Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-11-19
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Bond Issues For Highways

Alamo City was the place and the setting for the
iotn annual convention Of the American Association
OF state Highway Officials. Thomas II. Mcdonald.
chief Of the federal bureaus of public roads. was one
q the speakers and recommended that state high
way construction be financed with state bond issues.
declaring thai tIle pa5-as-you-go plan has proven
very costly. With state bond issues MIR. Macdonald
commenced the interest rates was lower and larger
contracts could be let which naturally lowers the cost
OF construction, resulting in a big saving to the pub
lie.
Highway financing was the subject Of his address.
He declared there Is not a single valid argument
against the issuance of state bonds for road improve
ments as q fiscal matter. Furthermore, he said 1t
Is possible for those seeking public office to secure
votes against bonds by capitalizing old p~retudices and
the characteristic fear Of debt"
This representative Of the federal highway depart
ment insisted that in the face Of the experience OF
the states which have made the most rapid progress
in road Improvement and which have advanced a
part OF the cost from the bonds. there Is not a single
unfavorable situation or circumstance to support anti
bond arguments" There are II American common
wealths that have failed to make use Of the state
bond issue plan, while 81 states have put over big
bond issues and their highways are among the best
In America.
He concluded his remarks by saying that he did
not wish to be understood as favoring issuance OF
bonds under all circumstances. He believes there
were a few states in which there is no longer the
need that existed a few years ago for the employment
Of this method Of financing. Speaking Of the gaso-
line tax he declared the employment OF motor We
hicle revenues to pay for bonds is now the proper pro-
cedure and added as without question: the proper
procedure"
y Gov. Moody was a speaker. He hasn't changed
front. He favored a big statewide bond issue. state
Highway Ctmn. Ross Sterling hasn't changed front.
He believes that a statewide gond issue IS the tmng
and he predicted its coming some day in the near
future. GOV. Moody is everlastingly against the pay
as-you-ro idea prevalent at present. He let IL De
known tliat before bonds can be resorted to In Texas
tna constitution must be amended and 1t can only
he amended by q majority vote OF the people aiter
the legislature by a two-thirds vote submits inc pro
posed change.
Lest we forget, the 4lst legislature lacked only TWO
ar three votes to submit the amendment for adoption
= rejection. Texas has made greater progress IN the
Dost three wears IN the construction Of highways tnan
4 Aid IN any previous six-year period, was the llas
assertion Of the governor. He pointed out tnet the
,utomobiIe and the motor freight trucks are chang
no the needs Of the people Of the state, which de-
r,sraad that greater progress be mace IN the istuie
~ the completion of q network OF haro suriaceu
b,cbvravs in Texas, connecting every section"
rza exnressed the fear that the maintenance OF tne
,.n,rorroved roads would eventually consume all OF
the money available in the state treasury Tor road