The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-20
The Speeches.

The hall was well filled when the
convention was called to order at 2:lO
p. m. Attorney A. B. Choate, of
Minneapolis, was the first speaker,
and his subject was ''Money for good
roads" He explained that he was
raised on farm in Fillmore county,
where he remained for twenty years.
He said that how to obtain the money
for good roads was the great question,
and the man who advocates more tax
alton for good roads is the most I'M
| popular mao in the community. He
would not propose anything of this
KIND. He suggested state road fund,
similar to the state school fund. The
railroads pay a gross earnings tax,
which is about One-fOurth of what
private persons would have to pay on
the same amount of property In sur
rounding states the roads pay more
than in Minnesota. The railroads of
this state should pay five instead of
two or three per cent, which would
bring $4,000 for the road fund. One
OF the most grasping corporations in
the Northwest is the Northwestern
Telephone Exchange Co., whose
charges are exhorbitant, and which
has escaped taxation, for some reason.
The rates in Minneapolis are Sc a
month, and So in Mankato since it
feared competition. If it's business in
the rest the state is one third that in
the twin cities, its gross earnings in
the state are 100000. At six per
cent, $4,000 would be added to the
road fund. The taxes last year were
$4,000. You are chumps if you do not
pass the constitutional amendment
to tax this company. From sleeping
car and telegraph, and other compan-
les, 100000 more could be secured.
All of this would be paid by city peo-
ple,-it now goes to support worthless
sons of Eastern capitalists in idleness.
A tax on inheritances is perfectly
just. A fortune is often curse in
stead of blessing; we have all seen
young men ruined by having an I'M
limited amount of money at their
command. It is right that the state
take a portion of this and devote
it to good roads. Probably 100000 a
year could be secured during each Of
the first five years, increasing as the
state becomes wealthier. A levy of
one mill all over the state would give
100000, and would not be felt, and
the greater part would come from the
cities. This will make total of $780,
900, increasing annually.
The through roads, extending be-
yond county limits, might be called
state roads, and should be under the
supervision of state board. County
and township roads should be under
county and township boards. State
money should be spent on state roads
only, and not used to fix up political
Jobs. The greater portion should be
raised where the road is, and this will
cure portions Of the state money.
How the county should raise its money
shou d he left to the people TO vote on.
II won be just and business like
PROPOSE ion to borrow money on
county bonds. The roads will stand
for forty or fifty years and the next
generation should help pay for them.
You shou d have the roads now, and
you can get them by borrowing the
money # you cannot raise the cash.
At $50 year repairs, you spend $1,000
in thirty years, besides the constant
drawback of bad roads. If you spend
$500 mile the first year and 800 for
repairs during thirty years, you have
a fine road all the time, instead of a
dirt road.
The use of the road tax in building
the roads should be carefully looked