Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 14, 1908, Page 2

THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER PUBLISHED EVERY AFTERNOON, BEMID]I PIONEER PUBLISHING CO. By CLYDE J. PRYOR. Wotered in the postofice at Bemidii. Mine., a8 second class matter. SUBSCRIPTION---$5.00 PER ANNUM SCALE EXPIRES NEXT APRIL Anthracite Mine Workers Preparing | ‘Wage Schedule. Scranton, Pa, Oct. 15.—A conven- tion of mine workers from the three anthracite districts of the United Mine Workers of America began here for the purpose of formulating ‘demands to be presented to the coal operators shortly before the expiration of the present three-year agreement. The agreement, which is almost _identigal JACOBSON IS ALL RIGHT. The attempts of some. of the ene- mies of Jacob F. Jacobson to ques- tion the eligibility of that gentle- man to serve as governor, if elected, have been met with lukewarmness on the part of those who desire to see fair play and who are opposed to underhand methods in politics. Efforts were made by certain ene- mies of Mr. Jacobson in his home town of Madison to prove that he was not a citizen of the United States, and therefore could not serve as governor should he be elected this fall. Frank A. Day, chairman of the Democratic State Central committee, who usually takes advantage of every opening in politics, would have nothing to do with this attempt to besmirch Jacobson, ani he said of the matter: “We want nothing to do with it, and I would much rather you would say nothing about it. We are very confident of winning as matters stand now, and we don’t want Mr. Jacobson or his supporters to have any excuse to make about the results of this election. “Ido not want anything to do with it, and if it is found to be true we will take no advantage of it. Governor Johnson will lay no claim to the office unless he receives a plurality of the votes at the coming - election.” The attack on the republican candidate for governor is beneath the notice of the voters and will undoubtedly prove to be a ‘“boom- erang” started by some of the small fry in the opposition lines. OPSAHL HAS NO OPPOSITION, ANYWHERE. The Pioneer yesterday published a special telegram from St. Paul to this paper, in which was given a brief account of the fact that the supreme court cf Minnesota had upheld Attorney General Young in his interpretation of the law relative to the elegibility of members re- elected to the legislature, who had voted to increase their own salaries from $500 to $1,000, Mr. Young having held that the law in no way effected members of the legislature. This question was raised in all good faith by many people through- out Minnesota. There seemed to be some foundation for the question. The Pioneer printed, asa matter of news, the excerpts from other papers relative to the matter. We are glad that the supreme court decided in favor of Attorney General Young. Had the court decided otherwise it is doubt- ful if Beltrami county would have had a representative in the legis- lature during the coming session, as J. J. Opsahl, the present incumbent, would have been disqualified and there would undoubtedly have been three or four candididates with the possibility of some one from outside this county being elected. FIERCE FIGHT IN CHURCH Rival Factions Battle Until the Police Arrive. New Britain, Conn., Oct. 1 .—The ill feeling which has existed between the two rival factions in the Holy Trinity Greek Catholic church in this city cul- minated in a bloody battle. Candlesticks were torn from the al- tar and used as clubs, with which heads were smashed; banners were dragged from their fastenings and the staffs broken in the mad onslaught of the fighters, chairs were reduced to kindling wood and the floor of the church from the altar to the front en- trance was stained with blood. An alarm was spread that there was a riot in the church and when a squad of policemen arrived they found John Prestis bleeding from a knife wound in his back, Thomas Berelli and Theo- dore Dudjack with their scalps laid open, their faces bruised and battered snd their clothes red with blood. Two Killed at Celebration. Montreal, Oct. 1 .—Francesco Mar- talli invited some friends to his house to celebrate his homecoming after a season’s work in a railway camp. A row started in which Martalli and Do- nato Caluori, one of the guests, were shot and killed. Michael Caluori, the twenty-year-old son of one of the dead men, {8 under arrest charged with the double murder. Miners in Serious Riot. Fairmount, W. Va., Oct. 11.