The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-03-03

vey the impression that one-mill
state tax would produce all the means
necessary to give Minnesota system
OF good permanent highways, nor do
wish to create the impression that
4 would have the state build roads for
communities NJ where the people are too
nlggardly to vote means for road-im.
provement God helps those who
nelp themselves. And that brings me-
to the question Of how the state road
ana bridge fund should be distributed
The present wise proviso contained
In section 16, article 9, Of the consti-
luton, that no county shall receive in
any year more than three per cent or
less than one-half of one per cent Of
the state road and bridge fund
should remain as it is. Supposing
the fund amounted to $1,2OO,OOO. No
county could get more than $4,000 or
less than $4,000 in any year. The
proviso that the county should ex-
pend tWo-thirds or one-half as much
as the state should be wiped out.
county commissioners could desig-
nate the roads where state money. in
their judgment, should be expended
All road work should be done by con
tract according to general plans and
specifications prepared by the state
| highway commission, and no work
! should be paid for until duly exa.
mined and accepted by an engineer of
the commission. A deputy engineer
| could be appointed in each county,
and the chief engineer and his dep.
uty at headquarters should exer.
else general supervision. Counties
| where the local authorities made no
! effort to improve the highways with
IN their Jurisdiction should receive
scant consideration at the hands of
the commission. The highway COM
mission should be allowed wide lati-
tude In exercising discretion as to
where money should be expended, al
ways subject to the three per cent
constitutional restriction, and if nee
essary there could be supplemental
legislation on this subject.
What an object lesson a piece of
well-constructed road would be in
county. The road authorities of
every town in the county would have
a practical demonstration of good
road work that would prove of meal
culable benefit.
| I wish to call your particular at
tentlon TO the proposed constitutional
amendment to be voted upon this
fall as we'll as to the amendment the
courts decided was adopted in 1906.
Both amendments ignore the highway
commission. Under the constitution
as IL now exists (see section 16 art
1cle 81, the legislature can authorize
the levy of state road tax of one
fourth of one mill and apportion it
out pork-barrel' fashion. Moreover.
there is nothing in the constitution as
II now exists, or in the proposed
amendment to be voted upon next
November, to prevent the legislature
from enacting law abolishing the
highway commission. Such action
on the part of the legislature would
certainly be a gigantic stride in the
wrong direction. It would be a.
death-blow to the cause of uniform
good roads in this state.
|, for one, would like to see an
amendment enacted by the legisla-
ture and adopted by the voters that
would provide for 1-mill tax, to be
extended by the state auditor every
year, and not leave the levying of
such tax to the discretion of the leg
lslature; provide for the expenditure
OF the revenue derived from such tax
by the state highway commission:
not more than three or less than one
half of one per cent of the fund to be
expended in any county in any year:
without any restrictions as to the
amount that may be expended by a.
county in order to enable it to get
state aid. Then the apportionment
OF the road and bridge fund of the
state could not be used as a club in
the legislature to force members to
support Objectionable measures
would not be thing of barter and
sale.
repeat here what 1 said at the
mock session of the legislature held
on the state fair grounds last Sep
TENDER, and which 1 have constantly
reiterated in the columns of the
Princeton Union, the governor ought
to convene the legislature in extraor-
binary session to enact and submit an
amendment such as have outlined.
The expense would be a mere baga-
telle-less than $10,OOO-as the mem
bers have already been paid their sal
aries and their mileage would not ex-
coed $4,000. The chief executive has
it in his power to prevent any other
legislation from being enacted, by
stating to the legislators in advance
that he called them together for the
express purpose of acting on a good
! roads amendment to the constitution,
| and politely but firmly informing
| them that any other measure would
| have to be passed over his veto. If
such an amendment was enacted it
could be submitted to the voters at
the ensuing election and if adopted
49, -