Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 22, 1910, Page 7

Aot Proposed Amendments —TO THE— - Constitution Minnesota The Legislature General Session 1909. St. Paul, Minn, May 1, 1910. Hon. Jullus A. Schmahl, Secretary of State— Sirs As required by Section 25 of the Revised Laws ns nmended, I have the honor to furnish you herewith a state- ment of the purposes and effects of the respective nmendments proposed to the Constitution of the State of Minnesota by the Legislature of 1909 and which ave to be submitted to the eclectors in sald state at the general election in 1910, FIRST PROPOSED AMEND:- | MENT. The first proposed amendment is con- tained In Chapter 506 of the Laws of Minnesota for the year 1909. PURPOSE. By this amendment it is sought to authorize the payment by the State from the State Road and Bridge Fund of one-half of the cost of con- structing or improving any road or bridge therein, and iy an amendment of Section 16 of Article 9 of the Con- stitution, which now reads as follows: “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, how- ever 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 its 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- ceive in any year more than three (3) 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-third (3) 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 its discretion, for an anmual 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 ¢ase shall more than one-half (%) of the cost of constructing or improving eny road or bridge be pald by the state from such fund.” EFFECT. The present Constitutiom authorizes the payment by the State, out of such fund so created of ONE- THIRD (1-3) of the cost of eonstructing or improving any road or bridge there- dn, If this amendment is adopted the State could then pay ONE-HALF (%) of the cost of constructing any such road or bridge, and the effect of the amend- ment is thus to increase the amount which the State may lawfully pay te= ward such purpose. SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The second proposed amendment fs eontained in Chapter 507 of the Lawrs of Minnesota for the year 1909. PURPOSH. By this amendment it fs proposed te repeal the provisions ef Section 11 of Article IX of the Com- stitation, whish section mow reads as tollows: “Section 11 There shall be published By the treasurer. in at least one news- PSS (U e i 1t | the { tion. | provide for the payment, by the State i ing effect to | specific tax upon lands, the owners of paper printed at the seat of govern- ment, during the first w.ek in Jan- uary of each year, and in the next volume of the acts of the legislature, detailed statements of all moneys drawn from the trsasury 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 treasurer 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 whom paid and the purposes for which it was expended. It also re- quires a like statement 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 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 treasurer from such publica- This change in the Constitution, however, would not prevent the legisla- ture from hereafter directing by law that such, or n different publication, of the same or other information should be made by the Treasurer. THIRD PROPOSED AMEND- MENT. The third proposed amendment is contained in Chapter 505 of the Laws of Minnesota for the year 1900. PURPOSE. By this amendment it is proposed to add an entirely mew sec- tion to Article IX of the Constitution, to be known as Sectiom 17, and which | shall read as follows: “Section 17. The legislature may of Minnesota, of damages to growing crops by hail and wind, or either. and to provide a fund for that purpose, in- cluding the necessary expenses of giv- this act. may impose a 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 efiect of this Amend- ment, if adopted, will be to authorize | the State to become a trustee In the collection nnd disbursement of a fund for the payment of damares to grow- ing crops by hail or wind, or either. This fund is to be created and main- | tained by a specific tax imposed by the | legislature upon the iands of such per- sons, 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 nny owner who does not consent thereto. The legisla- ture is also authorized to include 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 be used to levy and collect the tnx necessary to raive 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 liability beyond the amount of such fund, and could not further be ren- dered linble. A similar amendment was offered at the general election of 1908, but not adopted. The amendment then offered 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 vind, 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 ome last quoted, being that the legislature 1% now to be authorized, in addition to providing a fund for the purpose of paying damnges to growing crops by hafl and wind, or either, to turther provide an additional tax upon tbe lands of the persons so listing the same, to meet the necessary expenses incurred 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 fis contained in Chapter 509, General Laws of Minnesota for the year 1909. PURPOSE. By this amendment it is sought 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- gressional senatorial and reoresenta- 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 25. 