Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 28, 1908, Page 2

el L ED ot THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER PUBLISHED EVERY AFTERNOON, BEMIDII PIONEER PUBLISHING CO. By CLYDE J. PRYOR. Watered in the postofice at Bemidjl. Minn., a8 second class matter. SUBSCRIPTION---$5.00 PER ANNUM HAS B. F. WRIGHT ALLIED HIMSELF WITH THE STEEL TRUST? Where does the steel trust standin the contest for judge of the district court? This is an important thing to know. In the primary contest no one doubted that Mr. Thwing was its favorite. This was evident because Mr. Thwing’s particular sponsers and advocates in that contest were Senator Dan Gunn, reputed to be a creation and tool of this gigantic monopoly; ex-Senator McCarthy, its attorney, and John C. Greenway, superintendent of the Oliver Mining company at Coleraine. These three men, with Thwing as an active subordinate, are now clam- oring for the election of Mr. Wright. What does such an alliance mean? Does it not furnish convincing proof that for some reason, for some purpose, the steel trust wants to name Judge Stanton’s successor? A judge whose record on the bench is the very best, whose ability and absolute fairness is un- questionable, seems to be unsatis- factory to this stupendous combi- nation of capital and nerve, and they want him displaced. It is up to the voters of this great and important judicial district to determine whether the steel trust and its cahorts will succeed. It is for the people to say whether a good judge must step down and out because the steel trust, for some reason best known to itself, wants the place filled by another. In connection with the above, it will be interesting to readers of the Pioneer to note that A. L. Thwing came to Bemidji yesterday from Grand Rapids and left last evening in company with B. F. Wright for points north of Bemidji in Beltrami and Koochiching counties, where Mr. Thwing has agreed to deliver to Mr. Wright the votes which he got at the primaries with his famous “‘barrel,” said “barrel” being fur- nished, so rumor has it by Itasca county interests inimical to those of Mr. Thwing. The latter’s atti- tude in the strike on the iron range, a little over a year 1go, showed very plainly where he stood in his rela- tions with the greatest trust in Minnesota. Mr. Wright is certainly in great distress, if he must call on the Itasca backers of Mr. Thwing for support in the last days of the cam- paign. Such interests can but injure the standing which Mr. Wright enjoyed prior to tke primaries and which won for him the nomination. Chairmaa Mack, of the democratic national committee, predicts that Bryan will be elected president, and claims 301 electoral votes for the “Peerless Leader.” He says that the south is still “solid” for democracy; and claims that New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, South Dakota and several other states will desert the republicans. Someone should arouse Mack; he’s talking in his sleep, again. The “double-cross” artist is the man who puts politics into disrep- ute. The man who will assure a candidate for office that he has his heartiest support, while he is at the same time doing everything possible for the candidate’s opponent, is about the dirtiest cur in the cate- gory of mean things. There are several of this kind of political shys- ters in Northern Minnesota, and a few of them will get “what is coming to them,” after November 3rd. SAILORS ALLOWED ASHORE Cholera Situation at Manila Is Greatly Improved. Manila, Oct. 2/—Following an ex- emination of conditions in Manila by a special medical board, which has been dealing with the cholera situa- tion, Rear Admiral G. B. Harber, com- manding the cruiser squadron, for the first time in many weeks granted the men of the warships shore liberty. The sailors and marines are forbidden to enter the shacks of the natives, instructed to avoid the Tondo district, Where the epidemic has created the greatest ravages, and warned to take the precantions about food and drink usval under such circumstances. Hun- dreds of sailors are ashore under the new regulations. The dragnet of the board of health ORGANIZED LABOR SUPPORTS TAFT, Majority of the Real Leaders and Workers Will Vote for Their Real Friends. No Longer Any Doubt But That Taft Will Get the Majority of Labor Votes Despite the Unscrupulous Fight Made by Gompers in Behalf ot the Democratic Bosses. Leaders of organized libor are op: posed to. Samuel Gompers In his efforts to deliver the labor vote to Bryan, and there is every indication thatTaft will get the votes of most laboring men. At least three of the most influential vice- presidents of the American Federation of Labor evidently disagree with Gom- pers. One of the men who called on Presi- dent Roosevelt recently gave assurance that John Mitchell is not for Bryan, as Intimated in a telegram alleged to be from him published in the last two days. He declared on authority, said to be that of Mr. Mitchell himself, that the noted labor leader did not write any telegram putting himself in the Bryan column. The telegram is said to be a fabrication. James Duncan, first vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, next in authority to Gompers and a man of great Influence in the organization, has written a letter to Willis Moore, chief of the weather bureau, pointedly an- tagonizing the attitude of Mr. Gompers and asserting that each Individual should be allowed to vote without pres- sure from any one. Daniel Keefe, sixth vice-president of the federation and president of the Longshoremen’s union, is out for Taft and working hard for him. Keefe ad- vises labor people to vote for Taft. Thus three of the six vice-presidents under Mr. Gompers