Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-03-13
FEDERAL AID
VERY LITTLE
Propaganda Against Federal Aid in
Road Construction in West vir-
ginia-

OANp tpsf ~<NA@AN
1e.-What appears to be propaganda
against any further Federal Aid in
road construction, has been publish
cd recently in a number of papers,
tacluding q few in West Virginia.
Usually, it is in the form Of an ar
gument for lower Federal taxes. The
general tone, and even the wording,
indicates that all Of the articles are
inspired by the same source.
Some Of this propaganda has been
called to the attention of The State
Road Commission points out that
Federal Aid has no bearing upon
general taxes one way or another.
An of the Federal Aid that the gov
eminent has given the states, the
Commission says, has been paid by
the special tax on motor vehicles
and accessories.
Since 1917, the Federal govern
raent has collected from the auto
mobile industry in these special taxes
the sum of $589012,021. In the
same period the total of Federal Aid
for road building, has been 1854, 1884,
ZIG or only as per cent of the spec
raj motor vehicle and accessory tax
For the last fiscal year, the govern
naent collected $146,OO0, 900 in these
special taxes, and paid out for Fed
eral Aid to the states, only $4,000
900.
Thus, the special motor vehicle
and accessory tax has not only paid
all of the Federal AiG on road build
ing, but has left balance in the
treasury of more than the amount
paid out. Congress will probably
cut some of these taxes at the pre-
sent session. In fact, a reduction
has already passed the House of Rep
yesentatves amounting to some
s25, 0O0, 900 year. Even with this
i'm effect, the motor and accessory
people viii still be paying much more
than the total of Federal Aid for
read building.
From the tone of the propaganda
the attack on Federal road aid seems
10 come from one or more wealthy
Eastern states. 1t is asserted in
the articles that the Federal Aid act
was only passed to assist "some
backward Southern states" as New
York and other progressive states
aid not need it. AS matter of
fact, all of the states are being bene-
fted by Federal Aid. 1t is true
mat the great Eastern commercial
states are paying considerable part
of the special motor vehicle and ac-,
eessary tax, and this may be the
basis Of their objection.
But good roads, the Commission
points out, have become just as much
system, the army, or the navy. The
a national enterprise as the postal
entire nation pays to build and main
tain a navy to protect New York and
either seacoast cities The people of
= great many states never even see
battleship during their entire lives.
There is no valid objection to this,
because everyone realizes that the
capture Of ruin of the seacoast cities
would affect the entire nation. The
same principle is true of the con-
struction of national system of
good roads. The whole nation will
benefit vastly more from good roads
fsan from great navy, in increases
prosperity, better education, devel-
spment of natural resources, and in
everything that goes to make life
worth while. And the cost of two
battleships pays the entire annual
bill for Federal Aid on the roads
Of the 48 states.
The money spent on rivers is all
maid by the Federal government from
general taxation yet this traffic is
emily small fraction of tn traffic a.
long our improved highways, and its
benefits are proportionately small.
To the farmer, hard road means
more than any other Federal acti-
vity, even the postal service. It is
a convenience to get his mail prompt
ly, but good road makes it posi-
BILE for him to run his farm or dairy
at a much higher rate of production
and greater profit, gives him and
has family more Of The comforts and
Injuries of life, helps his children
to get better education and raises
his entire standard Of living.
The propagandists agg INST Federal
Aid have sought to cou President
Coolidge's views on lower taxation
with thei4 attacks. Theg overlook