, 1921-04-21

let the public understand wherein our
system and the federal regulations are
lacking in helpfulness or hindering in
restrictions. The remaining obstacles
which are the heritance of c~apitalistic
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
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 are 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 our COM
merce and the motor car has become
an Indispensable instrument in our p0-
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
an outlay that it 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 ince Congress has
embarked upon a policy of assisting
the states in highway improvement,
wisely, I believe, it can assert a 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 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
among the counties for road better
ment. Such a course will invite abuses
which it 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 n~ecessi-
tate a consistent program Of uniform
ity which will Justify the federal out
lay.
1 know of nothing more shocking
than the millions Of public funds
wasted in improved highways, wasted
because there is no policy of mainte-
nance. The neglect is not universal.
but 1t 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 t~rans-oceanic. 1t
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 h emergency of war we have con-
structed a 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 the
pressing task is to turn our assets in
tonnage to an agency of
1t Is not necessary to say 1t to Con-
gress, but ! have thought his to be
n fitting occasion to give notice that
the United States means to estab-
lish and maintain a great merchant
marine.
Our differences of opinion as to q
policy Of u%pbuilding have been removed
by the outstanding fact Of u hav-
Ing builded. II the intelligent and ef-
ficient administration under the exist
ing laws makes established service i'm
possible, he executive will promptly
report to you. Manifestly our laws
governing American activities on the
seas are such as to give advantage to
those who compete with us for the car
| rxina az our o.E ca.aoa. a.d 49,