The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-08
Auto Owners and Good Roads
Men at C. OF C.
Consider State Association
With Good Road Program.
ARE NOT OUT TO TAX FARMERS
Automobile Association Inter-
ested in License Fees.
Kansas Laws Must Be Changed
to Secure Federal Aid.

Twenty-Five leaders among good
roads enthusiasts and automobile
owners in the state of Kansas met at
1880 o'clock this afternoon to dis
cuss the formation of the Automobile
Association of Kanas - an organiza-
ton which will probably concentrate
its activities for the next one or two
years, on a more equitable and eff
cient expenditure of the money col
lected in automobile license fees by
the state
The preliminary meeting today was
called by a committee appointed by
the Topeka Automobile club. c. w.
Seeley acted as temporary chairman
at the session this afternoon, with G.
c. Sickler. secretary of the Topeka
Chamber of Commerce, as temporary
secretary.
Here from Other Cities.
Among the men present from out
side of Topeka, there were Harry
Russell secretary of the Fort Scott
! Chamber of Commerce; Hale Pow
ers, of Junction City, enc of the
| county commissioners of Geary
county, o. K. Williamson, county
engineer of Wyandotte county: Frank
Dickson, of Holton, and William
Davis, on the staff of the Jefferson
Highway.
The Topeka men present at the
meeting included Seeley, Sickler, Il.
c. Whiteker. H. S. Putney chairman
of the Chamber Of Commerce good
roads committee; J. L. Hersh, P. A.
Fairbanks, George W. Stansfield, pres
ident of the Victory Highway associa-
ton: Charles H. Sessions, County
Commissioner A. A. Rogers. Charles
gerwall. w. A. Biby. and State High
way Engineer NJ. W. Watson.
AT the present time there is no
| good roads association in the state
; of Kansas and no statewide automo-
/ bile association with a definite pro-
gram of good road legislation and ed
ucation," Seeley sad in opening the
meeting.
May Lose Federal Aid. r..
! I'm the next three years, unless
! Kansas passes new state road laws, or
! eVrrects the laws now in force, we will
! NOT be able to participate in the fed
I ejeal road aid which has been Drovid-
ed for by the national congress- That
I is the thought behind the formation
! of this organization. That IS why we
have asked men from all over the
state who are known to be leaders in
this field to come to Topeka to con-
! slider the formation of a State Auto
mobile Owners association"
| In my personal opinion, if we do
not, within the next three years ar
range our state laws so that we may
| benefit by the federal aid which is
offered to us. we will take a step back
| ward as a state, from which it will
| take US years to recover.
Il believe that there is a field In
! Kansas for state automobile asso-
| citation to give service of carfous sorts
| to the owners of motor cars But I
| believe that the most important fea-
ture OF the program of this associa-
ton for one, two or three years, is
! good road -egisla ton
Stressed Two Points
Two points were stressed in the ad-
| dresses which were made this after
noon: The first that unless the laws
| of Kansas are changed within the next
| three years, Kansas will not be eligible
. to participate in federal aid. The sec
ond, that heavier taxation for the pur-
| pose of building good roads is unneces-
sary. and not contemplated. The
members of the association in progress
| of formation today are only ANXIOUS to
! have the money which is collected
| from the automobile license fees which
| they have paid into the state treasury,
properly expended on road improve
! ment, and federal aid made available
for expenditure on Kansas roads.
Proud of Kansas Record.
| kansas prides herself and Justly.
on her leadership among all the states
| or the Union, in nearly every activity.
| Kansas owes it to herself to at least
keep up with the sentiment for good
I roads and improved highways which
( is sweeping the other states of the
| Union," w. A. Biby. chairman for this
state of the Near East Relief, de-
clared.
The plan which this association ia
vors, for building good roads, relieves
! the farmers-the principal tax payers
of the state-from the financial liza
| bility incident to the improved high
CONTINUED on mage SKI