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 i disburse the money 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 legislature to provide for a census of the inhab- itants of the State in the year 1915, and every tenth year thereafter, and will also authorize the legislature to ehange the boundaries of eongressional, senatorial and representative districts, or of any ome of such districts, and to apportion anew the semators 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 wsuch districts and apportion amew the senators and representatives and thus redistrict the State every twe Fears. FIFTH PROPOSED AMEND- MENT. The fifth proposed ameadment is com= tained in Chapter 510, Laws of Minne- seta for the year 1909. PURPOSE. By this amendment it is sought to add an entirely new sectiom to Artlicle IX of the Comstitution, 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 publis 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- quiring or developing forestry land. “Until otherwise directed by the leg- islature, which may supplement these provisions with necessary enactments, the state forestry board shall draw and 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 nmend- 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 this amendment is to COMPEL the taxing oflicers 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 nrice not to exceed $3 per mcre. All unexpired balances 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 so 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 i 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- pose than the production of timber, authority is contained in this amend- ment to sell it, but the proceeds 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 lands purchased must be approved by the Attorney General before purchase is made. It is further provided that two successive regular legislatures shall have power by a two-thirds vote of each house to repenl any of the fore- going provisions. That is to say, if after a trial, such plan for any reason is found to be impracticable or unde- sirable, and it so appears to two suc- cessive legislatures, any or all of the foregoing provisions of the amendment may be repealed. The legislature does not now possess such power and the same is a distinct change in the meth- ods heretofore in vogue In Minnesota, | in the making and revising of the Con- stitution. Heretofore am amendment might only be made to the Constitution or a provision of that instrument elim- fnated 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, as 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 neceasity 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 mew sec- tion to Article IX of the Constitution to be known as Section 17a, and which shall read as 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 te enact laws exempting from taxatiom lands of private persons to be used in the planting, cultivation and protectiom of useful forest trees thereom, and thus supplement where the lands of such private persons are devoted to refor- entratiom, 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 state. If the legislature does not pass such lavs, such lands will not be exempt and the power to repeal such a law, when msted, remains with the legislature. Power to pass a law to exempt such lands from taxation the legislature does mot mow possess, and it is, theres fere, an additional grant of power. Yours respectfully, GEORGE T. SIMPSON, . iy SEIEN Attorney General v e —_— 8t. Paul, May 1, 1910, My, Julius A. 8chmahl, Becretary of State. Dear Sir:—Referring to_proposed Come stitutional Amendment No. 8 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=- rely superfluous. The extensive annual ublication “in a daily newspaper pub- lshed at the capital city” attracts abe solutely no attention. 'he annual re- r:n of the state treasurer is published book form, and to an extent that makes it easy for every person speciale 1y concerned to secure & copy. To cone form strictly with the law as it is at present, means the expenditure, under reasonably favorable printing contracts, of approximately $8,000, & sum which can be used to excellent advantage une der conditions which ordinarily suggest the greatest care and esonomy upon th part of those under whose direstion d printing fund is expen Yours respectfully, J. . MANNIX, ____ State Expert Printes, Bringing Her Round. { Bingo (tiptoeing into his wife’s room, in a whisper)—I've brought three friends home to dinner unexpectedly. Mrs. Bingo (aghast)—What! Bingo—Yes, 1 have. They’re down stairs. Mrs. Bingo—You wretch! Bingo—Now, my dear, I couldn’t get | out of it. Mrs. Bingo (haughtily)—Then you’ll bave to take the consequences. Bingo—But— Mrs. Bingo—You’ll have to put up with practically nothing. .Bingo—That’s what 1 told them. Mrs. Bingo—You did? Bingo—Yes. 1 told them that they needn't expect a single thing: that we’d scrape round in the kitchen if necessary and pick up whatever we could and that, as 1 hadn’t let you | know. that was the best we could do. Mrs. Bingo—What did you tell them that for? Bingo—It’s the truth, isn't it? Mrs. Bingo—Certainly not. As if it makes any difference to me how many friends you bring home! I'll show you!—London Tit-Bits. The White of an Egg. The white of an egg is made up of little cells filled with albumen. By bearing the. white these cells are rup- tured and oxygen from the air is in- closed, which gives the white and light appearance to beaten eggs. The white of a stale egg will not inclose as much oxygen, will not be as light and as easily digested as that of the fresh egg and. of course, less valuable. The importance of beating the egg in cold, pure air is readily seen. Complete Lives. We should all strive to make our lives complete. any people only half live. Health without usefulness, intel- lect without unselfishness, pleasure without duty—these are incomplete and _ unsatisfying elements of living. d v JUDGE C. W. STANTON How They Do It. ( In a botel in a certain city is the . P \Non-Partisan Candidate for Judge Fifteenth Judicial District following notice: “Boarders "are taken by the day, week or month. Those who do not pay promptly are taken by the neck.” —Lippincort’s. e “ONE WORD IN TIME SAVES NINE” You can fool all the people “some of the time,” but you can’t fool all the people all the time “so beware” when you buy “High-Art” Suit or Overcoat you are not buying the e label only--but you are in the safe de- posit vault of Integ- rity. The makers’ “bond” their fabrics, linings, trimmings and tailoring with honor. of Our “High-Art” Suits mir- ~ ror the ruling styles and fore- shadow the coming ones. Steal a peep at the “High- Art” Overcoats! they’re the boxiest and foxiest Coats both for youngsters and oldsters. “High-Art” Suits and Over- coats $18 to $30. There’isfa pleasant surprise in store_for the'men who have not seen ‘our $10, $12 and $15 worsted Suits. COPYRIGHT 1910 ‘STRB(LUSE & BROS. LTIMORE Honest Goods at Honest Prices Madson Odegard & Go. “One-Price Clothiers” BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA Home of Satlsfaction A Square Deal to All