The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-11-16
RECOMMENDS
LEGISLATION.
Statute Should be Re- Enacted Provid.
ing for Reimbursement of Coun-
ties Issuing Road Bonds.
BABCOCK OUTLINES PLANS
Progress in Building of Highways De
Ponds Upon Financial Provisions
Made by Legislature.


ing funds for the construction of roads
cannot be made a campaign issue,
Commissioner Babcock has made an
informal statement in regard to a
program which he hopes to see the
legislature adopt.
The Minnesota Highway depart
ment proposes to recommend to the
state legislature early in January the
passage of enabling acts for trunk
highway reimbursement bond issues
by all counties which did not act under
the 1919 law; and for $10,000,000 of
trunk highway bonds for both 1923
and 1924, making a total of $20,000,-
600; also revisions of motor vehicle
tax schedules to correct inequalities
without sacrificing reasonable returns !:
consideration of increases in taxes on
trucks and busses for hire; and minor
changes in highway laws.
In 1919 the state legislature passed
an act, which constitutes chapter 265,
providing that any county could issue
bonds up to q certain amount to Sc
cure funds for permanently improving
state roads within that county. No
county could issue bonds without SUBJ
hitting the question to the voters of
the county or to the county board. A
four-tifths vote of the county board
enabled the county to issue bonds
amounting to $125,000, while a unani-
nous vote made possible an issue of
$250,000. This act was in effect only
until January 1, 1921.
The state legislature passed an act
in 1921 providing that counties which
he'd issued bonds under the provisions
Of chapter 265 in the 1919 session
laws, referred to above, could be re-
imbursed by the state. The counties
were to be reimbursed out Of the
trunk highway fund. That is, this
act passed in 1921 provided that the
state should take over the road bonds
issued by the counties for the state
roads, pay the interest when it comes
due and retire the principal when that
is due. -
In other words, the counties that
availed themselves of the opportunity
to issue road bonds under the pro-
visions Of chapter 265 in the 1921
laws could reach out at once and get
money which eventually would come
to them after a long period of time
and use it Immediately for the build
ing the highways where they were
much needed. Those counties that
voted for large bond issues have been
able to shove the building of their
state roads rapidly while other coun-
tics have had to progress more slow
ly. Sherburne county issued $250,000
Of bonds and everyone in this vicinity
knows how much has been done in
building roads in that county during
the past three years.
Mile Laos county under the provi-
sions Of the bonding act did issue
$125,00 of bonds to complete the
Scenic highway from the Onamia
bridge to the Grow Wing county line.
The state has now taken over these
bonds, pays interest on them when it
comes due and will pay the principal
when that is due. If $250,000 had been
issued at that time, we would have
had $125,000 more to spend on our
state roads without any expense to the
people of the county Mr.. Babcock
now suggests that the next legisla-
ture pass laws that will give all the
counties in the state that did not
avail themselves Of the opportunity to
issue these bonds to be taken up by
the state an opportunity to do so now.
If such a law is passed, Mile Laos
county could then get her second $125,
900. He states re-enactment of the
reimbursement bond statute will go
far toward evening accounts with
counties which now appear on the
surface not to have been treated
fairly.
Mr. Babcock points out that Mime
sofa must speed it's highway program
now that other states are fighting for
good roads leadership and the benefits
which will follow. Minnesota's good
roads leadership, the commissioner
continues, is threatened by many other
states now launching highway i'm
provements on large scales, bond and
other provisions running over $780,
100000 in many instances and as high
as $100,000,000. Current revenues in
the Minnesota trunk highway fund the
last two years averaged about 81, $780,
900 compared with $10,000,000 pledged
under Amendment No. L, which also
provided for highway bonds in the dis
erection of the legislature. The amount
available for trunk highways is less
than one-half the average Of $20,00O,-
600 year raised for local roads carry
ing only one-fourth of the highway
traffic in the state.
The new highway plan adopted un-
der the provisions Of the Babcocl!
amendment has already cut the local
road taxes more than 81 ,250, 900 and
further reductions will follow, now