The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-05-04
BOND BILL FAILS
ROAD WORK HAL1S.
STATE COMPELLED TO RE
TRENCH-FUNDS LEFT
SUFFICIENT ONLY
FOR MAINTEN-
ANCE.

more 1923 improvements on its sys-
TEN of trunk highways. :,
Some counties may borrow and
advance money for scattered better
ments on the system and prevent
loss of federal aid.
State operations will be limited,
however, to routine maintenance
patrol on constant repair service,
all as previously made clear to the
legislature.
Above facts about the state trunk
highway situation are based upon
official figures which were given to
the recent legislature in connection
with the recommendation for first
issues of $2O,000,000 of highway
bonds.
The bond bill was passed by the
Senate but failed to reach a vote
on its merits in the House and did
not become law.
Available funds sufficient only to
meet fixed requirements and to
cover outstanding contracts, the
state highway department this week
is beginning to effect the forced
curtailments and retrenchments.
Money and Its Uses.
Trunk highway receipts this year
will total SS,34O,000, motor vehicle
taxes being estimated at $6,500,0OO,
the same as last year, and the fed
eral aid adding $1,840,000.
From the $6,500,000 of motor
vehicle taxes, however, must come
first S2,500,000 for county reim-
bursement bonds and interest and
then 100000 for maintenance
and administration, the last item be-
ing $150,000 for highway building
rental and general salaries and eX-
penses. This leaves $1,000,000 for
new construction and to meet federal
aid on the dollar-for-dolla basis.
The $1,000,0000 construction fund
must be paid for work undertaken
last winter to get the lowest pos
sible prices-graveling and some
special grading and bridge projects.
The balance of the federal aid is
to be applied with county bond
money under the new reimburse
ment law. The whole total will be
approximately half as large as that
to be spent this year by county and
township officials on roads which
carry only one-ffth of the traffic.
Two-Thirds Vote Necessary.
Two-thirds majority rules pre-
cipitated a hot fight on the bond
bill and finally prevented it going
to a fair vote on its merits in the
House. Efforts to change and get
around this two-thirds requirement
resulted in parliamentary tangle
and lost the measure considerable
support.
Minnesota newspapers gave the
bond bill strong support and good
roads advocates in practically all
parts of the state made personal
appeals and sent floods of solicita-
tions to their legislators in behalf
of the road bond bill but the handi-
cap proved too great.
Friends of the measure predicted
that it will be fought through the
next Legislature to put Minnesota
again among states leading for good
roads. Highway officials, however
said no immediate plans were being
considered to carry out the proposal
claimed to offer more good roads
for the same money.
No Ill-Feeling Harbored.
Asserting that no regrets or i'll
feeling remained after the hard
fight, Charles M. Babcock, state
highway commissioner, made a brief
comment:
Positive that the bond plan
would mean more good roads for
the same money and that it should
be adopted, friends of the bill made
every effort to clearly present the
plan to the legislators and to the
public. No pledges Or promises were
made to secure support-the tight
was clean. A vote on the merits of
the bill was wished but was blocked
by the House rules"
The commissioner added that the
road program is sound and the fail
ure of the bond bill will only mean
the slowing up of new improve
neptS durino 1909 and 1904