The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-15
kan. ROAD Law
| VITAL ISSUE TO
CO. OFFICIALS
Discuss Situation of State Re-
garding Federal Aid.
'Time to Act Is Imminent"
Say Good Road Experts.
JOINT SESSION ON ROAD CODE
Commissioners, Clerks and En-
gineers to Consider Question.
Program of h. A. o. A. To Be
Presented to Them.
"Time to Act Is IMMINENT ,
Say Good Road Experts.
JOINT SESSION ON ROAD CODI
Commissioners, Clerks and En-
gineers to Consider Question.

The imminence of the time when
Kansas is going to have to decide
whether she is 'in" on the federal
road aid program or not, is making
the present road laws of the state. and
their possible revision, a vital issue
at the present meeting of the county
commissioners, county engineers and
county clerks at Topeka.
The only joint session of the con-
vention of the Kansas Official Coun-
Gil, which is to be held at 9 o'clock
Thursday morning, will be devoted en-
tirely to the road legislation. problems
Of the state. In anticipation of the
meeting of the commissioners, en-
gineers and clerks, informal discus
/ sion of the road law and especially the
program which is being backed by the
! Kansas Automobile Owners associa-
ton, is one of the big features among
the county officers
Its the biggest thing before this
meeting of the council, without a
doubt" A. c. Lagerwall, county en-
gineer of Shawnee county, declared
today. kansas has got to do one
thing or another at the next session
of the legislature"
State Road Laws Vital Issue.
f. ]. Heckle, secretary of the Auto
mobile Owners association, is present
ing the program of the association
with relation to the working out of a
state highway system, to the county
officers, and will address the meeting
of the commissioners, engineers and
clerks Thursday morning in repre-
sentative hall.
At the joint session. which will be
held at o'clock in representative hall,
Z. w. James, chief engineer of de-
signs of the federal bureau of public
roads, will present the federal angle of
the case. NJ. w. Watson, state highway
engineer, will speak on "A Progressive
Road Program for Kansas and A A
Rodgers, chairman of the board of
county commissioners of Shawnee
county. will speak on "A County Com
missioner's Experience With Federal
Aid"
Il find one general misunderstand-
whom I have talked today" Heckle
said. THAT is the county unit sys-
tenn and the attitude which we are
taking on it
county unit system, which has been
misinterpreted by politicians and
others thruout the recent campaign.
County unit system means the aboli-
ton of township road officials and the
placing OF the control of all public
roads in the county under the control
of the county commissioners with the
exception of the public roads which
are declared state roads, and which
would be under the control of the
state highway officers.
COntempIates Real State System.
Our program contemplates the set
ting aside of 8 515 miles of road in the
state, as state Highways real uni
ned. coherent state highway system.
Ih1S means that out of the average of
1,1OO miles of public roads in each
county in the state, some sixty-five
miles would be built and maintained
by the state without a cent of expense
to the county as a county.
THAT is the county uOit system
The impression has been circulated
that the county unit system means the
control of the county commissioners
OF all roads in their counties, and the
abolition of the state highway COM
mission That isn't the right defini-
ton and it isn't what we are APPROX
ing.
kansas must act quickly-at the
next session of the legislature-Or she
VIII lose out on federal road aid. The
program we have adopted is for the
1928 legislature to submit to the peo-
pie a constitutional amendment pro-
viding for the statewide highway sys-
tenn of approximately 6.575 miles of
state roads; authority for the issuance
, of sixty million dollars in bonds; the
exemption of the motor vehicles of
the state from the personal property
tax. and the use of the license fees to
pay the cost of these bonds, both in
terest and retirement; the reimburse
ment OF all counties. townships and
tCAeAAl u4SlTICIS TOT lne improvement
of all roads which are taken over by
the state
I shall ask the county officers.
when I have explained the program
TO them in detail. to approve it and
recommend it to the state legislature
of 1929"
States Income in Jeopardy.
Without the road pond issue. Kan
sas has no funds with which TO match
federal aid. as required in the federal
aid act. and would, therefore, lose her
allotment of federal funds, which will