The Tomahawk., 1925-03-19
ROADS UPKEEPH HIT
IF MEASURE FAILS
Entire Program of New Con-
struction and Part of Main
tenance PeriIed by Pro-
gram Foes.

ing program, II the proposed gasoline
tax Is attacked in the courts and II
only slight reduction is made in the
motor vehicle tax schedule, according
to figures compiled by c. NJ. Babcock
state highway commissioner.
These figures show that the entire
structure of improved highways is in
jeopardy through proposals Of some
legislators who are fighting the ref
nancing program. These legislators
propose to:
Reject the refinancing plan which
100000 county reimbursement bonds.
Enact cent gasoline tax, which,
however, probably would be attacked
in the courts and, IL the history OF
other states is repeated in Minnesota,
the funds available would be tied up
for two years.
Reduce the motor vehicle tax sched
ule on the ground that automobile
owners in the state expected such a
reduction when they voted for the
SdSOllue ldA
State Of Minnesota will suffer sub
stantial losses in its $4O,OOO,OOO rural
credits loan experiment, carried on in
the last two years, and some Of the
losses grew out of "incompetency and
lack of judgment" by some of the ap-
praisers, a joint legislative commit
tee, which has conducted an investi-
CATION, reported to the legislature.
The rural credits bureau it criti-
ciZed for the manner in which 1t per-
mitted inflated valuation to be made
by appraisers.
The committee specifically avoided
any recommendation regarding the
future policy of the state in the farm
loan business believing it to be out
side the scope of it's Investigations
and perview."
The report said that records fur
nshed from the bureau showed that
on February 1 the states investment
in the lands where foreclosures have
been completed and where the state
has acquired title to the land, sub
ject to the right to redeem, is in ex-
cess Of 100000 There are 235 de-
linquent loans amounting to SLAB
900, on which foreclosure has not yet
been commenced and the committee
pointed to these as another probable
source of loss although any estimate
of aggregate loss was held to be "mer-
est conjecture."
Riders Attacked.
"While the committee feels that
the state will suffer losses, it cannot
say that such losses are greater OF
more numerous than could be ex
pected under the circumstances In
the handling of the emergency meas
ure of $4O,O00.O00," the report read.
The committee report, which was
prepared by Senator Chris Rosen
meier, was signed by Senatros c. A
Lund, w. A. Just and ROsenmeier
and Representatives r. A. Wilkinson
Henry Spindler and Marius Waldel
the six members of the joint investi
eating committee.
Governor to Appoint Senator.
Minnesota's law defining a method
of filling a vacancy in the office OF
United States senator, which has been
on the statute books for II years, is
about to be superseded by new law
which will remove all doubt about
whether the governor actually has the
authority to make an interim appoint
ment in an emergency. The senate
unanimously passed the new sena
torial succession bill. The house al
ready has passed it and now 1t goes
to Governor Christianson for his sig
nature. When the bill formally be
comes a law it will put an end to &
curious legal tangle over which there
has existed considerable difference O
opinion.
Would Cut Auto Tax.
Glass A automobiles, which include!
all cars weighing less than 1900
pounds will pay a minimum license
fee of $40 under bill which is to b'
| introduced as committee bill by thu
motor vehicle committee Of the house
Cars now paying a minimum of ST.
| will pay $3.50, the committee decided
at a special meeting. Licenses on al
other cars will be reduced 16 % pc
! cent, or 18th Of the present scale, I'm
| der the BILL
| Deadline on Bills.
! March % is the last day for the in
PRODUCTION of bills in the Legislature
according to Attorney General Gilt
ford l.. Hilton. April Fl is the las
day for the passing of bills and tn
session will terminate April %.
Senate Child Labor Fight Seen.
With only one dissenting vote tn
public welfare committee Of the sen
ate Indefinitely postponed the join
resolution passed by the house tw'
weeks ago which calls for rejectin
the proposed child labor amendmen
to the federal constitution.
; But that one dissenting vote, cas-
by Senator J. E. Madigan Of Mapl
Lake, assures a senate fight upon tn