Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 14, 1910, Page 7

i s } " Constitution 1 L . fmachd _— e Proposed Amendmeuts —TO0 THE— —OF— Minnesota __BY._ The Legislature General Session 1909. St. Paul, Minn, May 1, 1910. Hon. Julius A. Schmahl, Secretary of State— Sir: As required by Section 25 of the Revised Laws ns amended, I have the honor to furnish you herewith n state- ment of the purposes and effects of the respective nmendments proposed to the Constitution of the State of Minnesotn by the Legislature of 1909 and which are to be submitted to the electors in sald state at the genmeral election in 1910, FIRST PROPOSED AMEND:- | MENT. The first proposed amendment is con- stitution. which now reads as follows: “Section 16. IFor the purpose of lend- ing aid in the construction and im- provement 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 income derived from investments in the in- ternal 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, how- ever provided. “The legislature is authorized to add to such fund, for the purpose of con- and s in | levy not %4) erty re- 3) per cent or less than one-half (1) of one (1) per cent of the total fund thus provided and expended during such year; and provided further, that in no case shall more than one-third (%) of the cost of constructing 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 im- provement 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 income derived from Investments in the in- ternal 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 con- structing or improving roads and bridges of this state, by providing, in 1t discretion, for an annual tax levy upon the property of this state of not to exceed In any year one-fourth (%) of one mill on all the taxable property within the state. PROVIDED, that no county shall re- celve in any year more than three (8) per cent or less than one-half (%) of one (1) per cent of the total fund thus provided and expended during such year; and provided, further, that in no case shall more than one-half (%) of the cost of constructing or improving any road or bridge be paid by the state from such fund.” EFFECT. The present Constitution authorizes the payment by the State, out of such fund so created of ONE- THIRD (1-3) of the cost of constructing or improving any road or bridge there= dn. If this amendment is adopted the State could then pay ONE-HALF (%) of the cost of constructimg any such road or bridge, and the effect of the amend- ment is thus to increase the amount ‘which the State may lawfully pay to- ward such purpose. SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The second proposed amendment fs contained in Chapter 507 of the Lawws ©f Minnesota for the year 1909, PURPOSE. By this amendment it s proposed te repeal the provisions of Section 11 of ele IX of the Com- stitution, wi section mow reads as follows “Section 1L There shall be published by the treasurer, in at least one news- paper printed at the seat of govern- ment, during the first w.ek in Jan- uary of each year, and in the mnext volume of the acts of the legislature, detailed statements of all moneys drawn from the trzasury during the preceding year, for what purposes and to whom paid, and by what law au- thorized; and also of all moneys re- ceived, and by what authority and from whom.” EFFECT. The Constitution requires the trensurer to publish yearly a de- tailed statement of the moneys drawn from the treasury during the preced- ing year, giving the names of the per- sons to om paid and the purposes for which it was expended. It also re- quires a like sintement of the names of the persons, and the sources, as to money received, and in both cases a statement of the law under which pay- ments were made, or money paid into | the treasury. The effect of this Amendment, if the same be adopted, will be to repeal the section of the Constitution mentioned and insofar re- lieve the trensurer from such publica- tlon. This change in the Constitution, however, would not prevent the legisla= ture from hereatier alrecting-by law that such, or a different publication, of the same or other Information should be made by the Treasurer. THIRD PROPOSED AMEND- MENT. The third proposed amendment Is cortained in Chapter 565 of the Laws of Minnesota for th: year 1909. PURPOSE. By this amendment it is proposed to add an entirely new sec- tion to Article IX of the Constitution, to be known as Section 17, und which shall read as follows: “Section 17. The legislature may provide for the payment, by the State of Minnesota, of damages to growing | crops by hail and wind, or elther, and to provide a fund for that purpose, in- cluding the necessary expenses of giv- ing effect to this act. may impose a specific tax upon lands, the owners of which, at their opt.on, 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.” EFFECT. The effect of this Amend- ment, if adopted, will be o nuthorize the State to become a trustee in the collection nnd disbursxement of a fund for the payment of damares to grows- ing crops by hail or wind, or either. This fund is to be created and main- tained by a specific tax imposed by the legisxlature upon the lands of such per- sonx, ONLY, as shall voluntarily list the | same with their respective county au- ditors for that purpose. Under it there could be no tax for such purpose im- posed on the lands of any owner who does not consent thereto. The legisla- ture is also authorized to imclude in such fund the necessary expenses of administration of the law. The adop- tion of the amendment will authorize the legislature to direct that the tax= ing machinery of the state bé used to levy nnd collect the tax necessary to raise such fund and to provide for the disbursement of same by the officers of the State; but any payments to be made by the State, by reason of dam- age by hail or wind will have to be made from such fund and from no other. In the settlement of any such damages the State would assume no linbility beyond the amount of such fund, and could not further be rem- dered liable. A similar amendment was offered at the general election of 1908, but not adopted. The amendment then offered read as follow. “Section 17. The