Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1919 — THE NEW ROAD LAW. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW ROAD LAW.

Last night the house voted to concur in the senate amendments to the road bill, which were designed to strengthen the measure. After years of agitation and effort Indiana is to have a highway law based on the principle that good roads are in the interest of all ‘the people of the state, and not in any sense local affairs. We are to have a real highway commission; a state director appointed by the commisssion and responsible to it; and ample revenue for the commission. After the present year all the automobile fees go to the state commission, rather than to the counties, which is as it should be. The new law will measure up fully to the federal requirements, and as a result we shall get our share of the federal

appropriation. Here is clearly a proper centralization of authority. The building of roads is a business and not a political function. Under the present decentralized system hundreds of thousands of dollars have been wasted or stolen; roads have been built poorly, and without system; no proper provision has been made for maintenance. With such a system contractors and politicians were more than content. For years they have been unable to defeat all movements for reform. And always they have professed to be very jealous for the “rights of the people.” But this year things were different. It was recognized that the time had come when good roads were a necessity and understood that under a proper law they could be got for less money than was paid for poor roads. Also men saw that in a very real sense that there were no such things as local roads, hut that all were —or ought to be—parts of a great state system binding cities and towns together, and giving the farmer easy access to markets. “The day will come,” said Representative Winesbilirg, “when we’ll all be proud of this bill.”" That day is not far away. Under the highway bill which is soon to become a law, the people of Indiana will benefit greatly.—lndianapolis News.