The highway* are not only feeder*
to the railroads and afford relief
from their local burdens; they are
, actually line, ?r motor traffic In
interMate commerce. They are the
smaller arteries of the larger por
tlon of our commerce, and the motor
I car has become an Indispensable In
r. .TV. ?,,r eocial and
itid us trial life.
i ,, 'r!" ' r ?'* era In high
I Zh> U.e outlay ?Cl
*hi<h runs fa,- Into hundred* ,,f
! "r 'i>)I?t s /(on.) ! s hy
| ro4d district*, ofntles and St
I
mount to enormous nguree, arid the
country Is facing such an outlay
that It Is vital that every effort
shall be directed against wuuaj ?si
fort and unjustifiable expenditure.
The Federal Government can
place no inhibition on the expend!
ture In the several State*, hut since
Congress has embarked upon a policy
of assisting the States In highway
improvement, wisely. I believe. It
can assert a wholly becoming influ
ence in shaping policy.
With tl;e principle of Fedevpl
participation acceptably established
probably never to be abandoned. It
is Important to exert Federal influ
ence in developing comprehensive
plans looking to the promotion of
commcrce .and apply our expendi
tures in the surest way to guar
antee a public return for money ex
pended.
Largo Federal outlay demands a
Federal voice in the programme
of expenditure. Congress cannot
justify a mere gift from the Fed
eral puree to the several States, to
be pro rated among counties for
road betterment. Such a -.ourse will
invite abuses which it were better
to guard ngalnst in the beginning.
