Pocahontas star herald., 1924-01-04
FEDERAL AIO FOR
ARKANSAS ROADS


That federal aid in the construction
of Arkansas highways has been restOr-
ed was the assurance contained in IA
late communication from Secretary Of
Agriculture Wallace. While the state
ment did not say directly that federal
aid would be restored to Arkansas,
both Thomas II. Mcdonald, chief of
the Bureau of Roads of the United
States Department of Agriculture, and
Sen. II. IL. Caraway of Arkansas said
that aid had been restored.
The president is quoted by Mr.. Wal
lace as being in thorough sympathy
with the course the department has fol
lowed in Withholding federal funds and
is determined that every power of the
federal government be used to correct
abuses and injustices under which Ar
kansas farmers have suffered"
After announcing that the depart
ment has no intention of making any
further investiga zion in Arkansas eX'
cept as may be necessary to admins
ter federal aid funds justly and efiic-
iently in the future the secretary de
clared that abuses to state laws OF
state administration should be correct
ed by state authorities. The federal
aid law, he said, makes certain require
ments, and il remains for the state to
meet these. He insisted that most of
the projects where there were abuses
and mfairness to land owners were
not federal aid projects.
The maintenance question was stres-
sed in the statement. All roads ON
which federal aid has been used must
be properly maintained by the state,
the secretary said Old projects, which
cannot be completed without federal
aid must be cleaned up. New projects
under the new law must be established
by a majority vote of the property own
ers in the district before they win re-
ceive consideration. Old projects, not
included under the new law, will be
considered on their individual merits.
Both Senators Caraway and Robin
son. who have been extremely interest
ed in the road situation, expressed
qualification at the action of Secretary
Wallace today. Senator Robinson said :
while the burden of taxes imposed
by the Harrelson Act on land owners
in the various road districts still is
quite heavy;it has been reduced by
about one half through the imposition
of the gasoline tax and heavy license
taxes. The new law is therefore much
better for the land owners Of the state
than the old system. With federal
aid restored, road building in Arkan-
sas may progress more or less salts
factorily. without il, the farmers
and land owners of the state, while
heavily taxed, will be unable to secure
good roads.
There is no substantial excuse for
the delays that have occurred and the
department apparently recognizes this
fact. My colleague, Senator Caraway,
and were prompted to take action in
the matter by what appears to be the
best interests of the state and we both
are pleased at the result
senator Caraway said: 81 always
thought that it was wise that every
penny Of the expenditure for road
building in Arkansas or elsewhere
should have been scrutinizcd with care
and have never objected to an investi-
cation. The thing | objected to was
the blanket order of suspension with
out any reference to particular pro
iects. believe that there viii be
more harmony as result of today's
action between the government and
the state than ever before and there
fore better service win obtain.
~ have been sincerely hopeful that
some means could he devised to help
the people who are being oppressed by
he tax but cannot see how anyone can
believe 1t would tighten the burden of
the taxpayers by having federal aid
denied. Certainly these districts that
have their bonded debt outstanding
should not he denied every assistance
possible to tighten their burdens"