The Princeton union., 1922-12-28
QUESTIONS GO
TO LEGISLATURE
Highway Legislation is One of the
Most Important Matters to
be Considered.
TO WORK FOR BOND PLAN
Popularity of Good Roads Program
Creates Interest in Proposals
of Charles BabcOck.

No more important matters will be
brought before the 1923 session of the
legislature than those measures deal
ing with the construction of our trunk
highways. Commissioner Babcock
and his associates in the highway de-
partment will recommend revision
of motor vehicle taxes to remove in
equalities without increasing the
average car tax above $18 or reducing
the revenue from that source.
They also advocate the authoriza-
tion of first issues of trunk highway
bonds of 100000 each for 1923 and
1924, making a total of $20,000,O00.
They desire to secure the enactment
of a reimbursement law somewhat
similar to that passed by the 1919
legislature under which counties were
permitted to issue bonds amounting to
$125,OOO of $25O,OOO for the purpose Of
permanently improving certain state
roads.
Other legislation will be introduced
dealing with the paving Of streets in
villages that are willing to pay in
terest on the investment, the carry
ing of lights by all vehicles on the
highways, and the reduction in the
number of "tax-exempt cars"
According to reports from all Sec
tions of the state special interest CEN
ters in the highway Legislative pro-
gram.
Expressing complete confidence in
the plain, good business policies to be
urged by the highway department and
in the Judgment of both senate and
house members, Charles M. Babcock,
state highway commissioner, predicted
favorable action on the good roads
proposals.
"The legislators know the public de-
mand for more adequate highways"
said Commissioner Babcock, "and the
highway department will undertake to
show that they can be built on big
ger scale for use now and that they
will pay for themselves many times
over. The proposals are so simple
and plain that 10-year-old school
boy can see the wisdom Of adopting
them.
"The bond plan will lift the burden
of paying, in these times ofhigh taxes,
the whole cost Of road work which will
serve for many years and will mean
further reductions in road taxes. 1t
will not make the past pay for roads
which it should have built but it will
pass on to each future year it's fair
share of the cost of highway improve
ment. All this will be without in
creasing taxes or net costs of better
roads.
The commissioner pointed to the Of
fetal record Of nearly $1,30O,0O0 de-
crease in road taxes the first year
after the new program transferred to
the state, and from the counties, the
big expense of main highway improve
ment and maintenance. It is addi-
tional evidence that the new plan is
fulfilling every promise made for it,
and the purpose now is to obtain still
greater and more immediate benefits
from it, he said.
"Legislative delegates from the
three large cities look with favor on
the highway proposals at their pre-
liminary meetings." continued Com
missioner Babcock, "and when the
localities paying most and receiving
the least directly from the trunk high
way program take that attitude, there
is more reason to expect the full sup
port of members from the country dis
tricts.
"St. Paul and Ramsey county are to
seek legislation for bond issues of
nearly $7,000,OOO for street and high
way betterments, only small part of
which can bring state reimbursements.
Minneapolis and Hennepin county also
place high value on adequate roads for
all Minnesota. Although only 70
miles of the 7,O00-mile trunk highway
system are within Hennepin county, it
pays nearly one-ffth of the total mo-
tor vehicle taxes in the state. They
pay six times as much state highway
aid as they receive, and the difference
of nearly 100000 also is used on
roads in other counties. Further,
Hennepin county is transferring a
part of it's state aid to nearby coun-
ties and Minneapolis is helping privat-
ly to carry through other improve
ments on roads serving the city.
"The large centers taking that lib
eral stand," said Mr.. Babcock, "the
other parts of Minnesota cannot af-
ford don't-want- -your-help attitude.
Their members in the legislature when
they correctly understand the plans
will make the most of the present ad-
vantage, knowing that every dollar
used on the trunk highways bring
nearer the improvement of every part
of the system. And that accom-
plished, Minnesota will go forward
with highway program which will
attract national attention despite the
bigger bond and other funds available
in some states"
The highway commissioner repeat