The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-24

funQ, whereby members OF the legislature
were induced to vote for legislation which
they would not otherwise have supported,
and, in return, secured an appropriation
for bridge in their particular locality.
Nothing New In Principle.
You will see then, that so far as the ap-
preparation of this internal improvement
fund Is concerned there is nothing new in
principle, but simply a getting rid OF this
unbusiness-like and dangerous method of
distribution, and securing for the wagon
roads all of the internal improvement fund
instead Of part of it, and distributing it
equally and systematically throughout the
state. In fact, there is nothing new what
ever in principle in any of the provisions Of
the amendment. The levy OF tax equal to
one-twentieth of one mill, and applying
that to country roads, Is upon the same
principle as we have seen, that the state
now contributes to the support of the coun-
try schools, and the distribution OF the
internal improvement fund is simply
continuation Of the practice heretofore
adopted in relation to that fund in a more
business-like, systematic and equitable man
ner.
AS to the manner of distribution it is
briefly, this: Not to exceed three per cent
nor less than one-half Of one per cent CT
the state road and bridge fund expended in
any one year can, by this proposed amend
ment, be expended in any one county OF
the state Whenever the people Of any
county desire portion of this fund they
may secure not to exceed three per cent
=
state authorities to build a road according
to certain general directions and the state
Will contribute not to exceed one-third OF
the cost of the road, and the poorest county
in the state can secure its share, and can
not be deprived of its share provided it will
comply with the provisions for securing the
appropriations
Amendments Might BE Improved.
This amendment is not all that we might
wish it to be, because so many members
matter. Few of them had ever given the
question any thought, and they were
afraid to make the amendment to the con-
stitution what it should be. You observe
that only one-twentieth of one mill can be
levied as a state tax for this road fund.
AS soon as the people OF this state learn
what d good thing state aid Is they will
want larger state tax levied in order to
get larger proportion of the city wealth
distributed for country road building, and
they will then require another amendment
to the constitution allowing a greater tax
alton.
that the men who tc have charge OF
the expenditure of this state read money
shall work for nothing This is wrong. II
the commission is needed to oversee the
expenditure of this money, the members
should rot be asked to work for nothing.
and If ii is not needed, 1T should Let be
appointed. The state pays its employees in
other kinds Of work and ought to do 50 In
this work IL 1t is needed. Probably some
Will be found who will be kind enough
to work for nothing until the members Of
the legislature learn more about this sub
ject, and then viii probably submit anctLer
amendment on that point. But 1t is best
to take what we can get in the right diTec-
ticn and wait for what we ought to have,
OF the principle that half loaf Is better
than none at all. So 1 will say nothing
further about the shortcomings OF this
amendment lest you think it not worth
adopting.
Can Vote on This.
The voters Of this state will be called
upon to adopt or reject this amendment
at the next state election and, so far as 1
know; the sentiment is almost unanimously
IN favor CT the amendment, and any who
are opposed are probably not fully informed
upon the subject. The interest in the sub
Ject OF state aid is widespread and pop
ular in all parts of the United States. and
Is being put in form Of legislation as fast
as the members of the legislatures are
made to understand its fairness and ad-
VantageS.
The principal reason state aid is popular
Is because it is just and abolishes the in
justice which is caused by requiring the
small amount of country property to bear
the burden of building the enormous mile
age of country roads. while the large
amount of city property is only taxed to
build the comparatively few miles CT the
city roads.
Another reason why this plan of state
aid is so popular Is because it avoids the
extravaganza which has been so common
when the state or the United States has I'M
dertaken such work. for since the locality
where the road is built must furnish at
least twothirds OF the cost this has a
tendency to prevent extravaganza.
A general discussion of the good
roads subject followed and the society
then elected officers for the ensuing
year Vice President Gates Johnson
announced that President N. Y. Tay-
Tor did not desire a reelection, nor did
he himself wish to hold any office. His
advanced age, he said, entitled him to
rest from responsibility.
The society accordingly elected Prof
w. r. Hoag, of Minneapolis, president.
and o. j. Anderson, of ST. Peter vice
president. Charles A Forbes. of ST.
Paul was elected secretary and Will
liam DanfOrth, OF Red Wing. treasurer.
The new board of directors connp.ises
President Hoag, William C. Fraser, of
Rochester; Frank Nutter, of Minneapo-
lis; s. H. Hodges, of ST Paul: George
A. Ralph, f. w. Gilveray, of Duluth;
V. ID. Simar, of Shakopee. and E. l..
Higgins. of Hutchinson.
Prof. Hoag, the new president CT the
society, was born in Fillmore county.
Mimi, in 1859. He graduated from the.
High school of Rochester and then en-
tered the state university, from which
he was graduated a civil engineer ir
1884. He served in a professional capac-
ity on the Northern Pacific railroad and
with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Paul railroad, and in 1885 he was called
to the university as an instructor. He
soon became an assistant professor.
then professor and is now in charge
OIL the civil engineering. He has also
assisted the United States coast and
geodetic survey in the trianguIation
of the state and was on the Jury of
awards at the Columbian exposition.
He has also served the state as state
drainage commissioner, with special
reference to the Red River valley. He
is an enthusiastic Wheelman and a
member CT the L. A. w.