Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 7, 1908, Page 2

‘SUBSCRIPTION---$5.00 PER ANNUM THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER] PUBLISHED BVERY AFTERNOON, - A A A A A A A A A A A A A NS A BEMIDJI PIONEER PUBLISHING CO. By CLYDE J. PRYOR. Tutered in the postoffice at Bemidil. Mint, as second class matter. LOCAL BUSINESS MEN SHOULD CO-OPERATE. As will be noted in another column of the Pioneer, a' wholesale grocery house will be established immediately in Bemidji; and the enterprise will be fathered, financed and managed by a corporation. with ample capitalization, every cent of the stock of which is fully paid up. The Messrs. Cleary and Burke, and others are men who have spent their lives in one department or another of the grocery business, and they thoroughly understand every detail connected with the operation of an institution of this kind. The gentlemen back of the Be- midji Wholesale Grocery company come to this city without a bonus of any kind, having been offered them by the citizens, and they do not ask one cent from any person or organ- ization in Bemidji. They have their own capital, being ample for every need. They deserve the hearty co- operation of every resident of Be- midji; and they will undoubtedly be given liberal moral support by all. In this connection, too much can- not be said favorable to the Bemidji Townsite & Improvement company, owners of the townsite of Bemidji. When the proposition of a whole- sale grocery house was broached to the company, and it was shown that the gentlemen back of the proposi- tion were not talking “hot air,” the company at once made concessions in the matter of a site that were very acceptable to the promoters. Bemidji is to be congratulated on securing such an able, progressive and solid company of men to locate in our midst; and every resident of the city should lend support to the Bemidji Wholesale Grocery company, which will have a splendid block erected and be ready for business within the next seventy days. PROUD OF JACOBSON. It makes the Minnesota maan, who knows of the peculiar condi- tions which lifted John A. John- son to the governorship in a Re- publican state, very tired to read in Eastern papers of his election as an example of Democratic achievement. The men who gave him his majorities were Repub- licans, dissatisfied with the can- didates presented by their own party. They have this year no occasion for such dissatisfaction, either in the personality of their candidate or in the methods by which he was nominated. In- stead, they are proud of him, and recognize his nomination as the spontaneous tribute or a conven- tion the freest from unpopular “influences” of any ever held in Minnesota. Then, too, “the ap- peal of the Northland,” which gave Johnson so many Scandina- vian votes, is this year just as strong for Jacobson.—Pioneer Press. UP AGAINST IT. Canby News: The Little Falls Herald practically admits that the Democrats are up against a losing proposition this year. The Her- ald, while a staunch supporter of Democracy, suspects that in this instance it is better to adrmit defeat than to endeavor to fool the public by claiming that the Democrats have any chance to elect a governor this year. The article reads: “Jacobson is a for- midable candidate. The fact may as well be admitted, because it is true. His legislative record is in the main a creditable one. It re- mains for those in chaige of the Democratic campaign to show and prove that the man from Madison has gone back on his record. Making fun of habits or criticism of his ways and modes of speech will not appeal to the people at large B Three Burned to Death. Yonkers, N. Y., Oct. 6.—Mrs. Mary Cummings, seventy years old, and her two grandchildren, Jeanette Howland, aged nine, and Harry Howland, aged eleven, were burned to death in a fire Which destroyed the cottage of John Cummings, superintendent of the es- tate of Willilam J. Cochran on the out- skirts of Yonkers. Demented Man Kills Three. | New York Customs Officials on' Track GIGANTIC SMUGGLING PLOT of Conspirators. New York, Oct. ;—News which leaked out of the seizure by custom house officials in this city of more than $20,000 worth of costly cameos and coral jewelry led to-the disclosure of a glgantic smuggling plot involving more than $20,000,000. These seizures are the first open Tector of the POTt HAW: has been conducting for the last three weeks. with .the utmost secrecy for fear that the conspirators might take alarm and escape before the evidence against them™had been completed. So far the facts developed are of the most astounding character. Star- tling as they are, however, custom Bouse officers say they will be over- shadowed by those they expect to bring out later. Already it has been ascertained that moves in an_investigation which Col- | the_ smugglers._did not _mnfine their Gperatioliy €6 Jowelry: - Tle Scope © thelr {llcit trafiic’ was. of the widest and embraced almost every article of value that is imported into this coun- try from Italy. i WOMAN USES REVOLVER 8t. Paul Man Is Probably Fatally Wounded. St. Pavl, Oct. }—During & neighbor- | hood row William Koch, aged sixty- five, was_ hot and probably _fatally roposed Amendments —T0 THE— Constitution —0F— Minnesota —BY— Thelegislature General Session, 1907. St. Paul, Minn., May 1st, 1908. Hon. Julius A. Schmahl, Secretary of State— sir: As required by Sectlon 25 of the Revised Laws, as amended, | have the honor to furnish you herewith a state- ment of the purposes and effects of the respective amendments proposed to the Constitution of the State of Minnesota by the Legislature of 1907, and which are to be submitted to the electors of said State at the General Election of 1908. FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The first proposed amendment is con- tained in Chapter 477 of the Laws of 1907. By this amendment it is sought to repeal Sections one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) and seventeen (17) of Article nine (9) of the Constitution (the latter section being the amendment to said Ar- ticle nine (9), adopted In 1396), which sections now read as follows: “Section 1. All taxes to be raised In this state shall be as nearly equa) as may be, and all property on which taxes are to be levied shall have a cash valuation and be equalized and uniform throughout the state: Provided, that the legisluture may, by general law or speclal act, au- thorize municipal corporations to levy assessments for local improvements upon the property fronting upon such improve- ments, or upon the property to be bene- fited by such improvements, or both, without regard to cash valuation, and in such manner as the legislature may pre- scribe: and provided further, that for the purpose of defraying the expenses of lay- ing water pipes and supplying any city or municipality with water, the legislature may, by general or speclal law, authorize any such city or municipality, having a population of five thousand or mcre, to levy an annual tax or assessment upon the lineal foot of all lands fronting on any water main or water pipe laid by such city or municipality within cor- porate limits of said city for supplying Water to the citizens thereof without regard to the cash value of such prop- erty, and to empower such city to collect any such tax, assessments or fines, or penalties for failure to pay the same, or any fine or penalty for any violation of the rules of such city or municipality in regard to the use of water, or for any water rate due for the same: and pro- vided further, that there may be by law levied and coilected a tax upon all inher- itances, devises, bequests, legacles and gifts of every kind and description atove a fixed and specified sum, of any and all natural persons and corporations. Such tax above such exempted sum may be uniform or it may be graded or progress- iva, but shall not exceed a maximum tax of five per cent. “Sectfon 2. The legislature shall pro- vide for an annual tax sufficient to de- fray the estimated ordinary expenses of the state for each year, and whenever it shall happen that such ordinary expenses of the state for any vear shall exceed the income of the state for such year the leglslature shall provide for levying a tax for the ensuing year sufficient, with other sources of income, to pay the deficiency of the preceding vear, together with the estimated expenses of such ensuing year. But no law levying a tax or making other provislons for the payment of Interest ot principal of bonds denominated ‘Minne- sota State Rallroad Bonds,' shall take effect or be in force until such law shall have been submitted to a vote of the people of the state, and adopted by a majority of the electors of the state vot- ing upon the same. “Section 3. Laws shall be passed tax- ing all moneys, credits, investments in bonds, stocks, joint stock companles, or otherwise, also all rcal and personal property, according to its true value in money: but public burying grounds. pub- lc school houses. public hospitals, academies, colleges, universities, and all seminaries of learning, all churches, church property used for religious pur- poses, and houses of worship,” institu- tions of purely public charity, public property used exclusively for any public purpose, and personal property to an amount not exceeding in value two hun- dred dollars for each individual. shall, by general laws, be exempt from taxation, “Sectlon 4. Laws shall be passed for taxing the notes and Dbills discounted or purchased, moneys loaned, and all other property, effects, or dues of every de- scription, of all banks and of all bank- ers, so that all property employed in banking shall always be subject to a tax- ation equal to that imposed on the prop- erty of individuals. “Section 17. The legislature may im- pose, or provide for the imposition of, up- on the property within this state of any and all owners or operators, whether cor- porate or Jndividual, or otherwise, of any and all sléeping, parlor and drawing room Johnson City, Tenn., Oct. 6.