are either supporting Taft or are opposing any plan that will place the organization as a body against the Republican nominee. Mr. Keefe sald recently: “Bryan has not been indorsed for president by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor. Neither has any one the right to criti- cise a union man for voting for any “other candidate for president. In fact I will vote for Taft.” Taft’s True Attitude Understood. The Labor World of Pittsburg says: “Every day it is becoming more and more apparent that the more the ‘labor’ record of Judge Taft is discussed the more does the fact shine forth that he is a real friend of labor. The truth has always been recognized by the in- telligent and fair-minded teade union leaders and officials, many of whom have the courage to stand boldly out and dectare themselves to this effect despite the fact that undue pressure is being exercised to subdue such declara- tion.” The United Mine Workers of Amer- fca, the strongest organization numer- fcally in the country, will not be bound by the political program of the Amer- ican Federation of Labor, to support Bryan and the Democratic platform. In an official circular issued by T. L. Lewis, international president of the union, to the 300,000 members, he says the membership has intelligence enough to know how to vote without any ad- vice from him and he will do nothing to influence their political preferences in any way. “Publie Beggar” Story Conilrmed. A campaign sensation was sprung at Wheeling, West Virginii, at a Repub- lican rally when Honorable M. M. Gar- land of Pittsburg, former president of the Amalgamated Assoclation, declarad he was present when William Jennings Bryan stigmatized union labor leaders as “beggars” and labor unions as “nuis- ances” in 1803, when the Ways and Means Committee of the National House of Representatives was consid- ering the original Wilson tariff bill. William R. Fairley, of Alabama, for the last ten years a member of the ex- ecutive board of the United Mine Work- ers, has come out with the statement that it was the duty of laboring men to vote for Taft and Sherman. His stand is a practical repudlation of the leadership of Samuel Gompers, and ad- ditional evidence that the attempt of Gompers to “deliver” the labor vote to Bryan is a dismal failure. Among the well-known trade union- ists of Pennsylvania is George W. Boyd of the® Structural Ironworkers’ Union. He is fearless in the declara- tion of his opinion and is always guid- ed by what he absolutely believes to be the truth. He is a bellever in W. . Taft as a friend of labor. Prominent Chicagoan Defles Gompers In the Piano, Organ and Musical In- strument Workers' Official Journal Charles Dold, the editor, who was for- merly president of the Chicago Federa- tlon of Labor, bitterly assails Samuel Gompers for his effort to deliver the union labor vote in this campaign. He criticizes in particular a circular issued by the esecutive council of the Ameri- can Federatlon of Labor, asking the ‘wage-earners to contribute to the Dem- ocratic campaign fund. Two quotations. from the editorial are sufficient to show what is thought of Gompers’ effort: “We have searched diligantly fes some act or deed of the Uemocratia party justifying labor’s support, but have been unable to find one. “The most deplorable working con- dition in the United States, the lowest wages, the greatest illiteracy, are all to be found there under the Democratic regime of the ‘Solid South’ And the ‘Solid South’ controls the Democratic party.” On behalf of the International Broth- erhood of Painters, Decorators and Pdper Hangers a statement has been is- publicly choseti to -ASsociate -AImsel? with men with whose unsavory past he is quite familiar.” i The Alton (Ill.) Glassblowers’ union, the largest union in the American Bottle Blowers’ assoclation, has repudiated in- terference by Samuel Gompers, who ad- vised the union to Indorse Bryan for President, and summarily lald on the table the communication from President Gompers at their business meeting. The president of Highland lodge, Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers, of Terre Haute, Ind,, sald his organiza- tion cannot join in partisan politics, acd that It also turned down an appeal from Gompers sent from American federation headquarters for a contribution to the Democratic campaign fund. Minnesota and Iowa for Taft: Bryan is not to receive the solid labor vote of Minnesota. Contrary to the re- peated predictions and efforts of Demo- cratic labor leaders there appears to be a big split in the ranks of organized labor, and Taft will recelve his due share of votes from the union men. Fifteen of the most prominent union men in Minneapolis have signed a eir- cular letter declaring they take ex- ception to the methods used by the Bryan element of the organizations, and many believe the labor men of the State will exercise their individwal wills when voting and will cast their ballots for the Republican nominee. There is every reason to believe that a movement has set in among the la- boring classes of Iowa, the workers In the large industrial communities, towards Taft and the Republican ticket. Not only are the labor leaders who early in the campaign were advocating the election of Bryan less active in the support of the Democratic ticket, but many men less prominent but no less influential in the councils of the vari- ous labor organizations are openly counseling a more rigid scrutiny of party promises and records. August A. Bablitz, secretary of the Central Labor Union of Lexington, K: urges his fellows to vote the Republi- can ticket in order to insure a conm- tinuation of prosperity. DEMOGRATS CANNOT SUPPORT BRYAN Leaders in the Party All