Evening star., 1935-01-26
ROADS EXPANSION
URGED FOR RELIEF
Builders Ask Construction
Program as Part of New
Reconstruction Plans.

Declaring its belief that Of all the
developments Of the twentieth century
that of the modern highway and
motor transportation "has been the
most profound and far-reaching in
its contribution to our national life''
and that "even greater values" may
be derived from wise expansion along
these lines, the American Road
Builders Association yesterday after
noon brought to a close its thirty
second annual convention at the
Willard Hotel, the first ever held in
Washington.
At yesterdays closing session the
convention adopted a report of its
Resolutions Committee declaring that
not only are the Nations streets and
highways proved "a vast and substan-
tial element in the national wealth, u
but that they have enriched the ma
terial, social and cultural lives of our
people in every walk of life" and that
they constitute a productive public
investment that has created enor-
nous new values and thereby in
creased the national income"
Highways and roads, it was stated,
have provided the foundation upon
which has been erected vast and
diversified industrial structure which
provides employment for both labor
and capita! in the manufacture, dis
tribution and servicing of motor We
hicleS and road building and main
tenance equipment, the production
and distribution of gasoline, oil and
accessories, a variety of auxiliary
services, such as garages, parking lots,
wayside stands, insurance, hotel and
other accommodations for travellers,
and many more"
States Concerned.
The association pointed out, in
adopting a program of IA important
resolutions at its final session, that
its membership in every State in the
Union lis profoundly concerned with
the effect upon these many related
industries of any national policy that
touches the planning. building, main
tenance and administration of the
The association Resolutions Com
mittee, headed by william T. Cheva-
lier of New York, purposely limited
Its activities to the framing Of IL
resolutions dealing with the bread
and butter" aspects Of highway con-
struction. 1t called upon the Federal
to adopt an economically
sound and balanced program Of high
way construction based upon the
needs of traffic and the safety of the
public and to apply to this program
a substantial part Of the new
81, ,000, 100000 public works fund. It
called for application of all automo-
bile registration and gasoline tax
revenues to road work
The association demanded the ut
most possible safeguarding of public
roads funds to insure that their ex-
penditure shall be to the best purpose,
without waste and in accordance with
the system of award to private con-
tractors.
Solid Basis Needed.
1t was declared that tie expenditure
of road funds through IAN impro-
1iSed organization thrown together by
\ governmental agency under the
pressure or an emergency" could not
nave the desired effect of establishing
a solid foundation for sustained re-
,overy."
Declaring that experience with the
9. w. A. last Winter demonstrated
he difficulty of improvising a govern
mental organization quickly for carry
ng out a Nationwide program of con-
itruction without undue waste and
political explorations, the association
commended to Congress and the
President "the c. w. A. experience as
/ conclusive reason for not attempting
% carry out an emergency conStruc-
ion program of 10 times the magni-
ude by an improvised system Of force
Iccount or day labor"
Carrying on of the great proposed
highway program by the contract sys-
em, it was pointed out, Twill result in
he immediate purchase by equipment
Ind material manufacturers of the
aw materials and supplies required
or use during the Winter months in
rider to build up their inventories
nd stocks, thereby contributing to a
,reatly desired increase in employ
nent in many industries"
The association protested that to
undertake a great highway construc-
ion program by force account rather
han by contract would go far toward
anceling out the industrial gains
made during 1884, and substantially
handicap further gains during the
urrent year."
Two additional resolutions, offered
rom the floor, were adopted yesterday
fternoon. In them the association
pposed the 30-hour week and asked
or 40-hour week with a maximum
f hours per day and also took issue
nth regulations that laborers on Fed
raj highway projects must be drawn
rom the county In which the project
located. They asked that only State
mes be drawn.