an electronic control module 210 described in more detail below with reference to fig3 and 4 further the tamping bar 115 has a lead in slope 125 located at the front edge of the bar 115 the angle of the lead in slope 125 is preferably between 30 degrees and 70 degrees so as to ensure an optimum feed of the paving material the screed 36 has preferably includes a front wall 130 disposed proximal to the screw auger 35 shown in fig1 the screw auger 35 functioning to spread paving material falling off the end of a conveyor mounted on the paver 30 the front wall 130 includes a lower guide portion 135 which is preferably inclined relative to the tamping bar 115 and which terminates adjacent to the bar 115 such that the guide portion 135 directs paving material from the auger 35 to the tamping bar 115 the angle of inclination of the guide portion 135 preferably corresponds approximately to the angle of the lead in slope 125 of the tamper bar 115 referring now to fig3 a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of an electronic control system 200 for use with the tamping mechanism 111 is shown the electronic control system preferably includes an electronic control module u201c ecm u201d 210 connected with the various system components shown a tamper bar mode selector 230 is connected with the ecm 210 in the drawing the tamper bar mode selector is shown as a three position toggle switch 240 those skilled in the art will recognize that other devices including rotary switches depressible button switches and the like could readily and easily be substituted for the three position switch as described in more detail.