—Three persons are dead here as a result of “the murderous outbreak of W. N. Beals, former postmaster and a well known citizen of Embreetree, during 2 it of insanity. Beals killed his wife 8ad brother-in-law, Bertie Bayless, and committed suicide by hanging in his Jall cell. 1¢ oratorical flights counted, Mr. Bry- an would have solved the problem of aerlal navigation years ago. cars, or any or either of the same, which run in, into or through this state; also upon the property within this state of any and all telegraph and telephone com- panies, or owners, whose lines are in, or extend in, into or through this state; also upon the property within this state of all express companies, or owners, or any or either of the same, dolng business in this state; also upon the property within this state of all domestic insurance com- panies of this state of any kind; also upon the property within this state of any and all forelgn insurance companies doing business in this state of any kind; also owners or operators of any and all mines or of mineral ores situated n this state; also upon the property within this state of all boom companies or owners, and of all ship builders or owners doing business in this state or having a port therein (provided, that- this act shall not apply to property owned by railroad companies, their lands and other property); and upon the property of either or any of such companies or owners,—a tax as uniform as reasonably may ‘be with the taxes im- posed upon similar property in sa‘d state, or upon the earnings thereof within this state, but may be graded or progressive, or both, and in providing for such tax, or in providing for ascertaining the just and true value of such property, it shall be competent for the legislature in either or all such cases, to impose such tax upon any or all property thereof within this state, and in either case by taking as the basis of such imposition the pro- portionate business, earnings, mileage or quantity of production or property now or hereafter existing of y such com- panies, persons or owners, transacted or existing in this state, in relation to the entire business, mileage or quantity of production or property of such com- panies, persons or owners as aforesaid; or in such other manner, or by such other method as the legislature may de- termine; but the proceeds of such taxes upon mining property shall be distributed between the state and the various polit- ical subdivisions thereof wherecin the same is situated, in the same proportion as the proceeds of taxes upon real prop- erty are distributed: Provided further, that nothing in this act contained shall operate to authorize the assessment or taxation of any farm land or ordinary business blocks or property owned by any such corporation, person, firm or company except in the manner provided by the ordinary methods of taxation,” and to substitute therefor the following: “Sec. 1. The power of taxation shall never be surrendered, suspended or con- tracted away. Taxes shall be unifornl upon the same class of subjects, and shall be levied and collected for public purposes, but public burying grounds, public school houses. public hospitals, academies, colleges, universities, and all seminaries of learn'ng, all churches, church property used for reiigious pur- poses, and houses of worship, institutions of purely public charity, and public property used exclusively for any public purpose, shall be exempt from taxation, and there may be exempted from taxa- tion personal property not exceeding in value $200 for each household, individual, or head of a family, as the legislature may determine. But the legislature may authorize municipal corporations to levy and collect assessments for local im- provements upon property bencfited thereby without regard to a cash valua- tion, and nothing hevein contained shall be construed to affect. modify or repeal any existing law providing for the taxa- tion of the gross earnings of railroads.” This proposed constitutional amend- ment was submitted and voted upon at the last election and was declared car- ried. But a contest was Instituted by in- terested parties, claiming that the amend- ment was not carried. That contest is now pending in the courts and it was on that account that the legislature decided to re-submit the amendment to the peo- ple, so that however the contest may be decided, 'the next legislature may have the power granted by the amendment. For the purpose of discussing the effect of the amandment | will assume that the same amendment submitted at the last election, did not carry. The purpose and effect of this amend- ment would be to greatly enlarge the power of the legislature with reference to the subject of taxation. Section cne (1) as it now stands provides that all taxes imposed shall be equal—as near as may be—on all forms of property, and all property upon which a tax is imposed Is required to have a CASH VALUATION equalized throughout the state. Section two (2) as it now stands re- quires the legislature to levy the neces- sary taxes annually to defray the ex. penses of the state. That Is the duty of the legisiature without any constitutional direction. Section three (3) as it now stands pro- vides that all real and personal property, Including MONEYS, CREDITS and IN- VESTMENTS. IN BONDS