The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-09-17

not receive the benefit until construc-
ton had reached them, which might
be after lapse of several years.
Mr.. Babcock felt IL he was to lay
but a definite road system and pro-
vide for the maintenance of the roads
in this system Immediately after
the ratification of the constitutional
amendment every part of the state
would receive the benefits simultan-
eously Immediately by the mainte-
nance feature of the amendment and
later by the actual reconstruction or
paving.
Takes Over 1000 Miles
By adopting this plan the state
takes over the 1000 miles Of the most
important highways which necesSar-
ly are these upon which most Of the
money used for road construction Is
expended each year. By financing
the construction work on these roads
with an entirely new fund all Of the
local road and bridge funds Of each
Of the counties becomes available for
construction Of secondary roads.
AS stated above, these funds state
said county and township levies
amount to $10,925,00O a year. Mr..
Babcock estimates that it will take
ten years to complete the construc-
ton of the main trunk system and
during that period the total Of the
local funds based upon present as
sessed valuations and present status
of levy would reach the enormous
total Of $109,250,000 or money
enough to build 21.S50 miles of gravel
roads costing $4,000 mile. These
are the roads that serve as feeders
to the main trunk system and reach
from the main lines to the farmers
gate.
From this can be seen that the Bah
cock plan In reality means the build
ing Of trunk highway system OF
$3.50 miles OF well improved roads
in the ten year period from 1920 to
1880 inclusive. And best of all this
is done without increasing the gen.
eral taxation single penny in this
state.
The constitutional amendment
which in itself deals with nothing
but the trunk highway system in ad-
sisting Of seventy routes which are
definitely, but not specifically des-
cribed, creates fund which "shall
be known as the trunk highways
sinking fund" This fund consists
of the proceeds of any tax imposed
on motor vehicles and can be used
only for payment Of principal and
interest on any bonds issued unless
there is actual excess Of money
needed for such requirements, In
which event such excess money may
be transferred to fund which Is
The operating fund.
Tn oddfftnr lao;c1o 80 arr
thorized to provide for the taxation
than other personal property Is taxed
but provides that any tax SO levied
shall be in lieu Of all other taxes ex-
cept wheelage taxes which may be
imposed by any borough city or will
age. In this connection 1t 10 well to
remember that 1t is not proposed to
eliminate the motor vehicle from per-
sonal property taxation but rather to
load" the license fee with an arbi-
trary sum which represents that
which is now being paid az personal
property tax. In other words it 10
personal property tax on motor ve-
hicles rather than to have the motor
vehicle eliminated from personal
property taxation.
The constitutional amendment also
authorizes the legislature to provide
for the issue and sale of the bonds
Of the state Of Minnesota In such
amounts as may be necessary to fin
ance the construction Of the trunk
highway system. 1t Is provided
however that there shall never be
more than $10.000,000 par value, is
sued in any current year and that
the total amount of outstanding
bonds shall never exceed $4,000, 900.
In order to finance this bond issue
within the limits prescribed by the
amendment 1t will be necessary to re-
ceive from the motor vehicle owners
of this state an average fee of SIS
per car. The legislation fixing the
fee will have to be passed at the
1921 session but 1t is pretty definite
ly determined what form this legis-
lation shall take. 1t is proposed by
the supporters of the plan to provide
for license fee based upon three
elements: First, the horsepower Of
the vehicle; second its weight, and
third its list price. 1t is also pro-
posed that there shall be different
classes of licenses to take care of the
depreciation in the value of the car
commensurate with depreciation
which the owner get when he lists
his car for personal property taxa
ton under the present statutes. 1t
Is probable the rate per horsepower
and rate per hundred weight will re-
main stationary in all classes of lie
ences and that the rate per hundred
dollars list price will be sliding
scale.
AT first it would appear that the
increase from the present ridiculous
ly low basis of S. for three years for
license fee and an average of SIS
per car Is a tremendous jump. Fur
Their investigation, however proves
this to be a mistake. For instance
the average assessed valuation of all
cars in the state of Minnesota in 1918
was $40 per car. Applying an aver
age tax levy of forty mills which Is
probably a fair average of the levy
on motor vehicles we find that the
car owners are paying $1.66 license
fee or a total of $7.26. Raising this
to $18 means an increase of $10.74.
Whaf kA Gate Ear HE Mnnav