Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-11-19
TEXAS DAILY PRESs LEAGUE
National Adver4srsr. p.n~..n-..u--
Bond Issues For HIGHWAYS

Alamo City was the place and the setting for the
ioth annual convention Of the American Association
OF State Highway Officials. Thomas II. Mcdonald,
cnei q the federal bureaus OF public roads. was one
OF the speakers and that state high
way construction be financed with state bond issues,
oeciarng that the pay-as-you-go plan has proven
very costly. With state bond Issues Mr.. Macdonald
commended 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 q single valid argument
against the issuance Of state bonds for road improve
ments as e fiscal matter. Furthermore, he said it
Is possible for those seeking public office to secure
votes against bonds By capitalizing old ~preiudices 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 q
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 oest
in America.
He concluded his remarks by saying that he do
not wish to be understood as favoring issuance Of
bonds under all circumstances. He believes there
we're 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 is without question: the proper
procedure"
Gov. Moody was a speaker. He hasn't changeo
front. He favored q big statewide bond issue. state
Highway Chmn. Ross Sterling hasn't changed 'front.'
He believes that a statewide gond issue i the thing
and he predicted its coming some day in the near
future. Gov. Moody is everlastingly against the pay
as-you-go idea prevalent at present. He leu y DC
known that before bonds can be resorted 70 In texas
ne constitution must be amended and IL can only
no amended by a majority vote Of the people after
tba legislature by q two-thirds vote submits the pro-
posed change. -.
Lest we forget. the 4lst legislature lacked only Two
~ three votes to submit the amendment for aooptlon
- rejection. Texas has made greater progress II Inc
rast three veare in the construction OF highways tnan
q aid IN any previous six-year period was the la'
assertion OF the governor. He pointed out tne' the
automobile and the motor freight trucks are cnAns-
snv the needs Of the people Of the state winch oe-
manded that greater progress be made IN the i.'uIe
AZ the completion Of q network OF haro sutlaceu
,,I0,,u,avs in Texas, connecting every section
We expressed the fear that the maintenance o. Se
,,r,r,nroved roads would eventually consume all OF
tbe money available in the state treasury for road