AND STOCKS, shall be assessed according to their true value in money. Section four (4) as It now stands pro- vides that property employed in banking shall be subject to a tax equal to that imposed on other property. This is only a repetition of the requirements of Sece tions one (1) and three (3), as no rational person would claim that banking capital should be exempt from taxation. Section seventeen (17) as it now stands Is not easy to understand, but it was In- tended by that section to relieve from the operation of sections one (1) and three (3), above quoted, property of the classes therein enumerated, so that a gross earn- Ings tax could be applied thereto instead of direct taxation. Owing to the provisions of sections one (1) and three (3) of the present Constl- tution many amendments were from time to time added so as to permit taxes to be Imposed on specific kinds of property otherwise than upon a cash. valuation equalized throughout the state. We have among these exceptions railroad gross earnings taxes; municipal frontage taxes; Inheritance taxes; and the gross earnings taxes authorized by said section seven- teen (17). Several exemptions from taxation are also provided for, but as theSe exemp- tions are not changed by the proposed amendment, | will make no further ref- erence to them. The amendment which, If adopted, would take the place of all of the sections and amendments above referred to, Is simple and plain. No provision of the Constitution is necessary to authorize the imposition of the taxes necessary for the support of the state and its various polit- ical subdivisions. The power of taxation is Inherent In government. This proposed amendment declares that this inherent power of taxation shall never be surren- dered, suspended or contracted away; that taxes shall be Imposed for public purposes and shall be uniform on the same class of subjects. Should this amendment be adopted all property of every kind in the state would be subject to taxation, according to the method the legislature saw fit to adopt, provided only that the tax was levied for a pub- lic purpose and was uniform on the same class of subjects. Under this amend- ment every tax iaw we now have on the statue books would continue to be valid, because under this amendment all limita- tions on the power of the legislature would be taken away. The adoption of this amendment would, as Indicated, repeal the so-called inherit- ance tax amendment, and the gross earn- ings tax amendment adopted in 1896, as contained in said Section seventeen (17), but In their place this amendment wouid give the legislature greater authority. Under this amendment the power to Im- pose Inheritance taxes would be unlimit- ed, and any form of gross earnings tax would be valid. The gross earnings tax on rallroads would not be affected by this amendment, as the Constitution provides that they cannot be changed without sub- mitting the law making the change fo a vote of the people. But with thls aménd. ment various new forms of taxation could be imposed, notably an Income tax, a ton- nage tax on iron ore and a rec” *ry tax on mortgages. Under the pre: Constitu- tion we can impose no tax on mortgages owned by non-residents. A registry tax, which would be valid under this amend- ment, would reach all mortgages afike. While the Constitution requires all sub. Jeats of taxation to have a cash valua- tlon with the tax equ throughout the state, no proper Income tax could be upon the property within this state of al Imposed. SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The second propcsed mmendment s contained In Chapter 478 of the Laws of Minnesota for the year 1907. By this amencment it s sougkt to repeal Section sixteen (16) of Article nine (9) of the Constitution, which section now reads as follows “For the purpose of lending ald in the construction and improvement of public highways and bridges, there is hereby created a fund to be known as the ‘State Road and Bridge Fund.’ Said fund shall include all moneys accruing from the in- come derived from investments in the internal improvement land fund, or that may hereafter accrue to said fund, and shall also include all funds accruing to any state road and bridge fund, however wrovided. “The legislature is authorized to add to such fund for the purpose of constructing or improving roads and bridges of this state, by providing, in its discretion, for an annual tax levy upon the property of this state of not to exceed in any year one-twentieth (1-20) of one (1) mill on all the taxable property within the state. “The legislature is also authorized to provide for the appointment, by the gov- ernor of the state, of a board to be known as the ‘State Highway Commis- sion,’ consisting of three (3) members, who shall perform such duties as shall be -prescribed by law without salary or com- pensation other than personal cxpenses. “Such commission shall have general superintendence of the construction of state roads and bridges and shall use such fund in the construction thereof and distrjbute the same in the several coun- ties in the state upon an equitable