The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-11-25
CITIES To FIGHT
GAS TAX RAISE
DULUTH, ST. PAUL AND MIN
NEAPOLIS WILL ORGANIZE
AGAINST GAS TAX AMEND
MENT.

oline tax amendment to the state
constitution.
The measure will come before the
voters at the general election next
year. 1t was submitted by the last
legislature after long debate be-
TWEEN city and country members.
1t passed by a two to one vote in
both house and senate, the country
delegations, with some scattered ex-
ceptions, lining up against solid city
memberships.
If the amendment gets majority
of all votes cast in November, 1928,
which is required for it's adoption,
it means an increase of one cent a
gallon in the gasoline tax when the
1929 legislature meets. The tax now
is two cents a gallon, which brings
in about $4,00O,00O year to the
state highway fund.
The amendment proposes that one
third of the gasoline tax receipts be
diverted from the highway fund to
the country road funds for expend-
iture on local or feeder" highways.
All the money now is expended on
the state trunk highway system. The
total highway fund is made up of
automobile license fees, gasoline
taxes and federal aid.
The three large cities pay about
one half of both the license fees
and automobile taxes, but not PEN
ny of the money is spent within
their limits. All goes for develop
ment of the trunk highways located
entirely in country districts.
During the legislative debate city
members express themselves as will
ing that this system should continue,
but they considered it extremely I'M
fair for country members to unite
their strength in an attempt to get
more money from the cities and d.
vert it to the Improvement of their
local roads. The city contention was
that these roads should be improved
through local taxation or bond
issues.
The country argument was that
the more improved roads there are,
the more business it means for the
large cities, and therefore those liv-
ing in st. Paul, Minneapolis and Du-
luth should be willing to bear this
expense and agree to the increase
it is intended to make in the gaso-
line tax.
Recently a group of country men,
bers met at the St. Francis Hotel,
st. Paul, and formed an organiza-
ton to carry on a campaign through
out the state to win votes for the
amendment. Sen. A. j. Rockne,
Zumbrota, was named chairman.
1t is to combat this drive that the
cities are now organizing.
A letter is being sent out to legis-
lators, who opposed the amendment,
and various organizations, 1t is
signed by the St. Paul Civic Union,
st. Paul Association, Minneapolis
Civic and Commerce association, st.
Paul Bureau of Municipal Research,
Minneapolis Taxpayers association
and Taxpayers League of st. Louis
county. 1t reads:
"You are probably aware that
within the past two weeks a secret
meeting was held at the St. Francis
hotel in st. Paul for the purpose of
outlining a campaign in behalf of
the so-called gas tax amendment,
which will be submitted to the peo-
pie of this state in November, 1928.
This meeting was held under the
auspices of country members of the
state legislature, who were instru-
mental in passing the resolution dur
ing the 1927 session by which the
amendment is to appear upon the
ballot.
"You will recall that the St., Paul
Duluth and Minneapolis members
made good fight against the reso-
luton, but failed for the simple rea-
son that they were outnumbered.
There were a few outside members
who stood with the urban delega-
tions, but they were still in the mi
nority.
GAS you know, if the amendment
carries at the November, 1928, cleo
tions one-third of the gasoline tax
receipts will be applied to the devel-
opment of country roads other than
state trunk highways or main AFTER
les. Rep. Mark H. Gehan of st.
Paul has graphically pictured the
situation as follows: If a St. Paul,
Minneapolis or Duluth automobile
owner pays $3.50 a year as a tax on
gasoline he uses, S. will go to the
state trunk highway fund, $2.25 to
country roads other than trunk high
ways or main arteries, and tn cents
will be refunded to the cities. Should
the amendment pass the people will
be building up the state road and
bridge fund which is already costing
st. Paul, Duluth and Minneapolis in
the. neighborhood of $1,000,0O0
year, or nearly half of the total con-
tributed by the entire state. You
are aware that this 81, 100000 is
tax against all property-not against
automobile drivers alone-being sep
arate from the highway fund.
"City members of the legislature
strenously objected to the amend
ment on the ground that the cities
should not be expected to contrib
ute so generously to the country
roads, which are rarely used by
city drivers. Country members will
contend that the improvement of
feeder roads will bring additional
business to the cities.
1t is well to call your attention
to the fact that should this annond-