St. Paul tidende. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1902-1928, 1908-10-16
SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT

SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
The second proposed amendment is
contained In Chapter 47s OF the Laws Of
Minnesota for the year 1907. BY this
amendment It Is sought to repeal Section
sixteen (16) of Article nine 10y of the
Constitution, which section now reads as
follows:
For the purpose Of lending aid in the
construction n improvement of public
highways and bridges, there is hereby
created a u to be known as the State
Road and Bridge Fund Said FUND shall
include all moneys accruing from the in
come derived from investments in the
internal improvement LAND fund. or that
may hereafter accrue to said fund, and
n also include all funds accruing to
any state road and bridge fund, however
provided.
"The legislature is authorized to add to
such fund for the purpose of constructing
or improving roads and bridges of this
state, by providing, in its discretion, for
an annual tax levy upon the property of
this state of not to exceed in any year
one-twentieth (1-2o) of one ~ mill on
all the taxable property within the state.
The legislature is also authorized to
provide for the appointment, by the gov
ernOr of the state, of a board to be
known as the State Highway Commits
sion,' consisting Of three (3) members,
who shall perform such duties as shall be
prescribed by law without salary or com
pensation other h personal expenses.
"Such commission shall have general
superintendent Of the construction Of
state roads and bridges and shall use
such fund in the construction thereof and
distribute the same in the several coun-
ties in the state upon an equitable basis.
ceive in any year more than three (3)
per cent or less than one-half (k) of one
~ per cent of the total fund thus pro-
vided and expended during such year;
and, provided further, that no more
than one-third (1-3) of such fund accru-
ing in any year shall be expended for
bridges, and in no case shall more than
one-third Q-3) of the cost Of construc-
ton or improving any road or bridge be
paid by the state from such fund.-"
and to substitute therefor the following:
Section 1e. For the purpose of lend
ing aid in the construction and improve
ment of public highways and bridges,
there Is hereby created a fund to be
known as the State Road and Bridge
Fund Said fund shall include all moneys
accruing from the income derived from
investments in the internal improvement
land fund. or that may hereafter accrue
to said fund, and shall also include all
funds accruing to any state road and
bridge fund. however provided.
1.-The legislature is authorized to add to
such fund, for the purpose of construct
ing or improving roads and bridges Of
this state by providing, in it's discretion,
for an annual tax levy upon the property
of this state"
The purpose and effect Of this amend
ment is to authorize the legislature to
levy upon all the property Of the state
any amount necessary, In it's judgment,
for the benefit of the roads and bridges
therein, and In 80 far removes the limita-
tion which now exists in the Constitution,
whereby the legislature is prevented
ceeding one-twentieth 0-20) of one ()
mill on the taxable property within the
state.
This amendment further authorizes the
legislature to provide salary and compen-
%sation, including personal expenses in
cured In The performance of duty by the
highway commission, or any other like
officer entrusted by law with similar du.
ties.
Finally, this amendment removes the
limitation which new exists In the Con-
stitution upon The powers Of the highway
commission in the distribution of the road
and bridge fund of the state whereby au-
thorized, and the amount which the state
may pay from such fund toward the cost
Of constructing or improving any road or
bridge, and leaves the whole management
Of such fund to be provided for by law,
as the legislature shall deem wise.
The adoption of this amendment will
not interfere with the power Of the legis-
iature to create a highway commission
and define its powers, nor will 1t inter-
fere with the appointment and tenure OF
office of the present commission.