The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-03-13
Com. BABCOCK
IS UNDER FIRE
Resolution for Investigation of
Highway Department Intro
duced i'm Minnesota House
By Martin w. Odland,


Special to the Redwood Gazette,
March 12.-There seemed to be some
thing wrong at the capitol all of last
week. Perhaps it was because the
governor was at Washington and the
light of his countenance didn't shine
upon the lawmakers. The governor
is like tonic. His beaming face,
and tall, sturdy figure radiate cheer
and energy as he mingles with the
lawmakers in the marble corridors
or in the capitol cafe way down in
the basement. Whether his excellen-
cy picked out, while at Washington,
the seat he is to occupy in the senate
after March 4, 1881, as one Mime
sofa editor said he ought to, nobody
here seems to know. One thing is
certain-Tom Schall didn't offer any
help.
Perhaps the most interesting cpl
sode last week was a flank attack
on C. M. Babcock by Representatives
Andrew Finstuen, o. c. Neuman and
others who don't like the highway
commissioners policies. They sprung
resolution, propounding nine ques-
tions to Mr.. Babcock, as follows:
"First-By authority Of what pro-
vision of statue does your office
maintain an information or publicity
department?
"Second-How many and what per-
sons are engaged in it?
third What is the cost of the
same to the state of Minnesota?
"Fourth-By what authority is pro-
paganda sent out by your depart
ment to the public press such as is
contained in articles from your office
under date of March 2, 1929?
"Fifth-What is your relation, if
any, with the so-called Minnesota
Good Roads Association?
"Sixth-Have you had at any time
an understanding with the Minneso-
ia Good Roads Association or its
officers that you are to assist them
in carrying on campaign for the
$20,0OO,0OO bond issue for trunk
highways and other policies urged by
you?
"Seventh-Do you know by whom
the Minnesota Good Roads Associa-
ton is financed?
"Eighth-Do you know what con-
nection, if any, the Minnesota Good
Roads Association has with the Port
land Cement Company
"Ninth-Does anybody but the state
of Minnesota pay your expenses on
campaign tours in the interest OF the
$2O,0O0,OO0 bond issue and other pro-
posals by you in conjunction with the
Minnesota Good Roads Association OF
its officers ?"
After a heated debate, the resolu-
ton was rejected by vote of So to
a.. but Finstuen and Neuman came
back with another resolution calling
for an investigation of the highway
department by a house committee OF
five. This will not be acted upon till
late this week, but meanwhile Mr..
Babcock has announced that he is
perfectly willing to be investigated
and gave to the press a complete
list of answers to the questions which
the Goodhue and Traverse represent
atives wanted to ask him. His reply
to question number 8, the most point
ed of them all, was simply these
three small words: 81 do not"
The highway question is still up in
the air, although it has been under
discussion ever since the session open
ed. There will be no $20,000,000 bond
issue-that is certain-but how the
So, 200, 900 in county bonds, which the
state has assumed, will be dealt with
is far from settled. There is sink
ing fund Of about $1O,0O0,0O0 for re-