Cleveland County herald., 1921-04-07
HAVE H|E LOsT
 GOVERNMENT AID
Government Officials To Make Spe- cial Examination of the Road
 Situation in Arkansas.
By w. A. GILBERT.

A7ASSAS AN0NkA5 n Eii1 fs--I IIC SD6CIdl investigator from the Bureau of Public Roads, W. E. dawes, who arrived in Little Rock Saturday, to make special examination of the road situation in Arkansas promises to furnish the entertainment in State government circles for the next week or ten days. We held quite an ef- tended conversation with MT. James Sunday, and find him filled with numerous accusations that have been made concerning the road work in this State. Some of these accusa- tions are true, according to MT. James opinion, and are sufficient to warrant the withdrawal of federal aid from the entire State.
 It is to be hoped that the citizens of Arkansas realize the full signifi- canoe of the charges that have been waited to Washington, matters not what the source of them might be. The withdrawal of federal aid, with our ambitions road program, would fall little short of disaster. The present situation demands the thought of every individual citizen. It demands cooperation for the good of Arkansas. MT. James told me that this State was getting it's federal aid now, because of the fact that the federal bureau had chosen to issue notices to the State highway department to maintain certain com pleted projects. The State has only received $800,000 of the 1,400,000 federal aid that it might have re- ceived, according to Mr. James, be- cause it has not lived up to it's con- tract with the federal government.
 It is hard for us in the capital city to tell what the exact sentiment of the majority of the people of the state is. It is represented to us that there are certain elements utterly and uncompromising1y opposed to the completion of road projects al ready under way. Unless these pro- jects are completed, if they are fed eral and state, it will be sufficient cause to demand drastic action by the bureau of public roads, according to MT. James. meaning the with drawal from the State of Federal aid One uncompleted project, is sufficient to cause the withdrawal of this aid from the entire State One competed project not maintained, is sufficient cause, also, to the removal of the Federal aid, according to Mir. James.
 Mir. James charges that the legis- lature failed to do it's duty, when it failed to give the highway depart ment proper power of supervision over the various projects. The high way department, according to Mir James, must have this power to in sure the building of the roads in Arkansas according to the specified tions as contracted for between the State and Federal government.
 Inasmuch as the legislature has failed to do this, MT. James says the purpose of his visit to Arkansas is to see in what manner the Federal bureau can continue it's cooperation with the State government in the completion of the projects already under way This applies specifically to Federal-State projects. He began his investigation Monday morning in the State highway department. He expects to have it completed within ten days. although he will remain in the State for a longer period if he IS unable to finish his investigation in this period of time.
 MT. James says that he recognizes the fact that there is certain amount of politics in the present situation, and especially in thee Gen eral Assembly's failure to make | what he deems were the necessary steps toward remedying the existing situation. The antipathy of the governor toward MT. Wilson, and MT. Wilson toward the governor, must, he says, be taken in consider ation. although he declares that the Bureau of Public Roads looks to the State to fulfill its contract, regard less of any political situation. To do this cooperation, it seems, is abso- lutely necessary.
 The road situation is the basis of . more than one development within ! the past week. Outside of the State , as it is generally known, Arkansas has been receiving some very un- favorable and hurtful publicity, much to be regretted Who is directly re- sponsible for this, is matter of rpirion. There are several sources