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Show II National System of I Interstate Highways I Predicted by Senate HH A8HINGTON, That the nr.vi (sHi eongrcss will seriously consider th proposed plan of a national system ol H! interstate highway" is now assured H This action was predicated by the Ben- HI 'nte's refusal to ai))rovc us a 'rider" on HaH Illp postoffice appropriation! bin th HaH S ltl,0(HiM)O . . .1 r,l l, Hu house With- HH "out any restrict Ions other than now HB1 embraced the federal aid road act, Qi -which has failed in various direction" In! 1o satisfy man of its original adhcr- sBH ents. While the federal money In wome HpK states aided materially in accelerating H state systems of intercounty roadi, In other states the rich counties BJH matched" dollars from the national BH treasury, 'with the result that the poor . ounlies were still lef I in the mud. J 'I'honKh the organized motorists eo- BJI operated with the slate highway offi- I jclalB in urging the federal aid road act. HI the two groups were not in entire ac- HflHJ cord m the recent legislative effort HlH ;Both were agreed that joint federal H -md State money should he expended H "upon roads of interstate Importance, HJH but the highway officials refused to In- J slsi upon such a provision or to sup- Hj port the Townsend idea of creating a HJHJ nmmission to lay out a national HH scheme of main roads connecting the HJH several states. cavm:s ipposi ri K What caused some opposition, in JH and out of congress, to the hundred HJBJ millions appropriation, was the fear BJB that its unrestricted adoption would Hj fasten the fcdcial aid method upon the HJHJ 'countrr for an Indefinite period. One J member of the house didn't hesitate to J Ba.j that the accord of the senate would Hj do exactly this thing HJH Debated upon its merits, something HlH not possible under "suspension of the HJH rules" those who favor an interstate HJH -system and a commission believe that HJH congress will adopt a comprehensive plan, for the undertaking has the ap- HJH proval of farm, commission, automo- HJH bile and various other organizations. HJH Argument In favor of the appropvla- HJH tion centralized on the plea that forty- HJH three legislatures were in session, and HJh that unless the federal government! HJI 'supplied additional money at once the HJH road program in many states would HJH be retarded. HJH Information presented to the senate HJH indicated that on December 31, 1020 ' HJH only $117. 00ft. 000 of federal aid money I HJH remained unallotted, but that by July I HpJ 'next this amount would be entirely HJHJ covered by the states. Those opposing' HJH iwelt upon the fact that of the Si'75 -i HJH 000.000 total nearh- ."J mum. still1 HJH remained In the United States treasury! HJH November 30, 1910 The facts also dis- HJH closed that only 147,000,000 had been. HH paid out, although other contracts had; HH been completed and not paid for. HJ Manv senators took the stand that' HJH as long as the bulk of the money still HJH remained in the treasury, that the road HJH building program of the country would HJH not be seriously interfered with by de- HJH laying consideration of good roads un-' HB til the next congress convenes. , .l I s ( OMMEN I HJH Commenting upon Hie situation HJH 4'hairman George Dlehl of the HJH American Automooiie association r, I l roads board, thus summarize- t ho mat -I HH HHJ "Apparently Instead of the stales HJH waiting to nee what congress Is ffOlni HJH ti do congress nu proposal wait' HH and sec what the stales are going to! HJ do. especially the seventeen t HHJ which are depending largely upon HJH their counties to raise the money to HJH enable them to co-operate with the JH federal government in building roads. JH 3t is high time that these states which' HJH have failed to function as states should j JH wipe out their paper highway depart-' HJH ments and provide some real money I I with w hich to build real roads, uliliz I ins; advantageously whatever aid ma) i me from the federal Kovcrnmen' . jther in the form of entire cost am i subsequent maintenance of Interstate highways, or an amplifying of th I present half-and-half arraimemenL" , i . hi |