The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-02-05

Public welfare and good business de-
mand that the present taxes remain
unchanged, regardless of what else
may be done.
Addition of a 2-cent gasoline
tax.
A tax of 2 cents gallon on gaso-
line will take less than 2 cents a day
from the average Minnesota automo-
bile owner. When he buys 5 gallons
the 10 cents of tax will be added in,
and 20 cents on each 10 gallon pur-
chase. He will hardly feel the tax.
Yet it will buy for him $4,000, 900
of highway improvements. Gasoline
prices in Minnesota were advanced 8
cents gallon. last month. The raises
occasioned little comment, yet at the
same time some people were greatly
agitated over the proposal to take 2
cents on each gallon to extend the
good roads that are earning their cost
three times over by reducing depre-
citation, gasoline consumption, tire
wear and like expenses.
Bond authorizations to straight
en- highway finances.
Minnesota highway affairs are con-
Quoted in a businesslike manner. The
department has paid off undue bonds
to stop high interest charges. 1t has
used road money to build up sink
ing fund against county reimburse
ment bonds and in that way avoid in
creases in county taxes. All this is
shown by official records of the state
auditor and public examiner. "
The department assumed that the
public knew it's affairs, were being
carried out along economical and eff
fcient lines. Detailed explanations of
refunding plans involving many fig
ures were considered unnecessary
However, as details have been given
out, approval is coming from all sides.
1t is being plainly understood that
the department is striving only to
straighten out highway finances with
out unnecessarily delaying good
roads progress
IIC OIOSlHdl SCdIC highway pld1i
called for $500 miles of trunks. The
legislature added 1900 miles before
submitting it to a vote of the people.
The same legislature authorized bonds
that started the plan out with more
than $26,000,000 of county bonds
charged up against it. The total was
increased through later legislation to
more than $33,000,000.
Counties issuing such bonds gen.
orally made them for 10-year term.
The result is that $23,600,000 are
coming due in 1929 to 1882 inclusive.
To build up sinking fund to pay off
the bonds in those years will take a
large part of the motor vehicle tax
receipts each year in addition to the
large sum already set aside for that
purpose. First issues of state bonds
were charges proposed to furnish an
advance of working capital necessary
to reduce interest charges and rear
range maturities of the county bonds
and at the same time to avoid hating
the highway program.
Now it is proposed to authorize a
board of state officials to carry out
the plan. This is entirely satisfactory
to the highway department. The aim
here is simply to give Minnesota
highway users the measure of good
roads they are justly entitled to.
Economy has governed from the out
sed and ahead of good roads progress.
The effort has been, to get the big
gest value rather than to make cred
liable showings.
Mr.. Babcock urges furtli" safe
and sound business practice, all to
continue the good roads program in
the surest and most economical way,
he says. He points out that the pres
enet motor vehicel tax has been test
ed, whereas a gasoline tax may be
held invalid. For that reason he adj
vocates leaving the vehicle tax I'M
changed and confirming experiments to
the proposed gas tax. Then the next
legislature will be in better position
to proceed safely and the expert
mental and speculative stage will be
passed, he states.