The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-04-12

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tion or improvement of a road or
bridge in any year is changed back to
where it was in the 1913 law, viz:
Counties with less than $5,000,0OO
valuation, 80 per cent; counties with
valuation Of five and less than ten
million, 70 per cent, counties with
valuation of ten and not exceeding
fifteen million, 60 per cent. All other
counties SO per cent. With the
consent of the governing body any
street or road within the corporate
limits of any city of the fourth class,
or of any village or borough, may be
improved and state aid paid therefor
in the same manner and to the same
extent as on other State roads within.
the county. The optional system of
paying road taxes levied by the boards
Of supervisors in townships is restored,
when the voters so determine by bal
lot. Supervisors may levy a ten mill
road tax and the same may be worked
out or paid in cash at the option of
the property owner. But cash road
tax of at least three mills must be
voted by town before an optional
road tax is levied. A county road tax
of not to exceed five mills may be
levied. Where township fails to
maintain a town road the county COM
missioners may, on the petition of
five freeholders, expend an amount
not to exceed what one mill tax on
the taxable property Of the town would
produce, in improving said road, and
charge the amount so expended to the
town, and a tax must be levied by the
town to pay the same. Gravel pits to
the extent of 20 acres may be obtained
by a town or county by purchase or
condemnation proceedings. Five acres
was the limit heretofore. There are
other minor changes with reference to
trees alongside Of roads, keeping roads
clear of snow, passing of vehicles, etc.
There is also bill pending which pro-
vides for drainage of roads and the
assessment Of benefits and damages,
for using a part of the one mill drag
ging tax for strawing sandy roads and
keeping the roads clear of snow. An
effort will be made to push through
this bill as it has merit. The matter
contained in the bill in question was
overlooked when the general bill was
being drafted. hope and believe the
changes will strengthen and popular
ize the road. laws of the State. y .-.s /. i
* x x
State insurance was killed in the
Senate last Thursday by two to one
vote. The labor union men of the
State were very anxious that the bill
should become a law. Personally I
think there was much that could be
said in favor of the measure, and Sem
ator Pauly of Minneapolis made an
able and earnest plea for it's passage
But the business interests were lined
up solidly against it.
X X x
| AS was anticipated, the bill di-
vorcing the grain inspection depart
ment from the railroad and warehouse
commission was also defeated in the
Senate last Thursday. This bill was
backed by the efficiency and economy
commission, and am of those who be-
lieve it should have PASSED.
* X X
Senator Dwinnell's bill repeating the
non-partisan law in so far as it ap-
plies to the members of the legislature
was another meritorious measure that
fell by the wayside in the Senate last
Thursday. Both branches of the
present legislature have gone repeat
edly on record against any changes
that would make for government by
parties, or a return, even in a modi-
fled degree, to the convention system.
| * * *
| On Monday the senate went en-
phatically on record against submit
ting constitutional amendment pro-
viding for equal suffrage for women.
The vote stood IA for to 40 against.
The extreme "drys" voted solidly
against the amendment; they gave as
a reason that if constitutional suffrage
was submitted the prohibition amend
ment might suffer. Their fears were
unfounded in my judgment. It was
rather amusing, however, to witness
the lineup of the "wecs" and "drys'
against the measure.
X X *
Senator Sullivan's public safety bill,
which appropriates $1,O0O,OOO, to be
available at once, passed the senate
by unanimous vote Tuesday. It is a
war measure and gives the commission
large powers, but it is safe to assume,
that there will be no arbitrary exer-
else of authority by the governor or
attorney general or any member of the
commission. The commission will he