Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25

of the subsidy system took place, but
since 1910 a series of important acts
has given great impetus to the system
and has been accompanied by marked
increase in Federal supervision and con-
troll of State activities.
From modest grants in aid OF the
four functions mentioned above, the
system has expanded until today 81
classes of Federal-aid payments are
made to the States at total cost to
the Federal Government of about $780,
100000 year. The rapid growth of
the Federal-aid system in the last 20
years has been due to the extension of
assistance to the States for such func-
tions as forest protection Q91D main
tenance of marine schools Q91D, agri-
cultural extension work Q9l4), cooper
alive construction of highways and for
est roads O916), arming, equipping
and training the National Guard Q916),
vocational education Q91O, preventing
the spread of epidemic diseases 1913,
industrial rehabilitation 1920 and
promoting the welfare of mothers and
infants G92D. (The Jones-Cooper bill
for a renewal Of appropriations under
this head Is now pending in the Senate)
The reSemblanceS among the acts eS-
tabliShing conditional subsidies are
striking. As a rule, provision Is made
for close cooperation between Federal
and State authorities, the former being
given supervisory control over the CO.
operating State agencies. In effect, the
statutes virtually declare certain State
officials to be agents Of the National
Government in certain of their activi-
ties. Except in cases where the basis of
expenditures or allotments is wholly
Federal, 1t is generally required that
the State must equal the expenditures
of the National Government. No State
is required to accept any Of the subsi-
dies or conditions provided in the sew
eral laws. In each case the relationship
is entered upon voluntarily, although the
State Legislatures are obviously under
considerable pressure to match the
Federal dollar" and to accept the terms
imposed when subsidies are available in
large sums.
Cost of FederaI-Aid System.
The rapid growth of the Federal-aid
system is shown in a comparison of the
payments to the States during the last
20 years. In 1912 the total of the pay
ments from the Federal Treasury to the
States was approximately 5000 900. |
BY 1920 it had risen to SAB 900 900, by
1922 to $134,000000 and by 1927 to
S163,000,000, the high-water mark of
the payments up to the present time.
During the fiscal year 1880 net dis
AL GC0CA al dlu " I1lC OtdOCo ]
and Territories amounted to over Sat- |
100000 and for the present fiscal year
Congress has appropriated more than |
$50, 10000 for this purpose. In addi- |
ton to this sum, there are many I'M |
expended balances of appropriations |
provided for previous fiscal years which !
are available for expenditure during the +,
current year to meet obligations in |
CURED in previous years.
T1llrinp 6Spal voors 10C0-a0 a.
elusive, the Federal-aid payments |
reached grand total of 1853 ,676224, |
almost one and one-half billion dollars. |
OF this huge sum more than $685., 000,- |
600, or 81 per cent, went for the co. |
operative construction of highways; |
over $275,000,0 900. or 10 per cent, went |
to the National Guard; over $64 ,000, 900.
or "A per cent, was devoted to the CO.
operative agricultural extension work |
and an equivalent amount to cooper
alive vocational education and rehabili-
tation. These four activities together
accounted during the period for about
IS per cent of the Federal-aid appro-
priations, highway construction being
the chief beneficiary Of the assistance.
The Federal-Aid Highway System.
The present Federal-aid highway sys-
tenn was designated comparatively by |
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting |
through the bureau of Public Roads, |
and officials Of the several State high |
way departments, in accordance with |
Federal highway act of 1921. The sys-
TEN comprises the main interstate roads |
and reaches directly nearly every city |
OF 5000 population or more. The roads |
are so chosen that If a zone 10 miles |
wide were marked on on each side Of !
them these zones would include homes |
Of 80 per cent of the population. The |
lie fnA ~ lavw 30 ~ "a
OF the total highway mileage in each |
State, and Federal aid can be allotted |
only to roads included in the system.
When provision has been made for the
completion and maintenance of per
cent OF the total, the State Is authorized |
70 add to the system of Federal-aid
highways. Before any project is APP
proved by the Secretary Of Agriculture
the State is required TO make provision
for State funds each year for the con-
Struction, repair and maintenance of
all Federal-aid highways within the
State. Standards of construction and
materials are set by the Secretary of
Agriculture, and the work is subject to
inspection and approval by his agents.
The original Federal-aid road act
G9l6) authorized the Secretary OF Ag-
rlculture TO participate in the improve
ment of roads up TO so per cent of the
cost OF the improvement, provided that
the aid granted 70 any particular pro-
ect did not exceed $4,000 a mile (Sl :
600 mile at present., exclusive of
cost OF bridges more than 20 feet IL :.
The other so per cent of the improve
ment is borne by the State highway
departments. No Federal-aid funds are
applied TO county or local roads.
In addition TO its contribution to
Federal-aid roads, the Federal Govern
ment has assumed the duty of building
those sections Of the major national
system which lie in the national forests
and parks and other parts of the pub
lie domain. In the forest highway sys-
tenn are 1876 miles of major roads. OF
which 1857 miles have been improved |
with Federal funds
The national park system includes
L .5O9 miles OF major highways, Of |
which 302 miles have been improved |
with federal aid, 88 of which were inn |
proved in 1890. During 1880 the Bureau |
OF Public Roads continued its co-opera- |
ton with a number of States in the |
restoration Of roads damaged by the |
floods OF 1927 and 1928. This work. |
made possible by several special acts Of |
Congress, has resulted in the compile |
ton OF improvements on 81 miles of |
highways in Vermont, "a in New Hamp- |
shire, SO in Kentucky and a short !
stretch in Mississippi At the end of |
the fiscal year 1880, 332 miles of Fed |
eral-aided bridges and bridge ap- |
proaches were in use and 86 miles of |
bridges were under construction or ap-
proved for construction.
Federal Road Funds.
Federal-aid roads are constructed |
under the immediate supervision of the !
several State highway departments sub |
ject to the approval OF the Bureau of |
Public Roads. The bureau has estab- |
lished IL districts, each in charge Of q
district engineer, who co-operates d.
rectly with the State highway engineers |
of the States included In his district |