The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-02-20
SLASH BOARD OF
CONTROL BUDGET
100000 Motorists Heave Sigh of
Relief as Bill Fixes March
LIST As Dead Line.

t0b no OCQQ IttiCs
St Paul-The pruning ak of the
house appropriations committee came
down with resounding whack when
the committees board of control APP
preparation bill was completed for in
PRODUCTION in the lower branch of the
legislature.
The bill reduced the boards two
year requests for the Is institutions,
totaling $7,SS0,250, to approximately
$6,550,250, reduction of $1,350,000.
The senate finance committee, which
previously had reported its bill for
the board of control, reduced the
amount asked by 100000.
The reduction is more significant
in view of the fact that the board it
self had reduced it's request 100000
for the biennial period, as compared
with the appropriation of two years
ago.
Car License Penalty Delayed.
Many automobile owners of the
state have until March 1 to pay their
1925 taxes.
Governor Christianson, late Friday.
signed a bill passed by the legisla-
ture earlier in, the day, granting an ex-
tension on the time to obtain auto.
mobile licenses. The law changes the
deadhne for this year only, from Feb
ruary Is to MarcI 1.
When Governor Christianson's name
was attached to the bill, formally
making it law, sigh of relief un-
doubtedly went up from between So
600 and 100000 motorists who had
postponed the annual task of obtain
ing licenses.
AS an aftermath, many legislators
are trying to figure out whether they
are doing the right thing by granting
such an extension of the time limit.
At the last session of the legislature
a similar reprieve was allowed. This
year the legislature succumbed once
again to the importunings of the car
owners.
An indication of the sentiment
against extension of time for paying
the license fees is found in the roll
calls of both house and senate, with
few negative votes recorded. Five
senators voted against the extension
and eight house members. They. one
and all, saiu they did so merely. as a
matter of principle and not from any
intent to embarrass procrastinating
automobile owners.
Outline Highway Program.
Lines are being drawn for the be-
ginning of the highways construction
encounter. Supporters of the compro-
mise plan to issue 10 to 20 year serial
bonds, for refunding the s33.600, 900
county reimbursement bonds are con-
fident their proposal will be adopted
ultimately, although they recognize
among the legislators strong senti
ment for reducing the motor vehicle
taxes. Four distinct plans have been
advanced by legislators seeking to
solve the highway problem. They
are:
assurance over 10 year period OF
refunding bonds to meet retirements
of the county reimbursement bonds,
leaving the motor vehicle tax sched-
ule undisturbed and adding a cent
or cent gas tax. Leaving the motor
vehicle tax undisturbed, setting up the
gasoline tax as fund to meet retire
ments of reimbursement bonds but
issuing no bonds. Reducing the mo,
tor vehicle tax in proportion to the
gasoline tax revenue and issuing no
bonds. Imposing 4 to 5 cent gaso-
line tax and reducing the motor vehi-
Gle tax to nominal amount but issu-
ing nc new bonds. Mr.. Babcock be.
lieves that the refinancing plan is the
only one suggested which would en-.
able the department to carry on eff.
fectivuIy. All other plans suggested
would curtail or cripple the depart.
ment in development of the 1000
trunk highway system. If the plan is
adopted, Mr. Babcock said, the next
two years would see completed impor-
tant links in the system.
Progress Slow In Both Houses.
Six weeks of the session have
passed and nothing of Importance has
even emerged from committee in
either house, with the exception of the
state institutions appropriation bill,
sent out by the senate finance com
mittee, and cent gasoline tax bill
reported by the house motor vehicle
committee. Progress compared with
past sessions has been extremely
slow. Important matters now being
threshed out in committees include:
Reorganization code prepared by the
interim house committee. All the big
appropriation bills. Child labor
amendment to federal Constitution.
Bills for regulation of motor buses.
Highway bond refunding plans. Mo-
tor vehicle and gasoline taxes. Rural
credits bond issue. The big job of
the session is the reorganization plan
of the interim committee. 1t was de-
layed by other work and by the ILL
ness of w. l. Norton, who was in
charge of drafting the bill, and the
bill only came into the two houses
February 9.
Hunting Ground Bill Re-committed.
The public bunting ground bill was
ie-committed in the house. This bill,
patterned after the Pennsylvania
plan. provides that the state shall set
apart 5000 acres of state land to be
used for public hunting ground and
a game refuge. The estimated cost of
the project. including salary Of a
keeper, the upkeep of his homs and
the fencing in of the tract, is $4,000,
which ultimately would be paid for
out of the money received by the
game and fish department. in the sale
of hunting licenses