The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-04-12
HIGHWAY BONDS ARE.
PLACED In DISCARD
LOWER HOUSE OF LEGISLATURE
REFUSE TO ALLOW ISSUE To
COME TO VOTE
UNFAIR TACTICS USED
FLAHAVEN CONDEMNED FOK
VOTING AGAINST BEST IN
TERESTS OF COUNTY


Minnesota's $2O,O00,000 road bond
bill was dealt it's death blow Mon
day when fifty-eight House members
by a record vote, denied the pill a
hearing. Sixty-four others voted
favorably.
By this action the House literally
has decreed that the Babcock plan
shall not be approved by the 1873
Legislature.
The unfair practice Of the House
is raising a storm of protest all over
Minnesota. The St. Paul Pioneer
Press-Dispatch published large num-
Der of kilograms sent by representa-
tive citizens protesting against the
action of the House. Representative
Thomas Flahaven of this Legislative
district was one of the members OF
the house who voted to refuse to al
low the bill to go on special orders
where it could be passed or defeated
ON its merits. For this attitude Fla
haven is being roudly condemned by
the leading tax payers of Sank Cen
tire. Under the Rules OF the House
It takes a two-thirds vote to
place measure on special order. In
compliance with telegraphis request
from the Dispatch, Mayor w. M.
Parker sent the following message
which was published in the Pioneer
r,onrnInp.
seThe citizens of Western Stearns
county are vitality interested in the
building of better highways. They
have thoroughly investigated the plan
proposed by Commissioner Babcock
for the state of Minnesota to issue ~
wear s2O,OOO,00O bonds to be paid out
of the Motor Vehicle tax of the State,
and used for the building and NAM
tanning the trunk highways OF MIN
nesota. They are completely sold on
the plan as they have every confidence
in the ability and integrity OF Mr.
Babcock. The news that the lower
house of the Minnesota Legislature
by a vote of SO to "a Monday
refused to permit the bill to come to
a hearing before the Lower House
came as distinct shock to the PEG,
pie of Sank Centre as they did not
believe that the Legislative body OF
the State would be so unfair as to
prevent a measure of this Importance
to come before them where it coul'
be discussed on its merits. w. M
Parker, Mayor of Sank Centre.
On Wednesday evening DR.. }. A.
Dubois of Sank Centre sent the fol-
lowing telegram of remonstrance to
the Pioneer Press:
'The act of the representative OF
this legislative district in contrlbut-
ing by his vote to the smothering OF
the Bill for the state roads $4,000,
600 bond issue before it should be full
ly considered on it's merits by the
House and come to a final and de-
cisive vote does not meet the approval
of his constituency.
"A matter so deeply connected with
the public welfare and which conse-
ouently has elected the attention an
interest of the people of our state de-
serves the freest and most open treat
ment on the part of our legislator.
The friends of the measure have pub
licly expressed their reasons for thell
Endorsement of the Bill. 1t is due to
the public that it's opponents just as
openly give their reasons for
disapproval. No other course can
prevent the suspicion of sinister IN
fluence being exertedV
Outside of the radical elements O.
the Legislature who have persistently
fought the good roads program, much
of the opposition to the Babcock Bond
Issue Bill came from the counties
who have taken advantage of the OPP
portunty to issue $250,0OO in bonds
which have been taken over by the
Highway department under the law.
Representative Stein of Albany
also voted against the Good Roads
program while Representative Pat
terson of st. Cloud voted in favor of
it. -
In spite of the attitude, of the
house the Minnesota Senate Tuesday
forced the bond bill to an issue, am
it passed that body exactly as it was
introduced, by a vote of 20 to 35. 1t
is to the everlasting credit of Senator
Peter Ahles of this district, that he
made his promise good and voted for
the bond issue. The fight for the
passage of the bill in the Senate was
lead to a very large extent by Sena-
tor J. D. Sullivansof st. Cloud.
In spite of the vote in the Senate