—Three men are dying and ten are sufferi: : from more or less serious wounds a result of a riot between miners and outside men at Enterprise, nine miles from here. The riot is said to have been the outgrowth of grievances be- tween two factions, which have led to serious trouble heretofore. ¥1th the award made by the Strike commission in 1903, expires in April of next year. The executive boards of the three districts were in session here last week and it is understood they prac- tically agreed upon the demands that ‘will be laid before the mine owners. These demands will be placed before the convention now in session for rati- fication, after which a scale committee will be appointed with power to nego- tlate with the operators. The conven- tion will be held_behind closed doors. Wiille thete has been no officfal Mfor- mation given out it 18 believed the miners will not ask for a general in- crease In wages, but will demand ad- Jjustments where they clalm the pres- ent agreement was violated and wages reduced. g An eight-hour day for all employes will, it is said, be one of.the principal demands. The Dernocratic party can never puake any progress on the tariff ques- tion until it pays more attention to markets and less to maxims. Proposed: Amendments —TO0 THE— Constitution —OF— Minnesota _BY— Thelegislature General Session, 1907. St. Paul, Minn.,, May 1st, 1008. Hon. Julius “A. Schmahl, Secretary of State— sir: As required by Section 25 of ti 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- talned 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 1896), which sections now read as follows: ugection 1. All taxes to be raised in this state shall be as nearly equal as may be, and all property on which taxes are fo be levied shall have a cash valuation and be equalized and uniform throughout the state: Provided, that the legislature may, by general law or special 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- seribe: 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 mere, to Jevy 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- Yided further, that there may be by law levied and collected a tax upon all inher- jtances, devises. bequests, legacies and gifts of every kind and description atove | % fixed and specified sum, of any and all matural persons and corporations. Such tax above such exempted sum may be uniform or it may be graded or progress- jve, but shall not exceed a maximum tax of five per cent. w“Section 2. The legislature shall pro- vide for an annual tax sufficient to de- fray the estimated ordlnary cXpenses of the state for each year, and whenever it shall happen that such ordinary expenses of the state for any year shall exceed the- fncome of the state for such year the legislature shall provide for levying a tax for the ensuing year sufficient, with other sources of income, to pey the deficiency of the preceding year. together with the estimated expenses of such ensuing year. But no law levying a tax or making other provisions for the pavment of interest or Drincipal of bonds denominated ‘Minne- Sota State Railroad 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. “gection 3. Laws shall be passed tax- ing all moneys, credits. investments in bonds. stocks, joint stock companies, or otherwise, aiso all real and personal property, according to its true value in money: but public burying grounds, pub- Il echoel ~houses, public hospitals, academies, colleges, universities, and all Seminaries of learning, all churches, ohurch property used for relfgious pur- poses, and houses of worship, institu- fions of purely public charity, public property used exclusively for any public purpose, and personal property to &n amount not exceeding in value two hun- drea dollars for each individual. shall, by general laws, be exempt from taxatlon. “Section 4 Laws shall be passed for taxing the notes and bills discounted or purchased, moneys loaned. and all other property, effects, or dues of every de- Seription, of all banks and of all bank- ors, so that all property employed in panking 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 individual, or otherwise, of any ana all sleeping, parlor and drawing room 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; alsa upon the property within this state of all express companies, or owners, or any or elther of the same, doing business in thia 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 foreign insurance companies doing business in this state of any kind; also owners or operators of any and all mines or of mineral ores situated in 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 thereln (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 taxX as uniform as reasonably may be with the taxes im- posed upon similar property in said 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 properly now or hereafter existing of any 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 aforesald; 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 polt- ical subdivisions thereof wherein _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 conlained 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 uniform 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 religious pur- poses, and houses of worship, institutions of purely public cha and public property used exclusively for any public purpose, shall be exempt from taxation, and there may be exempted from faxa- 