for good government and public veal"
 KILLERS STATEMENT
 Engineer Keller's statement follows.
 The question now before us is not what Is past but what can we do to prevent the loss of $2,100,000 federal aio July 1, 1921, and a like sum Julv l, 1922 '
 The state highway commission. not contemplating any trouble whatever in the matter of legality of the bond is- sue and carrying out the mandates O. 'ne highway law, proceeded to make suiNeys and plans for one project in every county in the state and had suc- ceeoed In completing such surveys In 4S counties when the courts rul;ng was handed down.
 ouch surveys represent SS4 miles or roaos, 10 cost approximately s5. BOO GOO. all or which could have been placed m. der contract during the spring months ana great deal of 1t completed before 'ho enu or the current year. The gov ernment will execute no agreement with the state highway commission for tha construction of projects whereby a spe- CHIC sum Is set aside until accurate and compete plans are submitted and uuttI we give them assurance that the states one-half cost of the projects will within q reasonable time be forthcoming. We nave more than enough plans completed ana m process of completion to take every dollar coming to Alabama. pro- Vioed' or course We perfect our financial arrangements
 The officials of the bureau of public roads, part of the United States de- partment of agriculture, have expressed to me their confidence in the people of Alabama and will execute agreements with the state highway department, pro- vloed we proceed with renewed energy our efforts to secure our part of the I cost of proposed work. In other words. I they can't believe the people of Alabama Will fall to take the large sums of money offered. l concur fully with these offi- cials.
 THE TIGHT-WADS
 There are, and always will be. those among us who, having an abundance of this worlds goods. are. to use a com mon expression, tight wads,' who op- pose all public improvement for fear that in some way they may be pried loose from some of their hoartied wealth. From such we can. of course, only expect op- position to any proposition submitted Fortunately there are comparatively few such retarders to progress and their in- fluence is nil.
 The opposition that we may expect that will materially count is from many unfortunate citizens, especially farmers, who have been hard hit by falling prices of commodities and farm products. and have found it difficult to pay their taxes. Having been taught that bonds mean in- terest, and interest taxes. it is difficult for them to draw any other conclusion than that state road bonds will mean additional taxes to be paid. It is very easy for an opponent to make such state ment and get away with it, because it N NEXT y.AgC