The Tomahawk., 1925-03-12
BABCOCK DETAILS
ROAD SITUATION
State Highway Construction May
Be Pared To Tenth of
Average.

down its trunk highway construction
construction of the last few years II
the refinancing plan now before the
legislature Is rejected.
In the last few years about $11 ,000,-
600 annually has been spent on trunk
highway construction. Without the re-
funding Of county reimbursement
bonds. now proposed in a bill before
the legislature, the total amount
available in 1925 would be about ST.
10000, C. NJ. Babcock, highway COM
missioner, said.
Mr.. Babcock said he believed no
funds would be available in 1925 from
the gasoline tax. which the legislature
nom proposes to impose. He forecast
a test in the courts and he pointed
to the experience of the Michigan
highway department The legislature
In that state imposed a two cent gas
oline tax in 1928. Frank Rogers, Michi-
gan highway commissioner, just has
informed Mr.. Babcock that tests in
the court have established the validity
OF the tax and the money just has
become available after nearly two
years delay.
II refinancing is rejected and the
motor vehicle tax schedule is main
tanned, Mr.. Babcock said only $500, 900
would remain for new construction in
1925. A maximum of 100000 would
be obtained from the motor vehicle
tax. To. maintain the trunk highway
system. $4,00O,000 would be needed
and $4,500,000 would have to be placed
in the sinking fund, in accordance
with requirements laid down by the
states public examiner. The 100000
remaining would be met by 100000
federal aid. This aid is to be met dol
lar for dollar by the state to a maxi
mum of $2,1OO,OOO from the federal
treasury.
Would Curb Governors Power.
A new state departmental reorgan-
ization bill in the house Of represen-
tatives containing as it's chief feature
a plan to set up a system of finan-
cial control that would be under the
joint supervision of all the constitu-
tionally elected officers, instead Of
the governor alone.
Representative Henry Spindler of
Buffalo, a member of the house in
term committee which studied state
reorganization during the last two
years, is author of the new bill Mr..
Spindler did not acquiesce to the in
term committees reorganization bill
which was introduced in both houses
Of the legislature some weeks ago.
Instead, he submitted at that time a
minority report enumerating his diff
ferences with the viewpoint of his
colleagues.
Differs In Financial Control Features.
In many respects, Mr.. Spindler's
bill accepts details of the plan pre-
pared by the majority of the interim
committee, but in the method of at
tanning financial control over state
funds Mr.. Spindler's measure reveals
a sharp deviation from the majority
bill.
The MARTY bill establishes a de-
partment of administration and
finance headed by three commission
ers appointed by the governor and
responsible directly and solely to him.
The commissioners are separately as
signed to duties of preparing the bud
get, pre-auditing expenditures OF all
state departments. purchasing all sup
plies and exercising supervision over
the personnel of the state govern
ment. The majority bill also creates
an executive council composed of FIVE
of the elected officers-governor, at
torney general, auditor. secretary Of
state and treasurer-which would per-
form the duties now vested in num-
bre Of ex-officio boards whose men,
berships vary, but are composed large
ly of these officials.
Mr.. Spindler's bill does away with
a separate department of administra-
tion and finance appointed by the gov
ernor and places the duties which the
majority bill assigns to this proposed
department under the supervision of
the executive council. The governor
would be chairman of the executive
council.
Group Backs Limit on City Debt.
Passage of a law which would COM
pei municipalities to limit net obliga.
tons to 10 per cent Of assessed val
uations and school districts to 20 per
cent would force complete reorganiza-
ton of financial Programs Of northern
Minnesota political units, Represen-
tative George H. Lommen, Of Biwabik,
protested before the house judiciary
committee.
The bill is on general orders in the
house, with favorable recommends
ton for passage. 1t Is called the adj
ministration measure. The bill re-
quires cities and school districts to
provide definite means for retiring
bonds in the life of the improvements.
Most of the obligations would have to
be retired within 20 years. The bill
does not affect cities Of the first class.
Governor Theodore Christianson re-
turned a bill to the legislature without