The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-06-20
THAT ARM0RY BILL
Third and Fourth Class municipalities
Now Empowered to Appropri-
ate Money for Armories.
Law Gives Citizens of Princeton Op-
portunity to Vote on PROPOSE
ton at Special Election.

UnOer the provisions OF chapter
.3O2, general laws Of 1911, $50, 900 was
appropriated annually for the cree
ton of armories for the Minnesota
National Guard Not more than
$40, 900 could be expended on any
armory and not more than three
could be erected in any year. On &C
count of it's proficiency Company G
of Princeton was one Of the three
first companies selected to share in
the $50, 1000 appropriation and have
an armory. But one of the condi-
tions imposed by chap. 3O2 is that
the local company shall furnish a
suitable site for the armory and
81, 900 in cash. No one expected the
members of the company to furnish
the site and the 81, 900. 1t was gener-
ally understood that the municipali-
ty in which the armory was to be
located would provide for the site
and the 81, 900. But the municipali-
ty had no authority under the law to
do so. Hence the following bill was
introduced by r. G. Dunn at the
special session of the legislature,
passed both branches under sus-
pension of the rules, and has re-
'ceived the governors assent:
A bill for an act to authorize vii
lagos and cities of the third and
fourth class to aid in the purchase
Of sites for and the construction
and erection of armories.
Be it enacted by the legislature of
the State of Minnesota:
Section l. That all villages, also
cities Of the third and fourth class,
when so authorized by a vote Of
their respective municipalities, are
hereby authorized to appropriate a
sum Of money, not exceeding one per
cent Of their respective last assessed
real estate valuation, to aid in the
purchase Of sites for and the con-
struction and erection of armories,
as provided by chapter 3O2, general
laws 1911.
Section 2. This act shall take
effect and be in force from and after
it's passage.
Is there anything unfair in the
bill? The last real estate valuation
Of Princeton village is s275, 800. The
limit that the village could appropri-
ate is 50, 1899, and not a dollar can
be appropriated unless majority of
the voters so direct. In other words,
a special election must be held and
the question submitted to the
voters, and the limit that the voters
can authorize is So, 753 GIT may be
less but it cannot be more.
Did those who signed the petition
to the Minnesota state senate
against the passage of the bill know
that the bill simply provided that
the matter should be submitted to
the voters of the village? Are they
not willing that the voters should
decide? Anyhow the petition had
little effect for the bill passed the
senate by unanimous vote. We
have in our possession copy of the
petition, together with the signers.
Now it is up to the voters of the
village. If they are in favor of as
sisting in getting permanent build
ing in Princeton-one that cannot be
removed even if the militia company
should be disbanded-let them say so
by their votes. If they do not want
handsome and spacious building
fve-sixths of the cost of which will
be betrayed by the state-let them
say so. 1t is for the voters to decide.
We have performed our duty in the
premises afforded the people an op-
portunity to express their opinion
on the matter. Evidently that is
what the signers of the, petition did
not want.