Evening star., 1939-08-03
House Bill Proposes
Express, High-Speed,
Toll Highways
Bourd Of Three Reporting
To President Would
Manage Project
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Dy I'LL
Representative Pat Boland of
Pennsylvania, Democratic whip of
the House, late yesterday introduced
a bill for the construction of ex-
press, high-speed highways, to ira
verse the entire United States.
A subcommittee of the Banking
and Currency Committee may hold
hearings on the proposal during
the recess of Congress to clear the
way for action early in the next
session. 1t was intimated the Presi-
dent would make an important an
nouncement regarding the Federal
highways program in a few days.
The Boland bill provides for con-
struction of express toll highways
and the acquisition of excess lands
along the right of way for related
purposes, such as resettlement prof.
ects, airports and general service
facilities. 1t proposes to coordinate
several New Deal activities along
these rights of way.
The entire project would be man.
aged by board of three appointed
by the President and reporting to
him. The board would have au-
thority to resell excess lands, the
profits from such sales going into
the sinking fund of the operating
organization.
Subscription by r. F. c.
The legislation directs the Re-
construction Finance Corp, on ap-
proval of the President, to sub
scribe up to $25 ,000,O 900 capital stock
as needed for the enterprise. Power
is granted to condemn rights of
way for elf-liquidating toll high
ways, the first of which undoubted-
ly would be constructed between
New York and Washington. Power
to sell revenue bonds or debentures
up to $500,000 900 under terms ap-
proved by the Secretary Of the
Treasury is authorized, to be amor
tized by setting up in the Treasury
a Federal Highways Corp. bond
fund" Into this fund would be
paid all tolls and other revenues in
excess of operating costs.
The R. F.. c. would be directed
to subscribe up to $4,000, 900 in any
one year in short-term debentures.
These Federal revenue bonds and
the assets of the corporation are
made tax-exempt.
The managing corporation is di-
rected to build express toll highways
between and around metropolitan
regions and areas of the densest
traffic congestion. In the making of
plans, consideration is to be given
to reports of the United States Bu-
reau of Public Roads and its find
ings and reports to Congress under
the act of last June 8.
Emphasis is placed on the re-
Quirement that all projects are sub
ject to the approval of the Presi-
dent.
Agreements Provided.
An important phase of the pro-
gram is authorization to enter into
agreements with the several States,
municipalities and other public au-
thorities for construction and op-
Grafton Of connecting highways,
bridges, causeways, tunnels and
other related works on a self -liQul-
dating basis. The corporation in
charge of construction would own
such projects only during the period
of amortization, after which they
would revert, traff1c-free, to the Fed
eral. State, municipal or other party
to the agreement.
The power to take excess lands
along the proposed rights OF way
under eminent domain" it is en-
phasized, must not invade the estab-
lished rights of others when making
agreements with States, municipaIl-
ties or other public agencies, but
must absorb such private rights
where necessary under reasonable
terms.
Representative Boland pointed
out that his bill will create addi-
tional facilities for national defense.
relieve highway traffic congestion IN
inter-metropolitan regions, aid air
navigation, aid the States, munich
palities and other public authorities;
furnish employment for citizens now
on relief, decrease unemployment,
stimulate business recovery and pro-
mote public safety"