Over the Ceuntry Quit the Nebraskan Office-Seeker and Come Out for Taft, ‘Whipped Into Line and Organize to Fight the Man Who Disrupted the Party—Solid South Shows Bigns of Breaking Up. One of the best indicatlons that the Taft and Sherman ticket will sweep the country in November is found in the continued numerous defections of here- tofore prominent Democrats from that a reason that they canmot support the thrice offered candidate and his change- able and unstable theories of govern- ment. They simply cannot bring them- selves to be identified with Bryan. Perhaps the most mortifying incl- dents which the Democrats have expe- rienced in the present campaign were in Massachusetts, where two big men named as Democratic presidential elec- tors declined to serve on the groumd that they were unable to support Mr. Bryan and greatly preferred Mr. Taft. These men wereFerdinand Strauss and C. H. P. Gould, of Lyons Falls, both business men of the first rank. Mr. Strauss, especially, has been prominent in the Massachusetts Democracy for & long time. Their declination to serve as Bryan electors caused a sensation in the old Bay State and throughout the country. Democratic Congressmam for Taft Eugene Walter Leake, Democratic “Cleveland Democrats” Refuse to Be ! party. Practically all of them give as | Repredentative To Congress from NeWw Jersey, called at Republican National Committee headquarters early this month to offer his services on the stump for Willlam H. Taft. Though he has been a stanch Democrat all his life, he 18 bitterly opposed to William Jennings Bryan and because he believes that the election of Bryan to the -Presidency would mean the greatest calamity to the country since the clvil -war, he is ready to-exert himself to the utmost to ald the electlon of Judge Taft. He is speaking at Republican rallles through- out the Eastern States. Democrats Organise to Fight Bryan. That the sentiments felt by these men are shared by many in New York is shown in the organization of the “Cleve- land Democracy,” an association whose principles are sati-Bryan, and which bas been formed, according to the arti- cles of incorporation, “to revive the true spirit of Democracy among the voters of Harlem and of the whole city.” Headquarters have been opened and the elub is doing active work, not, it is al- most unnecessary to say, in the inter- ests of the continuous Nebraska office- seeker. John R. Dos Passos, a leading New York lawyer and author, who has al- ways been a Democrat, has come out in a long statement announcing his al- logiance to Taft and denouncing Bryan- ism and the remnants of the party which Bryan controls. “I am a Democrat,” he says, “I expect to cast my vote for Mr. Taft” William B. Davenport, a well- known Brooklyn Democrat, for many years Public Administrator of Kings County, has denounced the Democratic platform and is now a vice president of the Taft-Sherman Lawyers’ Club. Ant{-Bryan Sentiment Widespread. Former Special City Judge Irving K. Baxter, of Utica, N. Y., who has always been a Democrat, and was elected on that ticket, not only has re- pudiated Bryan, but will* take the stump and advocate the election of Taft and Sherman. Even up in Maine, where the members of the Democratic minority are supposed to be hopelessly bidebound, there is defection. W. H. McLaughlin, of Scarboro, for instance, announces that he has become so dis- - gusted with Bryan In the Haskell con- troversy that he has swung over to the Republican party. After hearing Judge Taft speak at St. Louis, J. D. Houseman, of Denver, Colo., & well-known railroad builder, announced his conversion to the Re- publican party and its candidates. Mr. Houseman had been a loyal Democrat for many years. This incident of course, s a direct tribute to Judge Taft's powers as a campaigner, of which many evidences were produced on his now famous western trip. “Conversfons” in the West. At St. Joseph, Mo., one of the feat- ures was the ‘“conversion” of W. F. Davis, a prominent Democrat, who went to & meeting at the stock yards to see Mr. Taft. After sizing up the latter Mr. Davis declared: “1 thought I would vote for Mr. Bryan, but this man surely looks good to me.” Another Missouri Democrat, B. B. Huywood, a Buyi-é¥graRallroad con- ductor of St. Louis, evidently was similarly impressed; at any rate, he has announced that Taft will get his vole. Notlceable among the vice presi- dents at the Taft reception at St. Louis were James H. Smith, head of the St. Louls Business Men's League, and Frederick N. Judson, well-known lawyer. both Democrats who have de- clared their intention of supporting Taft. Some readers will remember that in 1900 Webster Dav, former mayor of Kansas Olty, and assistant secretary of the interior under McKinley, bolted McKinley to take the stump for Bryan. Well, Webb Davis now lives in Los Angeles, and 18 back In the Republican fold, this time to stay, he declares. He says Taft is going to win and he 18 boosting him all he can. In Chicago the Business Men's Taft and Sherman Club has been doing #trong work in the campaign. Twe of the organizers of the club were for- mer Democrats. They are Franklin MacVeagh, wholesale grocer, and Frank H. Jones, secretary of the American Trust and Savings Bank. qualities of Rexall ¢ irritation, ~eradicate roots, stop fal Hair Tonic at our risk. 1anded but. one cholera suspect. sued, saying “a man is known by the company he keeps, and Mr. Bryan has “93” HAIR TONIC )} is so strong that we promise to return your money—without question or quibble— if it does not do what we claim it will. R Because it contains Resorcin, Beta Napthol, Pilocarpin, Borax, Glycerin and Alcohol in perfect combination, Rexall "93" Hair Tonic provides the