The Sauk Centre herald., 1915-04-08
TAXES SHOULD Be
A TRIFLE LOWER
Continued from first page.)

Continued from first page.) ~.
Land dealers will not go galivant-
was explained both of US had good
laugh"
ing about the state on passes from
the railroads as a bill introduced this
session provided. -
The argument behind the measure
was that in this way Minnesota lands
might be disposed of in greater guam
titles. The House transportation COM
mittee put a quietus on the bill by
bringing in a minority report for in
definite postponment, which was
adopted by the House.
Senator "Bob" Dunn is resting cas-
lily these days.
Amendments to his good roads law
have passed both houses. Bob"
says the amendments will strengthen
the law. One feature of the law to
which much opposition has been di-
rected has been corrected. The law
now allows local boards to do their
own work without the assistance of
the State Highway commission unless
they want it.
The poor old Elwell law.
1t has been the object of attack by
disgruntled road builders for two
years and now is repealed: The law
is no more, but results of it's passage
remain to haunt the governmental
halls.
1t has been found that Koochching
county builded roads: Under that law
and assessed one-quarter for benefit
ted property against the state as the
roads happened to adjoin unsold state
lands. Attorney General Lyndon A.
Smith has ruled that the cost cannot
be paid out of the road and bridge
fund. He said that if the Legislature
were to appropriate money specially
to pay the road cost he thought the
law would stand in the courts.
Before the matter is placed before
the Legislature the state Highway
commission will be asked if there are
any more counties that have assessed
the states lands. Of course the state
would pay half under the Elwell law
but in the instance cited it would be
compelled to pay a full three-quar-
ters. ,s.u4.. ..
While the cry throughout the state
is for Efficiency and Economy, people
do not seem to realize how Minnesota
has grown in the last few years.
Walter ]. Smith, state treasurer,
estimates that the volume of business
in his office will total $53,OOO,OOO this
year. In 1909 the total receipts and
disbursements were 25,000,O 900. Each
year the state is compelled to spend
more for the upkeep of its institutions
new buildings are needed, the popu-
lations are increasing, new functions
of governmental activity are :, being
tackled on. These things all take mon
ey. The state government could be
run for about 100000, said Attorney
General Smith, the other day, if ev-
erything but solely governmental du-
ties were to be cut out.
Minnesota is a great big state. If
it can be run any more economically
the subject is worthy of close study.
The proposed remodeling of the
Old Capitol is good idea.
1t may sound foolish to say that
$500 is to be put into the old build
ing. But by spending that amount
the state will save in two years what
it puts into. the building in the way of
reducing rents that are now. paid by
such departments as the Highway
commission and Forestry service.
Considerable discussion is going
the rounds of the Capitol halls as to
the advisibility of tearing down the
building and constructing a modern
office building on the Old Capitol site.
The new Capitol has been found in
adequate. The Railroad and Ware
house commission right now is ask
ing for more space. The commission
now uses every bit of space to advan-
tage. They have one big room for the
three commissioners to work and
study in. Hearings are held in the
same room, the need of which is
shown when the big question comes
up for discussion. q
1t looks as if the members of the
state tuberculosis advisory board "cut
their own throats." #-
The House voted to abolish the
board and place its duties under the
State Board of Health. Representa-
tive L. c. Sponer told the House that
DR.. Robinson Bosworth, secretary of
the commission, had written to 200
newspaper editors asking them to
bring pressure to bear on Mr.. Spoon
er as chairman of the appropriations
committee, to have the committee al
low some 100000. .#
The commission has been getting
lots of publicity since the Legislature
/ oonuanaA Thaxy J.