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 benefited thereby without regard to a cash valua- tion, and nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect, modify or repeal any existinglaw 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 amendment | will assume that the same amendment submiticd at the tast 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 one (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 I8 required to have a CASH VALUATION equalized throughout the state. Sectlon two (2) as It now stands re- quires the legisiature to levy the neces sary -taxes annually to defray the ex- penses of the state. That Is the duty of the legislature without any constitutional direotion. Section three (3) as It now stands pro- vides that all real and personal property, Including MONEYS, CREDITS and IN- VESTMENTS IN BONDS AND 8TOCKS, 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 pubiic 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 legisiature 'saw fit to adopt, provided only that the tax was levied for a pub- llc purpose and was uniform on the same «class of subjacts. 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 Inherlt. t, and the gross ear: Ings tax amendment adepted in 1896, as contalned in said Section seventeen (17), but In their place this amendment would glve the legislature greater authority. Under this amendment the power to Im- pose inheritance taxes would be uniimit- ed, and any form of gross earnings tax would be valid. The gross earnings tax on railroads would not be affected by this amendment, as the Constitution provides that they cannot be changed without sub. mitting the law making the change to a vote of the people. But with this amend- ment various new forms of taxation could be imposed, notably an Income tax, a ton- nage tax on iron ore and a rec vy tax on mortgages. Under the pressi. Constitus 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 alike. While the Constitution requires ail sub. jeots of taxation ‘to have a cash valua. tion with the tax-equalized througheut the. state, no proper Income tax eould be upon the property within this state of a¥ imposed. | | lature to create a highway commission | to provide for the disbursment of the SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The second proposed Minnesota’ for the year 1907. amendment it Is sought to repeal Section sixteen (16) of Article niné (9) of the Constitution, which. section now reads as follows: “For the purpose of lending aid 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- slon,’ consisting of three (3) members, who shall perform such dutics as shall be prescribed by law without sa or com- pensation other than personal expenses. “‘Such commission shall have general superintendence of the construction of state roads and bridges and shall use such fund in the construction thereof and distribute the same in the several coun- tles in the state upon an equitable basis. Provided further, that no county shall Te- celve in any year more than three (3) per cent or less than one-half (%) of one (1) per cent of the total fund thus pro- vided and expended during such year; and, provided further. that no more than one-third (1-3) of such fund_accru- ing in any vear shall be expended for bridges, and in no case 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 hi and bridges, there is hereby ed a fund to be known as the ‘e Road and Bridge Fund.’ Said fund shall include all moneys accruing from the income derived- from investments in the internal improvement land fund, or that may hereafter accrue to said fund, und shall also include all funds accruing to any state road and bridge fund. however 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 authorlze the legislature to levy upon all the property of the stats 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 arendment 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 Oficer smtnucted hus: law With slemilar du- ties. Finaily, this amendment removes the limitation which ncw exlsts In the Con- stitution upon the powers of the highway Ccommission 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- and define its powers, nor wlill It Inter. fere with the appointment and tenure of office of the present commission, THIRD PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The third proposed amendment is con. tained In Chapter 379 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 of Minnesota of damages {0 growlng crops by hail and wind, or eitier, 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 aiditors for that purpose, and no psyment shall be made of any such damages ercept from the fund so provided.” { The purpose and effect of this amend- ment Is to authorize thé legislature to permit the state to becomt the trustee In the collection and disbursament of a fund for the payment of damajes to growing crops by hail or wind, or Ipth. This fund Is to be created and maintiined by a spe- cific tax upon the lands d such persons ONLY