softening, cleansing, antiseptic, germicidal, stimulating and nourishing properties, so desira- ble and necessary for the successful treatment of scalp and hair troubles. If used according to directions for a reasonable length of time, we are absolutely positive that it will thoroughly cleanse the scalp and hair, relieve dandruff, stimulate the hair follicles and papilla, revitalize and nourish the hair ling hair, prevent baldness, promote hair growth and make the hairnaturally soft and silky. You must realize that we would not dare back up our claims with such a liberal offer unless we were positive that we can substantiate our statements in every particular, an skeptical person should at least be willing to try Rexall 93" Barker’s Drug Store "93" Hair Tonic / 57/ i 7 the most STONE'S REPLY-TO HEARST Former Governor Denies Being Influ- enced by Archbold. Pittsburg, Oct. 23—Denying posi- Uvely that he had been -influenced. in any manner by the Standard Oil com- pany in appointing Judge Morrison and declaring that he did not appoint Judge Henderson former Governor ‘William A. Stone gave out a statement in which he says: “The drafts sent to Mr. Elkin, if sent te him, were sent while he was either chairman of the. Republican state committse or a member of the finance committee. It was mnot im- proper for him to receive contribu- tlons for campaign expenses. “f do not personally know Mr. Hearst. I know J. D. Archbold well enough to believe that he would be incapablo of bribing an employe to steal the private letters of Mr. Hearst or any one else and publisb them, or that he would buy them, knowing them to have been stolen. Hunger, fear, intoxication and insan- ity may go far to excuse crime, but politics never.” Leaders Sentenced to Death. El Paso, Tex., Oct. 2".—After trial at Torreon, Mex., Lugo and Nobledo, leaders of the Mexican revolutionists who raided the town of Viescas, in Mexico, last June, have been sen- tenced to be shot and twelve accom- plices each sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary. “My views are well known!” shouts Mr. Bryan. Will the gentleman kindly glve the vintage—1896, 1900 or 1908? Proposed Amendments —T0 THE— Constitution —OF— Minnesota —BY— TheLegislature General Session, 1907. St. Paul, Minn., May 1st, 1908. Hon. Julius A. Schmahl, Secretary of State— Sir: As required by Section 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 1896), whigh sections now read as follows: “Section 1. All taxes to be raised in this state shall be as nearly equal 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 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- 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 mere, to levy an annual tax or assessment upon the lineal foot of all lands fronting on any water main or water pipe lald by such city or municipality ~within cor- porate limlts 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 collected a tax upon all inher- Itances, devises, bequests, legacies 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. “Shetion 2. The legislature shall pro- vide for an annual tax sufficlent 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 year shall exceed the income of the state for such year the leglslature shall provide for levying a tax for the ensuing year sufficient, with dther sources of income, to pay the deficiericy of the preceding year, together with the estimated expenses of such ensulng year. But no law levying a tax or making other provisions for the payment of interest or principal 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. “Section 3. Laws shall be passed tax- ing all moneys, credits, investments in bonds, stocks, joint stock companies, or otherwise, also all real and personal property, according to its true value in money; but public burying grounds, pub- lc ,school houses, _public - hospitals, sedepyigs colleges. universities, god-all | poses, or u‘hflfltg, c;menr‘hrc hds, urch erty used for religious pur- S 3,53" ‘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. “Sectfon 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- 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 individual, or otherwise, of any and 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; also upon the property within this state of all express companies, or owners, or any or elther of the same, doing business in this state; also upon the property within this state of all domestic insurance com- panles of this state of any kind; also upon the property within this state of any and all foreign insurance companies doing o83 in this state of any kind; also upon the property within this state of aV 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 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 amy of such companies or owners,—a tax as uniform as reasonably may be with the taxes im- posed upon similar property in said state, or upon the carnings 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 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 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 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 contained shall operate to authorize the assessment or taxation of any farm land or ordinary basiness blocks or property owned by any such corporation, persom, 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 charity, and public propetty 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 benefited thereby without regard to a cash valua- tion, and nothing hereln 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, 50 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 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 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 fs 