Little Falls herald., 1912-10-18
ONE-MILL ROAD 8sI TAX AMEND.
s.s-.F. - MENT TEG,s.ts &as .52.#

Minnesota, provides that the legis-
lature may levy an annual tax upon
the property of this state not to ex-
ceed one-quarter Of mill to be used
in the construction and improvement
of public highways (the term "high-
ways" includes bridges.) At the last
regular session Of the legislature an
amendment was proposed, changing
this section so that the legislature
might provide for an annual tax levy
of one mill instead Of one-quarter Of a
mill to be used in the construction and
improvements of public highways. The
change is a. simple one. It increases the
tax levy for the purpose mentioned
only three:quarters Of one mill. The
present law provides for a. road tax
Of one-quarter Of one mill and this pro-
duces little more than 100000 .
year. A one mill tax levy would raise
approximately one million two hundred
thousand dollars annually to be ex-
pended by the state upon the highways
and bridges, and in manner that
would not be felt by any taxpayer. The
pending amendment Increasing tho levy
from one -qaurter Of a mill to one mill
becomes vitality Important for the
reason that the only manner in which
aid may be obtained from the state for
the construction of highways and
bridges, is through the State Highway
Commission.
The rule governing the adoption Of
amendments to the constitution Of the
state of Minnesota, makes it necessary
for the amendment to receive major
ity Of all the votes cast at the election
at which the amendment is submitted.
It is not sufficient that more voters
vote for the amendment than vote
against it. To illustrate suppose there
are 100000 votes cast at the general
election in November, 1912, and sup
pose that only 100000 vote upon a
given constitutional amendment, lOl,
900 would be majority Of the 100000
voting upon the amendment, but this
would not adopt the amendment. In
fact, it would be lost. For the amend
ment to carry and be adopted, it would
be necessary that it receive affirma-
tive votes amounting to a majority of
100000 votes, the total number cast
at the election. For instance, ISL, 1000,
Many person not feeling that they
understand the amendment fail to
vote at all upon it. Such failure to
vote at all counts as a negative vote
lust as effectively as if the voter had
voted no on the amendment. This
rule places the burdens upon the ad'
vocates of all constitutional amend
ments. A burden much greater than
is planned upon the advocates of
certain person for election to Of
flee. For a candidate to be elected
governor or ANY other office within
the state, it is only necessary that
he receive more votes than any 9th
er candidate for the same office. 1t
is not necessary that he receive
majority of all the votes cast at
election. Thus, it will be noted that
it is made much more difficult to
adopt a constitutional amendment
than to elect any officer within the
state. Friends and advocates Of the
one-miH tax amendment should fully
understand and bear this rule IN
mind in their efforts to secure the
adoption of this amendment at the
coming general election.
The object of this tax is so neri-
torious and the amount thereof to
be borne by the average voter IS so
verv insignificant that every one
should be especially interested in
securing the adoption Of this amend.
ment. All public spirited citizens; all
associations having for their object
the development Of the state; al COM
mercial clubs and similar organizations
in the state are solicited to take up
a campaign in favor Of this amend
ment, to the end that the. voters
thoroughly understand the purpose
of the amendment before the Novem-
Der election. -
Speakers and literature will be
furnished upon resquest made to any
one of the Undersigned
G. M. King; president of the North
ern Minnesota Development assoc1a'
ton, Deer River, MINI. = 4
F.. W. Murphy, president West Cen
trail Minnesota Development assoc1a-
tion, Wheaton, Minn.
T. R. Bonnallie, president Southern
Minnesota Better Development ieagne
Tracy, MINI. 4. ~. i, F.,