The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-10-14
SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT.


SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
The second proposed amendment is
contained In Chapter 475 OF the Laws OF
Minnesota for the year 1907. BY this
! amendment 1t is sought to repeal Section
sixteen (16) of Article nine (9) OF the
Constitution, which section now reads as
follows:
For the purpose of lending aid in the
construction and improvement of puDnc
! highways and bridges, there is hereby
created fund 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
shall 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 it's discretion, for
an annual tax levy upon the property OF
this state of not to exceed IN any year
one-twentieth G-20) of one Cd 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 board to be
known as the State Highway Commls-
sion, consisting of three 90 members,
who shall perform such duties as shall be
prescribed by law without salary or COM
pensation other than personal expenses.
Such comm ssion 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.
Provided further, that no county shall re-
celVe In any year more than three ~
per cent or less than one-haf Ga of one
20 n6rtt Il nod tTI
vided and expended durir~ such year;
ana, provided further that no more
than one-third (1-3) of such fund accru-
ing in any year shall be expended for
er1dges, and in no case shall more than
| one-third G-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 L. For the purpose of lend
ing aid in the construction and improve
ment of public highways and bridges,
there is hereby created q 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
THE legislature is authorized to add to
such fund, for the purpose OF construct
ing or improving rCaos and bridges OF
this state, by providing, in it's discretion,
for an annual tax levy upon the property
Of this sta lie"
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 Its judgment,
for the benefit OF the roads and bridges
therein, and In 50 far removes the limita-
ton which now ex SITS in the Constitution,
whereby tie legislature is prevented
from evying for such purpose a tax ex-
ceeding twentieth (f-2o) 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 now exists in the Con-
/ stitution upon the powers of the highway
1 comm ssion in the distribution OF the road
| and bridge fund :. the state thereby au-
| thorzed, and the amount which the state
| may pay from such fund toward the cost
/ 81 constructing or Improving any read or
! bridge, and leaves the whole management
! of such fund TO be provided for by law,
! as the legislature shall dsem wise.
The adoption of this amendment Will
| not interfere with the power OF the Iegis-
Iature to create q highway commission
| and define its powers. will it inter-
fere with the appointment and tenure of
office OF the present commission.