basis. Provided further, that no county shall re- ceive in any year more than three (3) per cent or less than one-half (1%) of one (1) per cent of the total fund thus pro- vided and cxpended during such year; and, provi further, that no more than one-third (1-3) of such fund accru- ing in any year shall be expended for bridges, and in no casc shall more than one-third (1-3) of the cost of construc- tion or improving any road or bridge be paid by the state from such fund,” and to substitute therefor the following: “Section 16. For-the purpose of lend- ! Ing aid in the construction and improve- ment of public ays and bridges, there, is hereby crcated a fund to be known as the ‘Siite Road and Bridge Fund.' Said fund shall include all moneys accruing from the income derived from investments in the internal improvement land fond, or that may hereafter accrue to said fund, und shall also include all funds aceruine fo any state road and bridge fund. hawever provided. “The legislature is anthorized to add to such fund, for the purpose of construct- ing or improving roads and bridges of this state by providing, in its discretion, for an annual tax levy upon the property of this state.” The purpose and effect of this amend- ment Is to authorize the legislature to levy upon all the property of the state any amount necessary, in Its Judgment, for the benefit of the roads and bridges therein, and In so far removes the limita- tion which now exists in the Constitution, whereby the legislature is prevented from levying for such purpose a tax ex- ceeding one-twentieth (1-20) of one (1) mill on the taxable property within the state. This amendment further authorizes the legislature to provide salary and compen- sation, Includirg personal expenses In- curred In the performance of duty by the highway commission, or-any other like officer entrusted by law with similar du- ties, Finaily, this amendment removes ths limitation which ncw exlsts In the Con- | on upon the powers of the highway | commission in the distribution of the road and bridge fund of the state whereby au- thorized, and the amount which the stats may pay from such fund toward the cost of constructing or Improving any road or bridge, and leaves the whole management of such fund to be provided for by law, as the legislature shall deem wise. The adoption of this amendment will not interfere with the power of the legis- lature to create a highway commission and define its powers, nor will it inter- fere with the appointment and tenure of office of the present commission. THIRD PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The third proposed amendment Is con. talned In Chapter 370 of the Laws of Minnesota for the year 1907. By this amendment It Is sought to add the follow- ing section to Article nine (9) of the Con- stitution as a new sectlon: “Section 17. The legislature may pro- vide for the payment by the State ot Minnesota of damages to growing crops Dby hail and wind, or either, and to pro- vide a fund for that purpose, may im- pose a specific tax upon lands, the own- ers of-which, at their option, have listed the same with county auditors for that purpose, and no payment shall be made of any such damages except from the fund so provided.” The purpose and effect of this amend- ment Is to authorize the legisiature to permit the state to become the trustee In the collection and disbursement of a fund for the payment of damages to growing crops by hail or wind, or both. This fund Is to be created and maintained by a spe- cific tax upon the lands of such persons ONLY as shall VOLUNTARILY list the same with their respective county audit- ors for such purpose. There can be no tax for such purpose imposed on the lands of any owner who does not consent there- to. Its adoption will authorize the legis- lature to direct that the taxing machinery of the state be used to levy and collect the tax necessary to raise such fund, and to provide for the disbursement of the same by the officers of the state, but any payments to be made by the state by rea- son of damage by hail or wind will have to be made from sald fund and from no other. The state would assume no re- sponsibility beyond the amount of such fund, and could not further be rendered liable. . FOURTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The fourth proposed amendment is con- tained in Chapter 480 of the laws of Min- nesota for the year 1907. By this amend- meat it is sought to repeal the provisions of Section seven (7) of Article seven (7) of the Constitution, which section now reads 2s follows: “Everv person who by the provisions of this article shail be entitled to vote at any election shall be eligible to any office which now is, or hereafter shall be, elec- tive by the people in the district wherein he shall have resided thirty days previous to such election, except as otherwise pro- vided in this Constitution, or the Consti- tution and laws of the United States,” and to substitute therefor the following: “Every person who hy the provisions of this article shall be entitled to vote at any electicn shall be cligible to any office which now