South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-27
NEXT CONGRESS TO
CONSIDER NATIONAL
HIGHWAYS SYSTEM
Failure of Many States TO
Meet Federal Aid Brings
Halt IN Allotments.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 20 - That
the next congress viii seriously con-
slider the proposed plan Of a national
system OF interstate highways is now
assured. This action was predicted
Dy the senate's refusal 10 approve
IS a rider" on the pOstOtfiCe APP
propriations bill the 100000. 900
voted by the house without amy re-
strictiOns other than now embraced
In the Federal Aid Road act. which
has failed in various directions to
satisfy many OF it's original adherents.
While the federal money in some
states aided materially in aCcelerat-
ing state systems OF inter-county
roads. in other states the rich cOun-
ties matched" the dollars from the
national treasury, with the result
that the poor counties were still left
in the mud.
Though the organized motorists
cooperated with the state highway
officials in urging the Federal Aid
Road act. the two groups were not
an entire accord in the recent legis-
lative effort. Both were agreed that
.icint federal and state money should
be expended upon roads of interstate
Importance, but the highway officials
refused TO insist upon such pro-
vision nor TO support the Townsend
idea OF creating q commission TO lay
out a national scheme Of main roads
connecting the several states.
Fear Systems Permanently.
What caused some opposition in
and out OF congress. to the hundred
millions appropriation. was the fear
that It's unrestricted adoption would
fasten the federal aid method upon
the country for an indefinite period.
one member OF the house didn't hest
tate 10 say that the accord Of the
senate would do exactly this thing.
Debated upon its merits. something
not possible under suspension of
the rules those who favor an inter
state system and a commission be-
Sieve that congress viii adopt COM
prehensive plan for the undertake
ing has the approval OF farm. COM
nfercial. automobile and various
other organizations. Argument I'm
favor OF the appropriation central
lied on the plea that A. legislatures
we're IN session. and that unless the
federal government supplied addi-
tional money at once the road pro-
gram in many states would be re-
tarded.
Information presented 90 the sem
ate indicated that on Dec. 81. 1920
only Sl17.O00.0O of federal aid
money remained unallotted. but that
bv July next this amount would bo
entirely covered 10y the states Those
opposing dwelt upon the fact that of
tho $4,000. 600 total nearly S220.-
100000 still remained in the l.. s
treasury Nov. so. 1920. The facts
also disclosed that only $4,000. 600
had been paid out. although other
contracts had been completed and
not paid for.
Won't Hamper Program Seriously.
Many senators took the stand tha,
as long as the bulk OF the mouG-
still remained in the treasury, that
the road building program OF the
country would not he seriously in
terfered with by delaying considera,
tiou OF good roads until the neN'
congress convenes.
Commenting upon tho situation
Chairman George g.. Diehl OF the
A a a good roads board thu.
summarizes the matter
Apparently instead Of the states
waiting 10 see what congress is going
10 do. congress now proposes 20 wait
and see what the states are going &C
do. especially the l. states which are
depending largely upon their coun-