as shall VOLUNTARILY list the same with thelr respectivé county audit- ors for such purpose. Trere can be no tax for such purpose imposid on the lands of any owner who coes nottonsent there- to. Iits adoption will autheize the legis- lature to direct that the taing machinery of the state be used to leyy and collect the tax necessary to raise sich fund, and same by the officers of the itate, but any payments to be made by thestate by rea- son of damage by hail or vind will have to be made from said fundiand from no other, The state would ajume no re- sponsibility beyond the amunt of such fund, and could not furtherbe rendered liable. FOURTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The fourth proposed amenchent Is con- tained in Chapter 480 of the \ws of Min- nesota for the year 1907. By ihis amend- ment it is sought to repeal tlj provisions of Section seven (7) of Artiq seven (7) of the Constitution, which ectlon now reads es follows: “Every person who by th{ provisions of this article shail be entitlefto vote at any election shall be eligible { any office which now Is, or hereafter shil be, elec~ tive by the people in the dist¥t wherein he shall have resided thirty dds previous to such election, except as othfwise pro- vided in this Constitution, or be Consti- tution and laws of the UnitedStates,” and to substitute therefor thdfollowing: “Every person who hy the pivisions of this article shall be entitled } vote at any electicn shall be eligible tdmy office which now Is, or hereafter shalbe, elece tive by the people in the distril wherein be shall have resided thirty day previous to such election, except coury super- Intendents of schools, who shi be re- quired to have educational qudfications to be determined by the legisldire, and except as otherwise provided in his Con- stitution, or the Constitution an|laws of the United States. The purpose and effect of thilamend. ment is to authorize the leglslati} to re quire educational qualifications, § add. tlon to all the other qualificationgow re- quired by law, for any ‘person sedng the office of county superintendent ofchool As the Coastituticn ncw stands dy legai voter Is eligible to the office olcounty superintedent of schools. The foregoing four proposed fmend- ments constitute all the amendmels pro- posed for adoption at the ensulng kneral Election. Yours respectfully, cmendment ls contained In Ghapter 478 of the Laws of By this DENOUNCES BRUTAL CRIME Governor of Kentucky Bitterly .Ar- raigns Night Riders. Frankfort, Ky., Oct. 13—In offering $500 reward for the apprehension and conviction of the gang of night riders who attacked a negro named Walker in his home in Hickman county last week and slew him, his wife and two children. Governor Willson made an extreme appeal to the people of the state to “arise in their might” and put down such lawlessness. The governor says: “If two or three men had gome to this poor cabin and mumdered the GOVERNOR WILLSON. family the crime would have shooked humanity with its revelation of in- credible wickedness, brutality and dastardly cowardice. That a large humber, some fifty men, joined in such a crime multiplies the cowardliness and wickadness fiftyfold and makes every member of the band guilty of murder in the first degree, the basest, wickedest and most cowardly inhu- man murder conceivable in mortal mind.” 4N HIS HOME STATE. Judge Taft Speaks at a Number of Places. Akron, O., Oct. 13.—William H. Taft concluded the first day of his three days’ tour of his home state in a speech at this place. The- day’s itin- erary included speeches at Morrow, ‘Wilmington, Washington Courthouse, Circleville, Lancaster, New Lexington, Zanesville, Cambridge, Newcomers- town, Canal Dover, Massillon and Akron. During this trip, which is largely through the rural districts of the state, Mr. Taft will make speeches to farmers, giving his reasons why the Republican policy of protection should be chosen rather than the Democratic tarif® priuciples. Mr. Bryan says he s not running away from his record. He cannot, however hard he may ‘try. You could not please us better than to ask your doctor aboutAyer’s Cherry Pectoral for coughs, colds, croup, bronchitis. Thousandsof families DO C to rs always keep it in the house. The approval of 3 = ». their physician and the experience of man A””I d'n?"’yu Mullhl ;'d“zh” years have given them great confidence uyx it Use it or not,asyout 5 this cough medicine. LOATE0.: 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 Bemidji Townsite and Im- provement Company. H. A. SIMONS, Agent. Swedback Block, Bemid}i. Lumber and Building Material We carry in stock at all times a com- plete line of lumber and bwlding 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. Subseribe For The Pioneer. EDWARD T. YOUB, Attomey Gefra Typewriter Ribbons ThelPioneer keeps on hand all the standard makes of Typewriter Ribbons, at the uniform price of 75'cents for all ribbons except the two- and three-color ribbons and special makes. .