is, or hereafter shall be, elec< tive by the people in the district wherein he shall have resided thirty days previous to such election, except county super- intendents of schools, who shail be re- quired to have educational qualifications to be determined by the legislature, and except as otherwise provided in this Con- stitution, or the Constitution and laws of the United States.” The purpose and effect of this amend- ment is to authorize the legislature to re- quire educational quaiifications, in addi. tion to all the other qualifications now re- quired by law, for any person seeking the office of county superintendent of schools, As the Constituticn ncw stands any legal voter Is eligible to the office of county superintedent of schools. The foregoing four proposed amend- ments constitute all the amendments pro- posed for adoption at the ensuing General Election. Yours respectfully, EDWARD T. YOUNG, Attorney General. ‘Wounded by Mrs. TIOSATA Reinberger. She also shot at Ernest Koch, son of the old man, but missed him. A feud of long standing has existed between the two families and when Mr. Kelnberger attempted to put up a fence between the two houses the Kochs objected and father and’ son, it| 1s sald, attacked Kelnberger. His wife came to the rescue and in the heat of the battle she rushed into the hoyse, procured a revolver and, returning, fired a ghot at her two.antagonists. The ‘old man fell with a bullet wound in his side. His condition s critical. Mrs, Kelnberger was imme- diately arrested. Town Has Narrow. Escape, - ‘Wells, Minn., Oct. Fire destroyed the brick mill of the Wells Flour Mill- ing company, capacity 1,000 barrels dally, and one frame elevator belong- ing to the same company. The loss is estimated at $80,000. The local fire company did valiant work and with difficulty saved another flour mill, sev- eral elevators, the railroad shops, lum- ber yards, some smaller factories and many residences. The fact that there || Wwasno wind probably saved the entire business and manufacturing part ot the city. " Bishop Tierney Dead. artford, Conn., Oct. I —Righit Re MichaelTierney, bishop of the :Rom;: Catholic dlocese of Hartford, who was strioken with fs dead. paralysis on Saturday, Fire Loss Half a Million. Pittsburg, Oct. '.—An explosion of gas at the plant of the Pittsburg Plate Glass company works No. 2 at Taren- tum, a suburb, resulted in a loss by fire of $500,000 and threw 800 men out of employment. The fire was caused by the bursting of one of the Joints of the main gas line Into the works from the high pressure of gas. JUDGE TAFT IN MISSOURI Opens Campaign in That State in 8peech ‘at St. Joseph. St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. //—The real Taft invasion of Missouri began here. The first Missouri audience was com- posed almost entirely of voters, men who work in the stock yards at St. Joseph, where Mr. Taft spoke in the rain from the steps of the stock ex- ehange. He was presented by Presi- dent John Donovan of the exchange, who said he did not appear under false pretenses. He was, he added, a Democrat, but he knew Judge Taft to be a thorough American in every par- ticular and to have a clean record of great achievements. As Is his usval custom to labor audi- | ences Mr. Taft analyzed the labor sit- uation with reference to the two par- tles. He referred briefly to his own labor record and agan declared him- relf to be the friend and not the en- cmy of labor. What he sald was cheered, but there was mnoticeable on the edges of the crowd, where his voice did not reach, stragggling cheers for Bryan. At the Tootle Opera}louse, before an audience which filled*'the place, an extended industrial speech was deliv- ered by Mr. Taft. , Mr. Gompers is having a sad awak- ening to the realization of the anti- union character of some of his political bedfellows. Wart a nerve tonic? Warta Wania Ask your doctor Ask your doctor Ask your doctor Ask your doctor Want It? % Want it v doctor all about Ayer’s nen- A > fijms«uzanfla. Tfiy:u"l:,;‘l 33"’.‘ » Sarsapariila? Ask your doctor knouw whetfier you want it or nol. ths srraias oLk ove medbian LO AR BUY A GOOD LOT With the growth of Bemidji good lots are becoming scarcer and scarcer. We still have a number of good lots in the residence *part of town which will be sold on easy terms. For further particulars write or call Bemid}i Townsite and Im- provement Company. H. A. SIMONS, Agent. Swedback Block, Bemidjt. Lumber and Building Material We carry in stock at all times a com- plete line of lumber and bwilding material of all descriptions. Call in and look over our special line of fancy glass doors. - We have a large and well assorted stock from which you can make your selection. WE SELL 16-INCH SLAB W00D St. Hilaire Retail Lbr. Co. BEMIDJI, MINN. Subsecribe For The Pioneer. Printing The Pioneer Printery Is Equipped in Beltrami county, and we are leaders in Commercial Printing. Try us; we'll Suit you. with Modern Machinery, Up-to-date Type Faces, and the Largest Stock of Flat Papers, Ruled Goods and Stationery of All Kirds in Northern Minnesota. We have the highest-salaried Printers A