The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-02-09
GOOD ROADS BILLS
The Two Measures Fathered by r.
G. Dunn Which Passed the
House Last Thursday.
One Relates to State Highway Com
mission and the Other Provides
for a One Mill Tax.

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lation prepared by r. C. Dunn and
passed by the house of representa-
tives last Thursday morning by
practically unanimous vote. The first
measure relates to the state highway
commission and the other provides
for a constitutional amendment to
Increase the state road tax from a
quarter of a mill to one mill:
A Bill For an act Relating to the
Highway Commission, Defining
Its Powers and Duties and Appro-
priating Money Therefor.
Section 1. Within a reasonable
time after January LIST, 1912, the
governor shall appoint one commits
sioner to succeed that member of the
board of highway commissioners ap-
pointed under the provisions of Chap.
1913, G. L. 1905, whose term of service
then expires, and each year thereafter
he shall appoint one commissioner,
they each shall be appointed for three
years, and until his successor has
been appoined and qualified, but not
more than two members of said CON-
mission shall belong to same politi-
cal party. Such commissioners shall
serve without compensation. The
governor shall fill all vacancies and
may remove a member for inefficiency,
malfeasance or neglect of duty. All
Questions shall be determined by a
majority vote of such commissioners.
Sec. 2. Said highway commission
shall elect from it's members a chair
man and vice chairman, it shall have
a common seal, the members thereof
shall have power to administer oaths,
and it shall be provided with
suitable Office at the capitol where
it shall hold regular meetings not
less than once in every two months.
Said commission shall appoint
secretary, who shall be civil engi-
neer and practical road builder, who
shall be known as the state engineer
and who shall hold his Office subject
to the pleasure of said commission,
and it may also employ deputy and
assistant engineers and such other
persons as it may from time to time
require, and shall fix their compen-
sation. Said state engineer, his dep
uties and assistant engineers, shall,
each, before entering upon the duties
of their Office, subscribe to, execute
and fle an oath of Office and a bond
in the penal sum of three thousand
dollars ($3, 00G) with sufficient sure
ties, conditioned on the faithful per-
Torrance of their official duties. The
secretary shall keep a record of every
vote and official act of said COM
mission, shall file and safely keep all
maps and papers belonging to it,
shall devote all of his time to the in
terest of the state as prescribed by
said commission and shall be in
charge of the Offices of the commission
at the state capitol. There shall be
present at all times in the Office of
said commission, either the state engi-
neer or one of his deputies. It shall
also be the duty of the said state engi-
neer and his deputies and assistants
to give such advice, assistance and
supervision with regard to road and
bridge construction throughout the
state as may be required and as the
rules and regulations of the COM
mission may prescribe, and to render
such other engineering and surveying
services as may be required by the
governor for any of the state depart
ments, and said state engineer and
his deputies and assistants may be re-
CURED by the commission to attend
any public meeting held by the CON-
mission or other parties in the inter-
est OF road improvements in this state,
provided that the members of said
commission, such state engineer, dep
uties, assistants, and other persons
employed by said commission, shall
be allowed necessary travelling OK
penses while performing their official
duties outside of the state capitol, or
outside the town or county in which
they reside.
All of the files and records of said
commission shall, under reasonable
regulations, be kept open for public
inspection and certified copies thereof
shall be received in evidence in any
court of the state. The attorney gen.
eral of the state shall be ex-Oficio
attorney for the commission and shall
give the commission such legal coun-
sci, advice and service as it may from
time to time require.
Sec. ). Whenever practicable said
commission shall investigate and de-
termine the location of road material
IN the state, ascertain the most ap-
proved methods of construction and
Improvement of roads, investigate the
most approved laws in relation to
roads in other states, and hold public
meetings throughout the state when
deemed advisable. On or before
March LIST of each year it shall make
a printed report to the governor, stat
ing among other things deemed by it
expedient and of general interest on
the subject of bodybuilding, as near
as possible, the number of miles of
state roads built or improved during
the preceding year and their cost; the
general character aud location of ma
teria]s suitable for road construction;
the general character and needs of the
roads of the state; and recommend
such legislation as it deems advis-
able.
Sec. 4. For the purpose of state aid
in the construction and Improvement
of public highways, there shall here
after be levied annually on all tax
able property of the state tax of
one-fourth % of mill on each dol
lar of valuation, to be collected in the