legislature may provide for the payment by the State of Minnesota of damages to growing crops by hail and v.ind, or either, and to provide a fund for that purpose, may impose a specific tax upon lands, the owners 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 main difference between the amendment now offered, and the one last quoted, being that the legislature is now to be authorized, in addition to providing n fund for the purpose of paying dnmages to growing crops by hafl nnd wind, or either, to further provide an additional tax upon fbe lands of the persons ' so listing the same, to meet the necessary expenses tncurred In the administration of the law and thus relleve the State there- from. This last provision was not in- cluded In the amendment offered in 1908, FOURTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The fourth proposed Amendment fs contained in Chapter 509, General Laws of Minnesota for the year 1909. PURPOSE. By this amendment It is msought to repeal Section 23 of Article IV of the Constitution, which section mow reads as follows: “Section 23. The legislature shall provide by law for an enumeration of the inhabitants of this State in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and every tenth year there- after. At their first session after each enumeration so made, and also at their first session after each enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the legislature shall have the power to prescribe the bounds of con- Bressional senatorial and renresenta- tive districts, and to apportion anew the senators and representatives among the several districts according to the provisions of section second of this article.” and to substitute therefor the follow= ing: “Section 23. The legislature shall provide by law for enumeration of the inhabitants of this State in the year 1915, and every ten (10) years there- after. At any session after any enu- meration of the inhabitants of this state made pursuant to law and also at any session after each enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the legislature shall have the power to prescribe the bounds of con- gressional, senatorial and representa- tive districts, or any of the same, and to apportion anew the senators and representatives among the several dis- tricts according to the provisions of section 2 of this article.” EFFECT. The effect of this Amend- ment will be to direct the leglslature to provide for a census of the inhabe itants of the State in the year 191 and every tenth year thereafter, an will also authorize the legislature to change the boundaries of congressional, senatorial and représentative districts, or of any ome of such districts, and to apportion anew the senators and rep- resentatives among the several dis- tricts, at any session after any State or Federal census. If adopted, the legis- lature might therefore, if it deems best, change at any session the bound- aries of such districts and apportion mmew the senators and representatives and thus redistrict the State every twe Fears. FIFTH PROPOSED AMEND- MENT. The fifth proposed amemdment is eon~ fained in Chapter 510, Laws of Minme- seta for the year 1908. PURPOSE. By this amentment it is 1" sought to add an entirely new section to Aruicle IX of the Coustitution, to be known as Section 18, and which shall read as follows: “Section 18. To secure a sustained yield of timber for the use of the peo- ple of this state, the proper officials shall annually- levy and collect a tax of one-fifteenth of one mill on each dollar of taxable property within this state, the proceeds of which shall be used for the purchase of land better adapted for forestry purposes than for agriculture for the state at not over $3.00 per acre, and for the production and maintenance thereon of forest ac- cording to forestry principles. “Unexpended balances shall not lapse but constitute a fund for forestry pur- poses. “The timber produced thereon shall be sold at a fair valuation and the rev=- enue therefrom or from other source shall be paid into the state treasury, except that one-quarter of the net rev- enue shall be paid to the towns, or if unorganized, to the county, in which the land is situated, in aid of public schools and roads. “Should any tract acquired be found better adapted for any other purpose than the production of timber, it may be sold and the proceeds used for ac- g or developing forestry land. “Until otherwise directed by the leg- islal..e, which may supplement these provisions with necessary enactments, the state forestry board shall draw and disburse the money hereby provided and purchase, manage and control the lands and forests. “No money shall be paid for any tract until the attorney general shall certify to the validity of the title. “It shall be competent for two suc- cessive regular legislatures, by a two- thirds vote of each house, to repeal any of these provisions.” EFFECT. This proposed amend- ment, and the proposed amendment hereafter mentioned should be read to- gether. They constitute the founda- tion for a plan of State reforestration. As the constitution stands today. while the legislature might pass laws pro- viding funds to be used for the pur- chase of lands, and the cultivation of the same for reforestration purposes, yet it is mot directed to do so. The effect then of thix amendment is to COMPEL the taxing ofticers of the state to annually levy and collect a tax of one-fifteenth of one mill on each dollar of taxable property in the state, to be used as the legislature shall direct, for the purchase for the state of land adapted to forestry purposes, but at a wrice not to exceed $3 per acre. All unexpired halances in the fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not lapse, but shall be carried over into the fund thus raised for the succeeding year and shall be an addition thereto. It also directs the sale, at a fair valuation, of the timber produced on such land =0 purchased, the payment of three- fourths of the money received there- from into the state treasury, and the payment of the remaining one-fourth to the town, if organized, or otherwise to the county in which the land is sit- uated, and that the same shall there