Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1922-11-16

ment No. /. are to be recon-
mended to the legislature. Be-
sides extensive grading and gra-
yelling Improvements, this will in
sure some paving on heavy traf-
| fic sections where the cost Of
maintaining even unsat .sfactory
gravel surfacing is more than
would be the cost Of paving, bond
interest included.
/ Changes of motor vehicle taxes,
without reductions of the aggre-
gate revenue from this source,
will be supported by the highway
department. 1t will be main
tanned that the average automo-
bile and truck owners already
save on car expense, gasoline and
tires through road betterments in
amounts equalling or exceeding
their taxes. While the scheme
under which old cars are taxed
higher than new of the same
makes and models, the officials
said, big declines in car prices
must be considered in fixing new
rates. Any other action would
seriously cripple the plan that is
giving Minnesota better roads in
record time and at cost below
average.
Highway officials declare them
selves in favor of the gasoline tax
under which light cars pay more
than heavy machines and each
car in proportion to the mileage
it covers, but insist that it should
be only a part of the tax. They
contend that taxable property
value consideration cannot be
ignored in any fair and just plan.
However. each cent a gallon on
gasoline in Minnesota would take
about 81 a year from the average
car owner and yield $1.125. 900
annually for extra or additional
improvements on the roads, also
it would permit tourists from
other states to contribute to the
cost of roads they use here The
greater good roads savings. they
: claim. would make it a highly
profitable investment and the
road program would be materi-
ally advanced from year to year
=, Commissioner Babcock, CON.
menting on the cry for lower
taxes. said road levies in many
ways are in a special class. Off.
J cial records show the first reduc
ton of nearly $1.30O.00O ir
: county. township and city-village
taxes for roads and bridges came
the first year after the new high
way plan took effect also that
larger cuts are Indicated ir
future years. Local roads will BIZ
improved more rapidly in spite Of
the reductions, the commissioner
/, said, because the state now i:
building and maintaining mair
/ highways which formerly took /;
: big part of local funds. State
: work is being paid for entirely
from federal aid and motor We
+ hicle tax receipts. The auto take.
represent money which otherwise
: would leave the state and go Il
automobile and tire manufactur
: ers and oil refners.
II Brief reference was made b,
> Commissioner Babcock to the i'm
/ piled understanding unde,
. Amendment No. l that $4,000.
!. 900 a year would be provided fol
! the trunk highway system which
, serves fosir-fifths of the highwa,
{ traffic in the state. Instead, cur
rent revenues have been $3.50.
!. 900 less than that sum and ap
. proximately a quartsr of Mime
, sofa road funds $50, 600. 600 be
: ing the recent average for loca
/ road purposes.
Ell The average vehicle tax las
= year was Sl6.73. against the Sl'
! average Pledged and so predict
I led by experts assisting in tn
! framing of the law. This alon,
fr,,rfOslo.J <hn <Y,,rI 1,~L,