Evening star., 1954-05-06
RecordHighway
Aid Bill Signed
By Eisenhower
Measure Authorizes
$5,l35,000 to D. c.
For Euch of z Years
o., n~II D.
By Harold B. Rogers

BY Harold B. Rogers
President Eisenhower today
signed legislation breaking all
records for Federal aid to the
country's highways, including
those in the Washington met
ropolitan area.
Using seven different pens for
his signature the President told
a gathering of Congressional
leaders and others at the White
House ceremony, he was de
lighted" with the measure.
Predicting the highway con-
struction program would gain
tempo in the next five years,
he expressed the hope it would
bring a level of construction to
encourage more toll roads and
by-paSses of major cities to help
relieve city parking problems.
The measure authorizes, but
does not appropriate nearly So
billion Federal aid during the
two coming fiscal years 1856
and 1857. For each year the
measure authorizes $966 million.
Districts Share.
The District would receive S.
$4,000 for each of the specified
years to be matched by local
money. Virginia would get $16,-
$4,000 and Maryland, So, 9,427 900.
Important to the entire Metro
politan Area here is a clause in
the new law giving the Secretary
of the Interior power to enter
into contracts for parkway con-
struction, without waiting for
future appropriations. This may
lead to early action on projects
here.
President Eisenhower, in a for
NAL statement declared that the
country's highway needs "are so
great that continued efforts to
modernize and improve our
obsolescent highway system are
mandatory even though the new
law provides the largest two-year
sum ever voted for Federal high
way programs.
ModernizatiOn Needed.
"In recent years." the Presi-
dents statement added, "the Ma
ton has accumulated tremend-
Gus highway needs which are
becoming increasingly acute.
Our highways badly need mod
ernization and expansion to &C
commodate today's va silly
increased motor traffic. Large
scale improvement is needed
simply to remedy deficiencies
not met in the past.
"This legislation is one effec-
tive forward step in meeting
these accumulated needs. 1t
keeps in the States, as deeply
believe it should, primary re-
sponsibility for highway con-
struction. At the same time it
recognizes the responsible rela-
tionship of the Federal Govern
ment to the development of a
sound, Nationwide highway
system"
The President said he was
sure that the public will well
come the fact that funds equal
to revenue from Federal gasoline
taxes will now be used entirely
for the improvement Of the
Nations highways"
AS he started to sign the bill,
Gen. Eisenhower remarked with
q laugh he had "all kinds of
pens" for the job. Officials
watching the ceremony had
brought in more than a dozen
pens and put them on the Presi-
dents desk. He used six of the
pens in signing his name and
then remarked: "By golly, that's
about all the pens 1 can use.
unless use one for the period"
Pens Distributed.
He then used seventh pen
for the period. They were dis
tributed among those watching
the signing.
In addition to authorizing
grants to States and funds for
construction of the Nations in
terstate highway system, roads
in forests, parks and other public
lands, the bill would order con-
tinued construction of the Inter-
American highway, and compile
ton of the Rama Road in Mic
aragua.
The Presidents reference to
toll roads apparently was based
on a proviso in the bill author
izing financing, including toll
roads. The Secretary also would
be directed to assist in planning
a great river road" traversing