Arizona republican., 1921-04-30
ROAD PROGRAM
 THREATENED BY RATE INCREASE
County Highway Project Might Be Blocked By Raise In Freight Rates, Interstate Commerce Commission Is Told

That the Maricopa county high way commission will be unable to carry its road program to completion without bond issue if the inter- state commerce commission grants the increase in freight rates asked by the carriers, was a point brought out by Amos A Bettss in the oral argu- menr before the commission heard in Washington
 The member of the corporation commission who represented the state in the matter returned from the east yesterday with the hope that if the raise was granted exceptions would be made in road material and ores.
 Increase in freight rates would nccesuitate the closing down of the minn4. Mir. Betts told the commits nionern. who showed their interest hy their direct questioning of the Arizona commissioner.
 Nr. Betfs featured particularly the road program in this county. He told the commissioners of the his tory of the county road bond issue of the increase in the cost of mate ria1s and labor that necessitated eecond bond issue of $4, ,500,000 after the people had voted $4.ooo.ooO Tor the construction of q certain num- Der of miles of highway. The tax rayers would have to furnish an ad- iitional Sz17.000 if the proposed 25 uer cent in freight rates were put into effect. he said to the commissioners.
 MT. Betts included in his argu- nnent the point that has been raised hv other states that the interstate commerce. commission is without ju- risdicfion in the regulation of rates within the state If the supreme court of the United States in the Wisconsin case in which this point is raised does not sustain the states In their contention of the right to control intrastate rates. MT. Betts said it was quite universally believed that congress will amend the trans- portation act of 1920 and give the states a right to regulate their pure v internal affairs.
 From Washington, MrS Betts went 10 Pueblo. where he joined Commits rioner Loren Vaughn in making an fnvestixation of the Baker Steam Mo- for company. which applied for a ueruft to sell stock in this state Two years ago the company applied for . permit which was denied Whefher after an investigation, at the expenno Of the company, the com' mission will still refuse could no' De I01Iue0 yeSLeE0ay aS N4A. 4So~ss nn1d ehe commission was not ye ready to make its report The com pany. which Is capitalized for $250,- ca, is asking for permit to sei <eo.0oo in Arizona at cents share
 Nr. Vaughn did not accompany MT Betfs to Phoenix. but will conduc q series of hearings in northern Ari- nona-in Holbrook. Flagstaff and 1T KfnKman-
 IF. Betts win only remain in the city . brief period. leaving on Sun dny for Los Angeles. where he vii hold . conference the following da, relatfva to a hearing on rates to b' held before Henry Ford, special ex aminer of the interstate commerce comminsion, on Tuesday. The hear 1>x has to do with rates. particular. rfrigerafion rates on fruits and veg i cables in which discrimination l charged by Arizona shippers
 ID. F. Johnson, chairman of tn commission. is also on the coast present in the interest of lower rate for Yuma, which received it's powe from the Southern Sierras Light Power Co.,