The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-03-06
.BABCOCK EXPLAINS
ROAD SITUATION
State Highway Construction May
Be Pared To Tenth of
Average.

st. Paul - Minnesota will scale
down its trunk highway construction
program to less than one-tenth of the
construction of the last few years if
the refinancing plan now before the
legislature is rejected.
In the last few years about 11,0O0,-
600 annually has been spent on trunk
highway construction. Without the re-
funding of county reimbursement
bonds, now proposed in bill before
the legislature, the total amount
available in 1925 would be about ST.
100000, C. M. 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
test in the courts and he pointed
to the experience of the Michigan
highway department. The legislature
in that state imposed two cent gas
oline tax in 1923. 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.
If 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, 100000 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 $500, 200
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 $2,100,000 from the federal
treasury.
Mr.. Babcock emphasized that with
81, 100000 available in the last year
for trunk highway construction, the
state is tagging behind other ag.
gressive states in road building.
Child Labor Amendment Defeated.
The much discussed child labor
amendment to the federal constitution
was rejected by the house of repre-.
sentatives.
After four hours of debate the low.
er house of the legislature voted 6s
to Sc in favor of joint resolution re.
jecting the proposition.
The resolution of rejection as
adopted by the house now goes to the
senate. If the senate goes on record
as rejecting the twentieth amend
ment, the secretary of state in Wash
| ington will be notified. If the senate
| fails to adopt the amendment, or II
it "dies" in the last-minute rusL oil
the legislature, the authorities al
Washington are notified of Mime
sofas action in formal way.
The house started on resolution
to ratify the amendment. The first
move of the opposition was to force
vote on an amendment changing
the word ratification" to rejection
where it appeared in the joint resolu
| ton. On this test of strength, the
! opponents of the child labor mend
ment won, 81 to So. Then, on the
vote to adopt the joint resolution sc
as amended, the vote was IS to 81
against the amendment.
The battle on the child labor
amendment developed a wealth Of
last-minute support for its ratifica
ton. Since the opening days of the
legislature, the spirit of the house
has been decidedly against the ratifica
ton. Up to a week or so ago it was
difficult to find many legislators who
were in favor Of ratification. But
during the last week the measure
clearly gained strength.
Ask Board Refunding Bill.
A proposal to extend provisions Of
the Adams bill for refunding of coun
ty reimbursement highway bonds te
the entire outstanding issue of $33,
100000 was being Discussed by
members of both houses of the legis
lature. The bill as introduced takes
care of only s22,371,000 of the bonds
the rest to be met directly, from the
highway fund when they matu-e.
Increase in the iron ore tonnage
tax from to 10 per cent, proposed in
bill by s. A. Stockwell of Mime
apolis, would mean virtual confsca
ton of mining properties, the house
committee was told in the first house
| argument on iron mining of the ses
sion.
1.-The industry is overdeyeloped
mines through the two ranges are
being surrendered, and development
of new mines through drilling is at 9
standstill, all because of burdensome
| taxation" E. P. Scallon of Crosby
said. He declared tax of $11S or
every ton o. ore is being assessed
including an ad valoren tax, the tar
on stock piles, the tonnage tax and
the royalty tax.
Bill Tightening Marriage Laws Passed
The Mcknight marriage bill
stripped of the provisions which
would eliminate common law mar
riages in Minnesota, was passed by
the house by vote of IS to AZ. The
bill now goes to the senate. Another
measure introduced by the committee
on public welfare, as committee
bill, which provides for the steriliza
ton of the feeble-minded and insane
persons was recommended to pass
Little opposition to the bill devel
oped and amendments offered were
withdrawn, leaving the bill in its
original form.