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 st That Is the duty of the legislature without any constitutional direction. Section three (3) as It now stands pro- Sldes that all real and personal property, including MONEYS, CREDITS and IN- VESTMENTS IN BONDS AND STOCKS, shall be assessed according to their trus value in money. Sectlon 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 s only a repetition of the requirements of Sec- tlons 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 threo (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 gro: earnings taxes; municipal frontage taxe: 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 Constitutlon Is necessary to authorize the Imposition of the taxes necessary for the support of the state and Its various polit- lcal subdivisions. The power of taxation s 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 pubilc Ppurposes and shall be uniform on the same class of subjects. Should this amendment be adopted all property of very Kind In the state would be subject to taxatlon, according to the method the legisiature 'saw fit to adopt, provided only that the tax was levied for a llc purpose and was uniform on the class of subjects. Under this amend. ment every tax faw we now have on the statue books would continue to because under this amendment tions on the power of the legisiature ‘would be taken away. The adoption of this amendment would, as Indicated, repeal the so-calied inherit. ance tax amendment, and the gross earn- Ings tax amendment adopted in 1896, as contained In sald Section seventeen (17), but In their place this amendment would give the _lsgisiature greater authority. Under: this amendment ‘the to Im- Bese Inheritance taxcs ml:rw uL"m’l'i- -~ 4 be Imposed, notably an income €d, ana any form G gioed eaThinds 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 x, a ton- nage tax on iron ore and a rec'-iry tax on mortgages. Under the presca. Corstitus 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 all sul Jects of taxation to have a cash valu tion with the tax equalized throughout the state, no proper Income tax could Iimposed. SECOND PROPOSED Al DMENT. . The second proposed ~amendment Is contained In Chapter 478 of the Laws of Minnesota for the year 1007. By this amendment it Is sought to repeal Section sixteen (16) of Article nine (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 provided. “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- Ppensation 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 re- 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 evpended during such year; and, providea 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 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 vs and bridges, there is hereby ted a fund to be known as _the tc Rond 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, «nd shall also include all funds accruing to any state road and bridge fund, however provided. “The legislature is authorized 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 bridg therein, and In so far removes the limita- tion which now exists in the Constitution, whereby the legislature s 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 officerentrusted by law with similar du- ies. Finally, this amendment removes ths timitation which ncw exists In the Con- stitution 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 legls- 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 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 section: “Section 17. The legislature may pro- vide for the payment by the State ot Minnesota of damages to growing crops by hail and wiad, 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 pzyment shall be made of any such damages except from the fund 5o provided.” The purpose and effect of this amend- ment Is to authorize the legislature 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 hall 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 ther 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 nccessary. 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 hall or wind wlli 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 able. FOURTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The fourth proposed amendment is cons tained in Chapter 480 of the laws of Min. nesota for the year 1907. By this amend.« ment it Is sought to repeal the provisions of Section seven (7) of Article seven (7) of the Constitution, which section now reads as follows: “Bvery person who by the provisions of this article shall be entitled to vote at any clectfon shall be eligible to any office Wwhich 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 by the provisions of this article shall be entitled to vote at any electicn shall be eligible to any offica which now is, or hereafier shall be, elece tive by the people in the district wherein be shall have resided thirty days previous to such election, except county super- Intendents of schools, who shall be re- quired to have educational qualifications o be determined by the legislature, and except as otherwise provided in this Con- stitution, or the Constitution and laws of the Tnited States.” The purpose and effect of this amend- ment Is to authorize the legislature to re- qulre educational qualifications, In addl. tlon to all the other qualifications now quired by law, for any person seeking the office of county superintendent of school As the Constitution ncw stands any legal voter Is eligible to the office of county superintedent of schools. The foregoing four proposed amend- ments constitute all the arendments pro- posed for adoption at the ensuing General lection. ours respectfully, EDWARD T. YOUNG, Attorney General. 1 4 | S