The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-27
DIVIDED ON THE
ROADS BOND BILL
Majority and Minority Re-
ports from Committee on
Highways and Bridges.
CLAIM AUTO TAX =
LOST AT PRESENT
Is Now Returned to Each County, but
Proposed Change Would -'crmit
Legislation Providing for Use of
Money to Pay Interest.
(By H. D. Paulson. J

Bismarck, n. d., Feb. 21.-Majority
and minority reports will come from
the highways and bridges committee
Of the house on the bill proposed by
Representative Buck of Stutsman
county under which constitutional
amendment providing for a $l.000,000
good roads bond issue. This is a
measure that has been introduced in
accordance with the desires and rec
concentrations of Governor Hanna,
who, contends that its passage will
open the way, to the creation Of state
system Of good roads that will be sec
ond to none. and for which the farm.
ers, who will really be the most bene.
fitted. will not have to pay q cent.
The use Of the taxes derived from
automobiles 1t proposes as a means Of
paying the interest on the bonds. and
funds derived In that same manner
would ultimately retire the bonds.
Governor Hanna believes that in six
teen to twenty years the state could
have the system Of roads completely
constructed, and the automobiles
alone would have paid the bill.
Auto Tax Now Lost.
That the income derived from the
taxation of automobiles Is practically
lost under the present arrangement is
the contention Of those who are IA
vorable to the legislation. The auto
taxes are now returned to each coun.
ty, to be expended under the direction
Of the board Of county commission
ers.
Should bond issue be approved by
the people of the state at the election
in lQl6. which is the time that the
proposition Would be submitted at the
general election, legislation providing
for the use Of the auto tax to pay the
interest and retire the bonds could be
provided.
on an income Of 100000 annually
from automobiles-and Governor
time before that will be the income
terest on the bonds. and there would
remain $4,000 to be paid on the prin-
ctpal. Should the payment Of princi-
pal be made annually. the issue could
be retired in about thirteen years,
while the holding up of the entire
amount to the end would require
about sixteen years. Another feature
Is found in the fact that this bond is
sue could be taken up by the board
of school and university lands, at four
per cent interest, which fact would
provide a safe investment for big
portion Of that fund.
The majority of the committee will
report the bill for indefinite postpon-
ment. The report will be made either
today or tomorrow. and the matter
placed before the whole house.
Women Suffrage Goes Over.
Consideration of the WARDROBE
women suffrage bill was laid over by
the house until Friday afternoon when
that bill was reached on the calendar
yesterday. Mr.. WARDROBE asked that
the bill be held up till Friday. pre-
ferring to delay consideration Of 1t till
other bills bearing on the question. al
ready passed by the senate. shall be
reported out by the committee. thus
giving an opportunity to consider all
propositions affecting the subject at
the same time.
Temporary Building for Law Library.
Rather unique proposal was made
to the house state affairs committee on
the question Of providing relief for
the present crowded condition Of the
capitol building. The particular Ques-
ton on which this proposal was made
covered the housing of the supreme
court library, valued at between $780,
900 and 100000. and the great weight
Of which is placing an unusual tax up
on the structure.
The house committee received the
opinion from several of its members
that a temporary building could be
erected for this department., provision.
OF course, being made for the justices
in the same building.
1t is contended that this movement
would relieve the condition in the
capitol building to such extent that
there would be no need Of erecting
new building for several years to
come. By that time the building fund