Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-15
Road Speed-Up
Approval Seen
BY J. A. O'LEARY
Star STAIR Writer

Strong opposition to thu
Federal highway program
Speed-up bill had developed
today, but there remained con.
f1dence of Capitol Hill approval
Objection to the key financ-
ing provision-a two-year sus.
pension in the pay-as-you-gC
rule-came from Senator Byrd
Democrat of Virginia. strong
foe of deficit spending. But
Senator Gore, Democrat Of
Tennessee, said he is con-
f1dent the bill will pass by q
big vote.
The bill, which would make
an additional SIS billion ir
Federal funds available fol
road-building this year. was
approved yesterday by the
Senate Public Works Com
mittee. 1t is scheduled to be
taken up in the Senate the
week of March "a.
The purpose of the pay-as-
you-go rule was to limit an
nual Federal allotmentS to-
ward the building of the in
ter-state highway system tc
the revenues available in any
given year from gasoline and
other highway taxes.
Senator Byrd said he would
oppose the suspension on
grounds it opens the door to
deficit spending.
Seen in Losing Fight
Present indications, however.
are that Senator Byrd will be
waging a losing fight. The
Eisenhower administration has
Joined Democratic leaders in
favoring a temporary sus-
pension of the pay-as-you-gc
rule on the interstate system
But the Senate committee went
further than the administration
in the amount of additional
money for highway improve
mentS.
The SIS billion of new funds
in the committee approved bill
will be allocated as follows:
Add 5000 million to the 81
billion already available for use
on the interstate system in
1859.
Add 5000 million to the $1.6
billion now expected TO be avail
able under the old law for the
interstate system in 1860.
Make available to the states
Immediately an additional $40C
million for use on the primary
secondary and urban roads. tc
be matched by states on a 10
80 basis.
The bill also would enable
a state to borrow from the
Federal Government two-third'
of its 80 per cent contribution
BillbOards Fight Seen
Another floor fight is expected
in the Senate over the new fea.
ture in this highway bill to en-.
courage the states to curb bill.
boards along the Interstate
highway system.
The Public Works Committee
kept this feature in the bill by
a 7-to-6 vote. The opponent.
wanted it handled as a separate
bill. and will file a minority re.
port. The Senate may not take
up the highway bill for another
week.
The committee bill does moi
impose a Federal ban on bill
boards, but seeks to encourage
the states to regulate road
signs by offering to add one
half of per cent to the Fed.
eral share Of the interstate
system in those states which
agree to curb billbuards.
During Senate debate on an.
other measure yesterday Sena.
tor Byrd expressed fear the
present trend in Congress to-
ward deficit financing may
touch off a new spiral Of infla-
ton.
The Virginian estimated thai
new spending programs thi'
year may add up to between
SO billion and 81 billion. Al
the same time. he predicted
the Administrators January
estimate of a So billion increast
in tax collections in the flsca
year 1859 will not be borne out
Even If 1859 taxes equal thi;
years collections, Senator Byrc
said current spending proposals
would mean a Federal deficit
of nearly Sc billion in 1859. Il
this Congress decides to cut
taxes before it adjourns. the
deficit would be even higher
he said.
r.