The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-05-26
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
COVERING FEDERAL AID;


The state highway departments of AZ unanimous
y behind President Hardngs demand for continued Federal
cooperation with the states in building highways based
system of roads interstate in character and maintained by
daily with state funds
AS the Of people pay the taxes whether
through state federal funds charged with the proper
pendture of these funds despite pressure from petty local
interests from those who would build only certain kind
of road and limited to mileage gain personal end
these have for months been seeking for middle ground
of constructive character upon which the federal
governments establish permanent policy.
Last week the executive committee of this organization of
state highway officials spent several days perecting bill
which has been under discussion for After
personal consultation with President Harding Secretary
Wallace Congressman Dowe ranking member of the roads
committee of the house. and Townsend chairman
the post roads committee Of the senate submitted
to the bill which they believe meets only the
present conditions but also forward looking and will make
operative system only market the crops but
ment the transportation facilities of interstate AID
aid n the national defense
Conserve Federal Funds
Accepting fixed policy President Harding's statement
in his message that ets@
with the principle of federal participation acceptaby
established probably to be abandoned, it is import
ant to exert federal influence in developing comprehen
sve plans looking to the promotion of commerce and
apply expenditures in the way to guarantee
public return for money expended
they propose that
In approving projects federal aid the secretary
of agriculture shall give preference projects as will ex
pedte the completion of adequate system
of roads, interstate in character Before any projects are a
proved each through state highway department shall
select designate per the total
mileage OF said state shown by the records of the
highway department at the time of the passage this act
Upon this system all federal aid appointments shall be
pended Roads which receive federal aid shall divd
ed into two classes of which shall be known primary
or interstate roads and shall exceed threesevens
total mileage which may receive federal aid other of
which shall be known secondary ntecountv roads and
shall consist of the remainder of the mileage which
ceve federal aid The secretary of agriculture shall
authority to approve in whole part the systems
mated or to require notifications thereof Pro
vided that the states shall submit agr
of
designated systems of roads above provided
sixty cent of all federal aid allotted be
expended upon the primary interstate roads until provision
has been made for the improvement of the system of
such roads Whenever has been by on
half OF state for the completion of sys
tenn OF interstate and rcounty roads
cent OF the total mileage of such said state through it's
state highway department by and with agr
culture Is hereby authorized to add to the mileage of the
erstae and 1nercouny systems funds become available
for the construction and maintenance additional mile
age,
With this section added present law the state high
way ohcla beleve that the position taken by the president
will be met where he says Congress ought to prescribe
conditions to federal appropriations which will necessitae
consistent program Of uniformity which win justify the eder
al outlay"
Must Provide State Funds
Much OF the criticism that has been heaped upon the states
in their road building program would give the idea that fed
era funds had been doed when in reality
this condition. # it has assumed the position of condition.
obtains in few states and then only the states
as SUCH dependent upon the the funds
necessary to cooperate with the federal appropriation
10 meet tins situation it proposed that state desr
ing TO ava itself OF the benefits of this Act shall later
than two after the adjournment first regular SEES
sion OF the state Legislature from and after passage and
approval OF this Act provide state funds each year
equal the amount apporoned for such the federal
government to said state for the of highways
1t IS believed that this requirement will the statements
OF President Harding when he said congress cannot
Justify gift from the federal purse to the several states
for hattor