Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-10-18
THE GOOD ROADS TAX.
Argument for the. .One-MiIl Road
Tax Amendment.

'%uAS Hdy levy ,dH dAnuaA LAX UPON SHo
property of this state not to ecxeed
one-quarter of mill to be used in
the construction and improvement of
public highways (the term "high-
ways" includes bridges.l At the last
regular session of the legislature
an amendment was proposed. chang
ing this section so that the legislature
might provide for an annual tax levy
of one mill instead of one-quarter of
mill to be used in the construction
and Improvements OF public highways.
The change is simple one. 1t in
creases 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 produces little more than
$500, 600 a year. A one mill tax
levy would raise approximately one
million, two hundred thousand doll
ars annually to be expended by the
state upon the highways and bridges,
and in a manner, that would not be
felt by any taxpayer. The pending
amendment increasing the levy from
one quarter of mill to une mill be-
comes 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 neces-
sary for the amendment to receive a
majority 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 800. 600 votes cast
at the general eletcion in November,
1912. and suppose that only 200, 900
vote upon a given constitutional
amendment. 1O1, 900 voting upon the
amendment. hut this would not adopt
the amendment. In fact. it, would
be lost. For the. amendment. to carry
| and be adopted. it would be necessary
that it receive affirmative: votes
amounting to a majority Of 800, 900
votes, the total number cast at the
election. For instance. 151. 600.
Many persons not feeling that they
understand the amendment fail to vote
at all upon it, Such failure to vote
lat all counts as negative vote just
as effectively as if the voter had voted
! no on the amendment. This rule
/ places the burden upon the advocates
fsall constitutional amendments. A
burden much greater than is placed
upon the advocates OF a certain person
for election to Office For candidate
to be elected governor or any other
office within the state, it is only
necessary that he receive more votes
| than any other candidate for the
same office. 1t is not necessary that
he receive a majority of all the votes
cast at an election. Thus, it will be
noted that it is made muchmore difficult
to adopt constitutional amendment
than to elect any officer within the
state. Friends and advocates of the
one-mill 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 merit
orious and the amount thereof to be
borne by the average voter, is so
very insignificant that every one
should be especially interested in se.
curing the adoption Of this amendment.
All public spirited citizens; all .asso.
Citations having for their object the
development of the state; all COM
mercial clubs and similar organizations
IN the state are solicited to take up a
campaign in favor of this amendment
to the end that the voters thoroughly
understand the purpose of the amend.
ment before the November election,
1 Speakers and literature will be
furnished upon request made to any
one of the undersigned. .>..a.
4 c. M. King, president of the
Northern Minnesota Development
association, Deer River, MINI. ::,
! F. w., Murphy, president West
Central Minnesota Development al.
sociation, Wheaton. MINI.
| I, r, Bonnallie, president Southern
Minnesota Better Development league
Tracy, Mimi.