Morris tribune., 1913-04-18
MEANS MUCH TO
RURAL RESIDENT
Dunn Good Roads Bill Now a
Law Of the State.
LARGE sum FOR HIGHWAYS
Provides for Expenditure of over
100000 Annually on construc-
ton and Maintenance.
Especial Correspondence


it's advent passes into history the
hundred and one makeshifts that have
decorated the statute books for half
a century. It is a codifcation of all
state laws covering the subject Of
good roads So important is the bill
that provision will likely be made for
it's special distribution. Good roads
to the majority of people means a
level highway free from ruts and in
the majority of cases fairly passable
and to them a law covering the sub
ject is no more than the average mass
of legal words framed by some expert
and interpreted by those entrusted
with law enforcement. Well, the
Dunn bill is more than that; it is per-
haps the Rost important act put on
the statute books in some years and
it carries a message of good things
for thousands throughout Minnesota.
1t brings to the swamp locked farm
er markets only reached at the cost
of thousands of dollars and it provides
the man with a highway a port of
entry he little expected. City and
country are cared for alike. The bill
is a monster in size, being something
over fifty pages in length. Had the
present legislature done nothing else
beyond the passage of the Dunn roads
bill public opinion would have con-
doned other deficiencies. Both house
and senate is to be congratulated on
ats passage.
y !. y J.
1t may not be generally known, but
the Dunn road bill provides for an an
nual expenditure of nearly $1,400,000
and this amount is to be devoted not
only to road construction but mainte-
nance. The money is raised by one
mill tax, compared with one-fourth OF
a mill under the old law, and its dis
tribution is to be equitable. No coun-
ty can obtain more than per cent of
the amount or less than / per cent.
Designation and location of needed
roads is to be made by the county
board of commissioners, with the
state highway commission acting in
an advisory capacity. It's duty is to
supply experts, provide plans and
er expenditure of the money and ar,
range for the needed maintenance OF
the roads constructed. The county
loses none of its rights For the prop.
er maintenance of the roads district
inspectors are provided and they in a
measure are to be under the super
vision of the county board, with the
state commission as an overseeing
body.
The Dunn good roads bill did not
get by without opposition. The Twin
City press was against the measure
from the start and it was bitterly
fought by the paving companies. To
the three big cities the tax proposed
meant an expenditure of better than
100000, with only a partial return
The fact that the system of roads az
proposed meant the opening of thou
sands of farms to their markets was
overlooked With the paving com
panies the adoption of the bill saw
the passing of that beautiful dream
a paved highway, miles in length. and
great for the automobile. They could
not see anything else.
:. :. :.
The new roads law is not for a sys
tenn Of highways for the purpose o.
making the cities the hub of the uni
verse 1t is for everybody and the
one thing in it's favor is that every
section of the state is cared for
provides for highways, not beautiful
driveways. Thousands of acres o
land will be brought into commission
through it's enactment and farmers
will bless the memory of its author.
i J. i.
Governor Eberhart is not in toucl
with the house, as was evidenced las
week when that body ignored the gov
errors wishes and passed an efficienc
commission bill, with the speaker an
lieutenant governor as the appointin
powers. His excellency was not giyeI
any place in the selection of the com
mission. The senate has to pass Of
tie resolution and the rumor is tina
it will refuse to concur 1t does no
take kindly to the slight given hi
excellency.
!. !. =
Though passed by both houses owe
a week ago the nonpartisan primar
bill is still long ways from being
law. A conference committee con
posed of members of both houses ha
1t in charge and between you and
dear reader, they are out to eithe
kill it or make it so obnoxious tia
neither house will adopt the change
proposed The Objectionable featur
is the nonpartisan idea as applied [
the election of members of the hous
and senate and which the house leat
ers, after giving their sanction wok
up to the fact. or. rather they charge
1T, that unfriendly interests had pl
one over on them. They are trying