The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-10-05
Act Provides for One Mill Assessment
On All Taxable Property to Raise
Raise Money for Highways.
NEEDED IN NORTHERN MINI.
Counties Will Be Able to Build More
Wagon Routes By Using Aid as
Provided in Elweu Law,

Commercial clubs all over the
state of Minnesota are urging voters
to vote for the Dunn constitutional
amendment at the general election
November 5. The governor when in
Bemidji stated that this amendment
is of greater Importance than the
governorship itself.
According to the present law of
the state a majority of all the cleo
tors voting at the November election
is needed to pass the amendment.
Consequently, every vote that is not
cast in favor of the amendment is
cast against it.
The Dunn amendment provides
for the leving annually of one
mill tax on all the taxable property
of the state for the purpose of rails
ing fund to be used in the construc-
ton of highways and bridges. The
present law provides for a tax of
0ne-quarter of mill and it brings
in about 100000 a year. The Ell
we'll law provides a way for coun-
ties to build roads by the state pay
ing half, the county one-quarter and
the property owners the other quar-
ter. The Dunn amendment pro-
poses to increase the state fund
available from 100000 to $780,
600 a. year.
The three counties of Hennepin,
Ramsey and st. Louis, containing
the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul
and Duluth, pay over sixty per cent
of the taxes Of the state. It has
been estimated that for every. dollar
man in Beltrami county pays to the
state in taxes, the county receives
a return of two dollars in state aid
of various forms. By means of the
Dunn amendment, the three cities
will be called upon to do their share
of the building of the state roads.
The money is especially needed in
Northern Minnesota.
Because of the fact that the
amendment will be a direct benefit
to the people of the country while
those in the cities will receive in
direct returns, it has been pointed
out that the voters in the country
districts must stand for the amend
ment solidly if it is to carry. A vote
not cast in favor of the amendment
is cast against it and the amendment
must pass if the series of state roads
for which petitions have laready
been filed under the Elwen Act are
to be allowed. The cities are not
solidly against the amendment as
many realize that good roads are es-
sential to the community and needed
for the upbuilding of the cities also.
Following is the text of the amend
ment:
Section l. The following amend
ment to section sixteen (16) of ar
ticle nine co. o fthe constitution of
the state of Minnesota, is hereby
proposed to the people of the state
for their approval or rejection; that
is to say, changing section sixteen
(16) of article nine 90 of said
constitution SO that said section six
teen (16) shall read as follows:
Section Is. For the purpose of
lending aid in the construction and
improvement of public highways and
bridges, there is hereby created a
fund, to be known as the Estate 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
constructing or improving roads and
bridges of this state, by providing.
IN its discretion, for an annual tax
levy upon the property of this state
Of not to exceed in any year one.
mill on all the taxable property
within the state. Provided, that no
county shall receive in any year more
than three (3) per cent, or less than
one-half (1-2) Of one (1) per cent
(continued from nrst peee).