The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-11-09
DIR. LAZARO MAKES
SPLENDID APPEAL
FOR FEDERAL AID
Federal Good Roads 5ilI at Last
Passed-Differences Of House
and Senate Overcome

The Star-Progress is just in receipt
of a letter from Congressman LAzaro,
advising that the Federal Good Roads
bill has passed. The conference re-
port which settled the difference be-
tween the house and senate in this
vital question was finally reported
to the house on November LIST aud
passed.
This Federal Good Roads bill was
of utmost value to every state IN :he
union and as the congressman from
the seventh district, always alert as
to any project that might vitality eff
feet his constituents, and knowing
full well what good roads mean to
the development of this country. he
made a splendid appeal for the pass
age of this bill and we are glad to
quote part of this speech because
of its thoroughness on the FubJect.
DR.. Lazaro's speech before the
house is in part as follows;
Mr.. Lazaro. Mr.. Speaker, am glad
that the house and senate committees
have at last agreed to report the fed
eral good roads bill, and / hope that
it yill soon be enacted into law. It
would have been false economy to
have discontinued Federal aid to the
states, which began five years ago.
If there is one problem that is vi
tai to all the people Of the United
States today, it Is the problem Of
transportation. Adequate transporta-
ton facilities are absolutely necess-
airy if those who produce and those
whose consume are to get the benefits
of our unlimited resources in the
United States. 1t is very evident
that the people throughout the coun-
try are realizing the benefits of good
roads as one OF the most important
links in the entire system OF trans,
Lportation Not only that good roads
will help to reduce passenger rates,
but they are absolutely necessary for
the development of the country.
In connection with the building of
good roads the people are deman ling
four things. First, Federal aid; Sec
ond, the wise and economical expen-
diture OF the money from the state
and federal governments in the build
ing Of good roads; third, a permanent
maintenance fund to maintain the
roads after they have been built: and
fourth, that the roads be built where
they will be of the greatest advantage
to the people
I want to call attention to what
consider the main provisions in this
federal aid law. First. it will be ad
mfnistered ythe department of agri-
culture, under the bureau of Public
roads. Second, that the initiative in
locating the roads to receive federal
aid shall remain in the states. Third
that the several state highway de
partments with the approval of the
department of agrisulture) shall lay
out a system interstate and inter
country in character and not inter
state lone. Fourth, that the funds
from the several states to be put W
to match federal aid shall be sub
ject to the direct control of the high
way departments of the several states
Fifth, that the states shall MAINTAIN
and keep in good repair at all times
all highways constructed with fed
eral aid.
Those essential provisions of the
bill were incorporated in the bill as il
passed the House. The people need
good roads and they want fedora
aid Therefore this bill, carrying an
appropriation Of $75,OOO,OOO, should
be enacted into law as soon al
possible.