The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-24
FEDERALR0AD
AID IS STILL
BIG PROBLEM
Three Senate Measures BE.
fore the House of Repre-
sentatives for Disposition
LOSS MAY ESULT
Good Roads Secretary Says
There Is Danger of Losing
Much Federal Aid

Whether or not North Dakota will
continue to receive federal aid in
roadbuilding will be one of the chief
battles in the remaining days of the
Legislative session with its scene laid
in the house. 1t. was probable that
the highways committee of the house
to which Senate Bills IA, As and 46
were assigned would make report
for pas sage or postponement either
today or Monday.
The three measures were fathered
by the North Dakota Good Roads as
sociation which has as it's purpose
the creation of an adequate system
of state roads. S. B. al had three
purposes the organization of the
state highway department, the con
troll of 5000 to 1000 miles Of the
100000 miles of roads in the state
and giving powers to the state high
way commission to secure rights of
way for state and federal roads.
This passed the senate 80 to ll8 but
the emergency clause failed.
S. B. as, provided for the control
of all automobile license fees collec-
tion and disbursement Of the same
by the state highway commission and
in.leased the fees on an average Of
approximately so per cent.
S. B. 46 is Il constitutional amend
ment for reference to the people at
the next general election establish
ing state highway commission Of
three members holding Office alter
nately for three years each; creating
a state system of good roads and pro-
viding the methods Of raising funds
through automobile license fees.
This latter measure passed the SEN
ate by vote Of rs to 10. S. B. 45
drew ~ to "a tie vote in the SEN
ate land 1t. Gov. Frank Hyland cast
a deciding vote for passage. The ac-
tion has been questioned as to its
legality.
Two Pass Senate.
Tho first and third of the bills
passed the senate with but minor
amendments. However on S. b. 45,
one amendment raised the license fee
on tracks and attached as
q rider-wrote into the bill general
moratorium on road work and appro-
priations for federal aid contracts
during the years Of 1928 and 1924.
This rider is almost identical with
H. b. '233 which was killed by the
house--it as least nulifies any work
on the part Of the highway commis-
sion for ut least two years and pos
sibly three, as by 1925 new surveys
probably needs must have been made
and could not be completed in time
for doing an work IN the year.
Proponents of the highway COM
mission bills point to the folly of
abandoning federal aid. Under the
department Of war regulations not
more than so per cent Of the cost
of road construction under federal
aid shall be paid by the government.
This averages about 4S per cent of
the total cost. Under the proposed
group of highway bills as originally
introduced, the state would pay the
remaining with nothing assessed
against the counties.
There are at the present time say
engineers Of the highway department
between 100000 and $1,000,00O OF
unfinished work on contracts in ex-
istence. The argument was used in
killing H. B. 233, the repeal of the
highway commission, that such re-
peal meant withdrawal Of federal aid
and the counties would have to pay
the difference on road work for which
contracts are now in existence. Thir-
ty-six counties in the state have hao
surveys for state. highways made BY
the highway commission and county
engineers. Most all Of these coun'
ties have made levies to meet their
share Of the expense, but under the
war department regulations such
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