Morris tribune., 1920-08-13
Mr.. Lee for the Negative

senator lVer j. Lee of GlenwOOd,
in resuming the debate for the neg
ative, stated that he was against the
amendment because it provided that
the present state road fund could if
necessary be used on these trunk
lines. This statement, Mr.. Babcock
contended was not true but Sen
ator Lee in support of his
view cited a letter from
the encouragement. Mr.. Babcock
disagreed with Mr.. Lees interpreta-
tion of the letter, and at the re-
quest of the audience Mr.. Lee sub
mitted the letter to The Tribune for
publication in full. The following is
the letter:
Hon. Iver J. Lee,
Glenwood, Minnesota.
Dear Sir:
In your letter of the 18th inst.
addressed to Attorney-General Gift
ord L. Hilton, you write as follows:
I'm case the Babcock Amendment
is adopted, can the legislature appro-
L
road fund to pay for any of the pro-
posed trunk highways, provided not
less then one half per cent nor more
than three per cent is spent in any
one county, under the clause in the
amendment which says that the leg
islature may appropriate any money
in the state treasury not otherwise
appropriated? Must the state build
these trunk roads through cities and
villages, other than cities of the first
class?"
Sec. 16, Art. 8, of the State Con-
stitution is as follows:
For the purpose of lending aid in the
construction and improvement of public
highways and bridges, there is hereby
created a fund, to be known as the
state road and bridge fund" said fund
shall include all moneys accruing from
the income derived from investments in
the internal improvement land fund, or
that may hereafter accrue to said fund
and shall also include all funds accru-
ing to any state road and bridge fund.-
however, provided. The IegisIa-
ture is authorized to add to such fund
for the purpose of constructing or i'm
proving roads and bridges of this state
by providing, in it's discretion, for an
annual tax levy upon the property of
this state, of not to exceed in any year
one mill on the taxable property within
the state. Provided, that no county shall
receive in any year more than three
90 per cent or less than one-half (b)
of one CD per cent of the total fund
thus provided and expended during such
year."
That section authorizes a one mill
tax "for the purpose of constructing
or improving roads and bridges Of
this state" That manifestly includes
roads to be constructed under the So
called "Babcock plan" unless there
is something in the proposed consti-
tutiOnal amendment forbidding it.
That amendment will create a trunk
highway sinking fund. That fund is
to be used primarily for the payment
of the principal and interest of the
bonds to be issued by virtue of the
proposed amendment, but in the
event that such sinking fund is
inadequate for the payment of those
bonds, then the legislature may, in
its discretion, appropriate to such
sinking fund moneys in the state
treasury not otherwise appropriated,
including money that may be avail
able from the one mill tax. This ap-
preparation to the sinking fund is
only authorized when necessary to
aid in the payment of said bonds.
The sinking fund is made up prim-
arily from taxes imposed on motor
vehicles. 1t is only when the funds
thus derived exceed the requirements
for the payment Of said bonds, that
the surplus can be transferred to the
trunk highway fund which latter
fund is to be used in connection with
the trunk highway system. Only in
this way and to this extent can it
be said that the one mill tax can be
used to pay the proposed trunk high
way.
ARTICLE 16
Section 1. There is hereby created
and established a trunk highway sys-
tenn, which shall be located, constructed,
reconstructed, improved and forever
maintained as public highways by the
shall extend as nearly as may be along
the following described routes, the more
specific and definite location of which
shall be fixed and determined by such
boards, officers or tribunals, and in such
manner, as shall be prescribed by law,
but in fixing such specific and definite
routes there shall not be any deviation
from the starting points or terminals
set forth in this bill, nor shall there
by any deviation in fixing such routes
from the various villages and cities
named herein, through which such
routes are to pass"
The legislature within the limita-
tions thus imposed, will determine
the details connected with the con-
struction of. this highway system,
and will have reasonable discretion
in such legislation. The various routes