The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-02-07
From first pa ge


the long line to meet the short line
rates and reduce its rate to interven-
ing points correspondingly Senator
eastman, as / understand, is willing
TO consent to such an amendment if it
Can be framed without breaking down
the basic principles of his bill, that,
where other things are equal, for equal
distance rates ought to be equal.
!. \ 4
At the hearings which have been
held this week interest was conferred
on the argument made by Mr.. Eaton,
recently chairman of the Iowa railroad
commission, against the inf1exible
characterize rigidity-of the Iowa
rate law in the matter above referred
to. 1t was his opinion that it throttled
competition and at many points result
ed in disaster. At the same time he
specifically disclaimed at the hearing
on Friday opposition to distance tar
IN II the features of inflexibility and
rigidity could be removed ''Above
ALL he said, there should be no dis
elimination. Every man and every
city in the state and every section of
the state is entitled to equality of op-
portunity. No commissioner on the
face of the EARTH" he added. fought to
be permitted to allow any unfair or
illegal discrimination" He went on
to explain that he meant by illegal |
discrimination that discrimination that
would build up one town or one local |
ity at the expense of another He fur
Their gave it as his opinion that an
amendment which would remove its
rightly would not break down a dis |
taoce tariff Jaw,
\ !. i
1t is not often that so high tribute /
is paid to a public man as that in |
volved in the endorsement by the !
house of representatives of the good
roads bills framed by r. G Dunn of
Princeton. These bills, taken together,
contemplate a practical revolution in
the method of roadmaking in this |
state. Yet they were adopted by the /
house by all but a unanimous vote.
!. i. :;
The first bill provides for consti
tutional amendment increasing the |
general state tax for roads and bridges
from one-Quarter of mill to l mill
AS, in explaining it, Mr.. Dunn said:
You can't have your omelet without I
breaking your eggs. If you want good
roads you must be prepared to pay for
them" The tax, of which, however,
the people must first approve by vote
at the general election is expected to |
add to the state road and bridge fund
something over a million of dollars
annually.
The principal change in the general
road law at present in force in the
state involved in Mr.. Dunn's bill is
in respect to the supervision of the
construction of roads. He proposes
the appointment of sufficient mum
Der of deputy road engineers-prac-
teal road builders-to supervise the
work done on all the roads of the
state. They are to be paid by the
state, but their services are placed at
the disposal of county and township
boards. 1t is not made mandatory
that the boards consult these engi-
neers. They can build the roads I'M
der their own supervision their own
way if they want to. But in case they
prefer to have expert advice, as it is
natural to expect that they would, all
they have to do is to call in one of
these assistant state engineers. With
out additional cost to the county he
will make plans and specifications for
them, consult with them as to mate
rails, etc, and supervise the work
while it is being done, and this may
be either by contract or by days
work, as the county or township
board, as the case may be. may pre-
fer. Payment can only be made for
the work done, however, after the en-
gineer has certified that it is accord
ing to contract.
=. + :.
These assistant engineers are ap-
pointed under civil service rules and
can only be removed for cause. Only
$500 of the $4,000 appropriation
made by the bill Is for the necessary
expenses of the highway commission
at St Paul The balance is to be used
to pay the men who are constantly in
the field I'VE want no drones on this
job" said Mr.. Dunn, mo ornamental
wall flowers The men we employ
will have work to do and they will be
kept at it. You may he concluded,
lat this session enact laws that you
ought not to enact, and you may fail
to enact laws that you ought to enact,
but if you pass this bill all your sins
will be forgiven YOU"
+ i. :.
One never knows what is going to
happen in the legislature. The other
day the liveliest debate in the session
came up on the report of the general
legislation committee recommending
that H. F. No. so and so be indefinite
ly postponed. Generally no one pays