Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-15

| come out fatty for constitutional
Trunk Highway system to be built
and forever maintained as public
| highway by the State of Minnesota
system which would reach into ev.
cry section of the state and which
could be built of a type which will
take care of the fast growing motor
traffic
The recommendations Of Mr.. Bah.
| cock, which will receive the atten
ton of the Legislature at its pres.
ent session, and about which there
has been so much printed in the state
| press, involves the adding of a new
article to the Constitution OF the
State Of Minnesota, and briefly EN-.
braces the following points:
1. The creation Of a new system
OF Trunk Highways OF approximately
5000 miles in extent, reaching into
every portion Of the state and afford
ing a reasonable means Of communi-
cation between all centers of popula.
ton of 1000 or more, to say nothing
Of the hundreds Of smaller villages
and towns, and the rural population
adjacent to the lines of the system
1t is proposed that the state shall
have the power to locate, relocate
! construct, reconstruct, improve and
forever maintain as public highways
the roads in this system.
2 Creation of a fund, to be known
as the Trunk Highway Fund, the pro-
ceeds Of which shall be devoted ex.
clusively to the work of building and
maintaining the roads in this system
This fund is to be derived from the
revenue received by taxation Of mo-
tor vehicles, but the legislature is
to be authorized to add to this fund
by providing that money received as
Federal aid may be appropriated to 1t.
A provision is also made that in event
there Is deficit in the fund in any
year, the legislature is authorized to
add oft from any unappropriated mon
eys In the state treasury or by a tax
levy on all assessable property of the
state In an amount sufficient to bring
the fund to balance which will meet
all demands on it.
3. Authorizing the legislature to tax
motor vehicles domic1led in the state
on different basis than other per-
sonal property is taxed but providing
that any tax so levied shall be in lieu
Of all other taxes for state and county
purposes. Briefly this means that
the license fee on motor vehicles will
be fixed at much higher point than
is now the case, but that the license
shall be in lieu of personal property
taxes.
5. Repeating that part OF Section
vide by law for the issuance and sale
of bonds Of the state of Minnesota to
provide money to carry out the intent
and purposes Of the amendment.
These bonds will run for a period of
twenty years, will bear rate Of in
terest not greater than five per cent
and shall be retirable one-twentieth
each year from date Of issue
S. Repeating that part of Section |
Of Article TX Of the constitution which |
forbids the state to engage in, or
become party to works of internal |
Improvement, so far as it relates
to the work of building, improving and
the roads in the Trunk
Highway system.
s. Authorizing the Legislature to pro-
vide by law for the necessary admins
trative machinery to carry out the in
and to regulate the construction i'm
~ OsOAAOAI, AAdAAIOuduNO ouu U60 VI |
he highways in the system.
Would Apply to Roads Only.
This is a concise statement of the
recommendation Of the Commissioner
II Highways. 1t will be noted that it
loes not disturb any of the provisions
# the constitution, except In 80 far
nd only so far, as these provisions
Interfere with the construction and
maintenance Of the roads In the sys-
EN-. This has been planned deltber.
tely 30 as to remove the proposition
rom the objections that 1t was tear
az down restrictions long Contained
q the constitution or that 1t was act
Ing precedent for attacks on consti-
ut1onal provisions relating to other
ub1ects. It was Mr.. Babcock's idea
nat the Trunk Highway system be
abm1tted to the people in such a form
nat the only question they would
ave to ask is: Do We want this road
ystem! and not have it complicated
other considerations not at all re-
ted to the question such as prece-
ent for debts. = -.
ooss Not Disturb Prssent Fund. !
One very important feature which /
oes not apDees On TIE faee Of lie