The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-04-03
HOUSE PASSES THE GAS TAX
Representatives Complete Highway
Financing Program-Goes to Senate.

Financing Program-Goes to Senate.
st. Paul-The house of representa-
tives completed it's highway financing
program by passing bill to levy a
tax Of two cents a gallon upon gasoline
beginning July l, the revenue to be
additional to the receipts from motor
vehicles taxes and the whole to be
used by the state highway depart
ment
The gas tax bill will go to the senate
accompanied by a bill which amends
the present schedule of motor vehicle
tax rates so as to provide for reduc-
ton of one-sixth in the tax, or loss
of $1,500,000 in revenue. The two
cent gas tax, by being made effective
July 1 this year, would raise $4,000
900 for highway purposes in 1925 and
would produce 100000 in 1926.
If the senate passes the 2-cent gas
tax bill, it assures the highway depart
ment $10,500,O00 for highway purposes
this year, a figure that is based upon
S8,500,000 income from motor vehicle
taxes. which are now being collected,
and $2,000,000 from gas tax.
License Cut Effective Next Year.
The bill reducing motor vehicle
year If it becomes a law. Provided
the reduction were accepted by the
senate, the following would be the
1926 revenue for the highway depart
ment, it is estimated: Motor vehicle
taxes, $7,5OO,OOO; gasoline tax, $4,000
600; total, $11,500,O00.
It is figured that motor vehicle taxes
for 1926, at the present rate of tax,
would be 100000, and allowing for
the one-sixth cut made by the house,
the total would be $7,500,000.
Representative Norton Returns.
Representative w. I. Norton of
Minneapolis, i'll for the last eight
weeks with pneumonia will direct the
fight to pass the state departmental
reorganization bill which Governor
Christianson has commanded the 1925
legislature to enact into law as an
economy measure. Mr. Norton, it is
of the legislature, knows the reorgan-
ization bill in its minutest detail, for
he drafted the principal sections and
only a sudden attack of pneumonia
interfered with his finishing the job
The fact that he is planning to return
to the legislature on the eve of the
fight is an important development in
the efforts of Governor Christianson
to have the bill passed.
Makes Plea for Reorganization Bill.
Governor Christianson, speaking
over the radio, put up to the people
OF Minnesota his plea for the passage
organization of state departments.
The executive told the people that the
plan should be approved in the inter-
ests of economy and efficiency. He
put the issue squarely up to the law
makers. He left it with them to de-
eide. Governor Christianson urged
his constituents who heard him on the
air to get in touch with their repre-
sentatives in the law-making body.
The state senate is to take up the re-
organization bill of the reorganiza-
ton plan, stressing that all those who
believe in the program to get in touch
with their senators.
Bill to Protect Flower Loses.
Representative H. A. Montgomery
of Minneapolis, failed in his effort to
protect the state flower, the ladyslip-
per, and the lotus, arbutus and all
species of the lily, when the house de-
feated his bill, 81 to 81. He gave no.
tice that he would ask reconsidera-
ton.
Would Change Fis,., Game Laws.
Numerous changes in the game and
fish laws of the state are made in a
bill approved by the senate game and
fish committee and ready for intro
duction in the upper house of the
legislature. The bill is an omnibus
measure carrying large number of
amendments to the present law rec
commended by the game and fish COM
missioner. 1t was placed before the
committee before being introduced.
For several weeks members of the
committee have been studying the
changes suggested