Evening star., 1937-11-30
TeIt OF Presidents Message,
Page A-6.
By the Associated Press.

Page A-S.
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt's proposal 10
curtail Federal highway spending met
immediate criticism in the Senate to-
day.
AS soon as clerks finished reading
the Presidents message on future re-
ductions in this budget item, Senator
Hayden, Democrat, of Arizona, long
time highway sponsor, asserted that
Congress should not repudiate its
"contractual obligation"
He referred specifically to the Presi-
dents suggestion to cancel a s2l4.-
100000 item for road aid for the fiscal
year beginning next July /.
Mr.. Hayden said many States map
ped their road programs for two years
when their Legislatures met last year
and that cut in the funds available
for Federal highway aid would inter-
fere seriously with programs already
planned
Asserting that definite steps" are
necessary to balance the budget, Mr..
Roosevelt proposed in his special mes
sage:
l. Cancellation of a s2l4 900 900
apportionment authorized for dis
tribution among the States during
the 1899 fiscal year.
2. Spreading over the next two
fiscal years 5000 900, 900 appro-
priation balance authorized for the
present Q93S) fiscal year.
3. A limit of sl25, ,o0o, 900 an
nually on all public roads au-
thorizations for and after the 1910
fiscal year compared to a total of
s238, ,0oo,o0G each for 1888 and
l939)
f. Revision of the Federal-aid
highway law to eliminate a re-
quirement that the Federal Gov
ernment apportion to the various
States the annual amount author
lied for appropriation.
Mr. Roosevelt pointed out that since
enactments of the first Federal Aid
Highway Act in 1916 more than
50, 100 100000 of regular and en-
ergency appropriations have gone from
the Federal Treasury into road
building.
Averages Contrasted.
He contrasted the S298,000 900 an
nual average for the last five years
with an average of less than 100000
900 in each of the five years preceding
the depression.
The message said that so far this
fiscal year there has been s24 500 900
appropriated for Federal aid highways
and elimination of grade crossings and
sl3.500, 900 for roads and trails con-
nected with national parks.
Western Senators led an incipient
revolt against Mr.. Roosevelts curtail-
ment recommendations even before
the message reached the Capitol
Senator Hayden. co-author of the
act under which Congress has appro-
priated more than 5000, 100000 to be
spent on roadbuilding during the year
beginning July /, 1888, arranged to
speak in the Senate Immediately after
presentation of the message.
| Senator McCarran, Democrat, Of
Nevada, joined Hayden in opposing
reduction, which he said threatened
'one Of our greatest sources of alb
sorbing unemployment"
The Nevada Senator asserted that
commitments already had been made
to the States.
Obligations Cited.
These are contracts we are nor
mally obligated to fulfill" Senator
McCarran said. I'VE are going to face
critical unemployment problem If
these funds are curtailed."
OF the 5000, 100000 made available
by Congress for allotments January
/, approximately $l25,000,000 would
90 to direct Federal aid in building
main highways, s5O.OoO,o 900 for grade
crossings and $25,000,000 for sec
ondary roads.
Federal aid represented about one
tenth of the more than $1,000. 900, 900
expended in 1886 by State highway
departments, which for the most part
used fees paid by highway users.
First Highway Fund.
The first Federal highway fund was
81, ,000, 900 in 1893, and was used in
maintenance of post routes for mail
delivery
Today there are about 100000
miles of highway in the United States.
Secretary Wallace has estimated o.
000, 900 miles lacked any improvement
and 100000 miles were only partially
improved
The Federal aid fund is distributed
on the basis of population, area and
post road mileage. Last year Texas
received the largest amount, $12,273,-
957.
Highway departments Of 40 States
have been cooperating with Federal
officials this year In an extensive sur
vey of all roads.
Mr.. Wallace has called road build
ing lone of the best ways to spend
Federal money in time of depression
to take care of unemployment"