be credited to the public school funds. If after the land is purchased it is found better adapted for any other pur- posc than the production of timber, authority is contained in this amend- ment to sell it, but the procceds must be used for acquiring or developing forestry land. Until the legislature provides otherwise, all purchases shall be under the direction of the State For- estry Board. The title to all Ilands purchased must be approved by the Attorney General before purchase is made. It is further provided that two successive regular legislatures wshall have power by a two-thirds vote of each house to repeal any of the fore- going provisions. That is to say, Iif after a trial, such plan for any reason is found to be impracticable or unde- sirable, and it mo appears to two suc- cessive legislatures, any or all of the foregoing provisions of the amendment may be repealed. The legislature does not mow possess such power and the same is a distinet change In the meth- ods heretofore in vogue In Minnesota, In the making and revising of the Con- stitution. Heretofore an amendment might only be made to the Constitution or a provision of that instrument elim- inated by direct vote of the electors. Under this amendment, if it be adopt- ed, that power is not taken away and also exists. But a new power, that of repeal by the legislature, ns to this amendment, is created. Such power, however, would extend to no other pro- vision of the Constitution and affords an easy .method of change in case of necessity or advisability. SIXTH PROPOSED AMEND- MENT. The sixth proposed amendment fis contained in Chapter 511, Laws of Min- mesota for the year 1909, PURPOSE. By this amendment it is proposed to add an entirely new mec- tion to Article IX of the Constitution to be known as Section 17a, and which shall read follows: “Section 17a. .Laws may be enacted exempting lands from taxation for the purpose of encouraging and promoting the planting, cultivation and protec- tion of useful forest trees thereon.” EFFECT. The effect of this amend- ment is to authorize the legislature to enact laws exempting from taxation lands of private persons to be used in the planting, cultivation and protection of useful forest trees thereonm, and thus supplement where the lands of such private persons are devoted to refor- estration, the purposes contemplated as to public lands by the fifth proposed amendment., The authority so granted is part of a general plan for the refor- estration of land within the. i the legislature does not pa such lands will not be exempt and the power to repeal such a law, when en- mcted, remains with the legislature. Power to pass a law to exempt such lands from taxation the legislatu does not now possess, and it is, there= fore, an additional grant of power, Yours respectfully, GEORGE T. SIMPSON, Attorney General — - St. Paul, May 1, 1910, Mr. Julius A. Schmahl, Becretary of State. Dear Sir:—Referring to_proposed Cone stitutional Amendment No. 2 would say: As state expert printer I have given the publications involved in this proposed amendment special thought, and am of opinion both these publications are en= tirely superfluous. The extensive annual ruhlxcmion “in a daily newspaper pube lshed at the capital city” attracts abe solutely no attention. 'he annual ron of the state treasurer is published m book form, and to an extent that makes it easy for every person speciale 1y concerned to secure a copy. To cone form strictly with the law as it is ag present, means the expenditure, under reasonably favorable srlntlnl oontracts, of approximately $8,000, & sum whiok oan be used to excellant advantage une der. conditions which ordinarily suggest ‘”;‘rfattlf“ cn.roa and ;”‘od y upon nd art o 08¢ under whos rection gr!ntlnt fund is explndoz. Yours respectfully, J. T MANNIX, . Btate Dxpert Pristes, LAUDS THE WORK OF BEVERIDGE Roosevelt Tours Idiana in Support of Senatcr. CALLS EIM GAME FIGHTER Former President Tells Hoosiers De- feat of Present Member Would Mean Punishing a Man Who Sought to Bring His Party Abreast of the Progressive Sentiment of His State. Veedersburg, Ind.,, Oct. 14.—Theo- dore Roosevelt opened his one day campaign in Indiana for Senator Bev- eridge with an emphatic endorsement of the senator as a man who stande for what is good in American public dfe. He spoke to a large crowd at Covington and made his second ad- iress in Veedersburg. “If you defeat Senator Beveridge you defeat a man who stands for what is decent in our government,” said Colonel Roosevelt. Colonel Roosevelt also endorsed Senator Beveridge's stand in favor of a tariff commission. “I like a game fighter for the right,” isaid Colonel RooseVelt in his speech at Veedersburg. “That is why I am here to speak for Senator Beveridge. If you really believe that a public man ought to fight for the right you will send Beveridge back to the Unit- ed States senate. If Indiana votes against Beveridge it will be under- stood as punishing a man who sought to bring his party abreast of the pro- gressive sentiment of his state. “You are fighting to keep this na- tion one in which men shall serve the people honestly in public life. It is not a fight for the franchisement of a race, but for the enfranchisement of a people who are sold out by corrupt truckling men in public life.” In reference to the tariff Colonel Roosevelt said: “I am convinced that the American people are for a protective tariff which shall equalize the cost of pro- duction here and abroad.” “You have put your cause with Sen- ator Beveridge,” he continued. “I have come here to speak for him be- cause he embodies all that we stand for in our struggle for honest govern- ment.” A Big fference. “Don’t be unsernpunlous in a small way, son.” “All right, dad.” “There’s a big .difference between watering milk and stocks,”—Washing- ton Herald. All You Gan Carry. What Next! Tom Thumb. 8 cents each Scratch Pads, unruled, 2 for 5 cents. I Prang’s, 4 colors with per box Devoe’'s 4 colors, DOX. .ioossnnsisinnssmsssinssssns Paint Brushes Atlas Writing Speller, . Imperial Writing Speller Traftic pencils, 2 for . School pencils, 2 for . graynla, 8 colors . . 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