The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-02-02
GOOD ROADS BILLS
Two Treasures to Come Up i'm House
Today, One of Which Provides
tor a One-rlill Tax.
The Other Relates to the State High
way Commisslon-Defines Its
Powers, Duties, Etc.

way Commission-Define Its
Powers, Duties, Etc.
onions Special Correspondence.
st. Paul, Feb. 1.-Good roads
legislation will be the special order
of the session of the house to be held
Thursday of this week. There are
two measures 10 come up at that time.
Both are committee bills. One pro-
vides for the submission of a constitu-
tional amendment to increase the
state road tax, which is now one
quarter of mill, to one mill; the
ether relates to the state highway
commission, defines it's powers and
duties, and appropriates money there
for.
+. !.
I have said that both these we're
committee bills. Their parentage,
however, is only by adoption The
real author of their existence is r. G.
Dunn of Princeton, and they embody
his plan for the Improvement of the
state highways. They we're sent in as
they have been partly in order to facil-
itate their passage, and partly, as
Mr.. Dunn explained, because he
wanted the committee to share the
honor if there was any, or the dis
honor if the law proved unsatis-
factory.
I. f.;.
In connection with their adoption
there was an incident which demon
strated at once the practical nature of
the measures, the public appreciation
of the value of the services Mr.. Dunn
has rendered in connection with them,
and the hig b regard in which he is
held by his associates in the house.
At the final meeting of the committee
in which the bills we're considered
there were number present, county
commissioners and others, who had
come there to fight what they sup
posed we're to be it's provisions.
After Mr.. Dunn had explained how
the measure would work out, they
changed their minds and became en-
thusiastie in it's favor. The COM
mittee was unanimously for it, and,
on Mr.. Dunn presenting it for their
adoption, insisted on giving him a
vote of thanks, and this too with
demonstrations which showed they
meant it..
!. T.
OF the bill for the constitutional
amendment it is not necessary to
speak at any length. It simply pro-
vides for the submission to the people
at the next general election of the prop
osition to levy a one-mill instead OF
a one-quarter mill tax. It was neces-
sary to incorporate in the bill consti-
sutional provisions already in force
but the only change is the change in
the road tax rate.
= !. !.
With the good roads bill it's differ
ent. 1t is long bill and requires a
good deal of explanation. I will try,
as briefly as can, to outline it's pro-
visions. In the first place it provides
for the perpetuation of the highway
aOnnic einp q nd procor; hos ;+e 1,+;o.
It authorizes the commission to
appoint secretary who shall be a
civil engineer and practical road
builder and be known as the state
engineer, and employ such assistants
and clerical help as may be neces.
sary.
The commission is REQUIRED to in.
vestigate and determine the location
of road material in the state, ascer.
tain the most approved methods Of
road mending and road construction
Investigate the road systems of othe,
states and report to the governor an.
nually, giving the number of miles Of
state roads built during the year
their character and other informa,
tion as to material, etc. The bill
appropriates $3.50, 900 annually for the
use of the commission, who them
selves serve without compensation
other than travelling expenses, AND
gives into their charge the state road
and bridge fund for the repletion oil
which only one-quarter of mill tax
can at present be levied.
f. i i.
On or before the first Tuesday in
March the commission is REQUIRED to
estimate the receipts of the road and
bridge fund and apportion them
among the several counties, taking
into consideration in each case the
area, the amount of money expended
bV the county in road condemnation,