Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 24, 1916, Page 4

Proposed -~ Amend- ' ments fo the Constitution of the ~ STATEOF MINNESOTA Submitted by the Legislature at Its -; . General Session, | 1915, Together : . With a Statement 7 . of the . - PURPOSES ~ AND EFFECTS, ~ Prepared by Hon. Lyndon A. Smith, 3 ~ Attorney General | . of Minnesota. Addressed to \ o lulivs A Schmahl Secr_etary of State - - ! | OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GEN. ERAL, ST. PAUL. April 7, 1916. Honorable Julius A, Schmahl, Secretary of State, Capitol. DEAR SIR: Pursuant to your re- quest and in accordance with the pro- visions of Section 46, Statutes 1913, 1 herewith hand you statement of the purposes and effect of all amendmentt to the Constitution proposed by the legislature of 1915 and to be submite ted to the electors at the next general election; such statement also shows the =t reading of the existing sections and the way the same will read if the smendments are adopted. ‘ Yours truly, LYNDON A, SMITH, Attorney General PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 1. By Chapter 379, Laws 1915, the legis: Jature proposed for adoption by the electors, an amendment of Section Twa (2) of Article Eight of the Constitu. tion, by adding to sald Section Two a @ew paragraph. v Section Two as it mow stands reads as follows: 2. “SCHOOL AND SWAMP L ANDCSCHOOL ¥UNDS FROM SALA N OF—The proceeds of such lands as are or hereal‘t’er may be granted by the United States for the use of schooll within each’' township in this stat #hall remain a gerpetnul school fun to the state; and not more than one. z third of said landd may be sold in twe years, one-third in five years, and éne« third in ten years; but the lands of the greatest valuation shall be sol first: Provided, that no portion of sai Jands shall be sold otherwise tha public sale. The principal of all fun arising from sales or.other disposd! f lands or other praopérty,‘granted: trusted to. th! in_each @hip foi of a o rom the 1 OF " Mule oL wuid nd “‘shall .:‘u:\dlnumgl;:;. ;:‘ int townshi, hrousiioay proportion Lo £ 'fve and twenly-one yeaks; an: FalfBEANy appiled to. Ahe. propriations. - Suitable laws ‘shaill investment of the ay income from thereof .in interest-bearin; rect. the state, or that ma to the state, shall { ‘:};nia :rovlded b; nd sale o Provlslona of _title one of 'he principal of all funds said shall forever be Jate and undiminished. Ppproprlnted to the common to support said institutions.” follows: “A revolving fund of not over two hundred fifty thousand dol- lars ($250,000) may be sét apart from the fund derived from the sale of school and swamp lands, to be used in constructing roads, ditches and fire breaks in, through and around unsold school and swamp lands and in_clearing such lands, such fund to be replenished as long as needed from the en- hanced value realized from the sale of such lands so benefited.” Under Section Two as It now stands the proceeds of the sale of school a.x;i ust fund, the income of whic! is used for the support of the schob}i lwamf lands constitute the princip: T educational and charitable institutio; of the state. Section Two as it no stands provides that the principal ol orever be preserved such fund “shall f Inviolate and undiminished.” THE EFFECT of the proposed amendment, if adopted, will be to mod, ity the provision last quoted to the extent of permitting the legislature te¢ set aside not to exceed $250,000 of thq principal of the trust fund as a revolve. Ing fund to be used for the purposes stated in the amendment proposed. e PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 3. By Chapter 380, Laws 1915, the legis- lature proposed for adoption by tI electors, an amendment of Se% (6), of Article Eight (8) of stitution, Section Six as it mow stands reads as follows: ection 6, INVESTM SCHOOL FUNDS — The county, school district, city, 3 nor shall such loan or invest ment be made when th issued or bonds to of the taxable real pr eounty, school dlstricz village issuing such bonds; nor shal sug! a lower rate of interest tha cent riod than flve years, nor for a long: period than twenty years, change of the town, school distri city, village or of count‘y, relleve the real property in sucl school district, county, Vfllli In this state at the time of the of such bonds from any liabilif taxation to pay such bonds.” to’ ol od it will then read as follows: “The permanent school and uni- versity tund of this state may he invested in the bonds of any coun- ty, school district, city, town or village of this state, and in first mortgage loans secured upon im- proved and cultivated farm lands of this state. But no such invest- .ment or loan shall be made until n.lwrnvad by the board of commis- sloners designated by 'law to regu- late the investment of the perma- nent school fund and the perma- nent university fund of this state; nor shall such loan or investment be made when the bonds to be is- sued or purchased would make the entire bonded indebtedness exceed 16 per cent of the assessed valua- tion of the taxable property of the county, school district, city, town or village issuing such bonds; nor shall any farm loan, or investment be made when such investment or loan would exceed 30 per cent of the actual cash value of the farm land mortgage to secure said in- vestment; nor shall such invest- ments or loans be made at a low- er rate of interest than 3 per cent per annum, nor for a shorter period than five years, nor for a longer period than thirty years, and no change of the town, school dis- trict, city, village or of county lines shall relieve the real prop- erty in such town, school district, county, village or city in this state at the time of issuing of such bonds from any liability for taxa- tion to pay such bonds.” THE PURPOSE of the amendment ia to authorize the investment of the per« manent school and university funds in “first mortgage loans secured upon im- lands where the amount of the loans so se- cured does not exceed 30 per cent of proved and cultivated farm the value of the land mortgaged. THE EFFECT of the adoption of the propused amendment will be to permil the legislature to authorize the in- vestment of the permanent school and university funds in farm mortgages as mbove stated, as .well as in the bonda city, Undex Section Six as it now reads bonds cane mot be purchased umless they mature at least five and not more than twenty It the amend- ment ‘is adopted, bonis and mortgages may be purchased if they mature nof less tran flve nor more than thirty of any county, school distriet, town or village of this state. years after purchase. Jears after purchase. PRGPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 8. By Chapter 381, Laws 1915, the legl lature proposed 'for adoption by _t electors, an amendment of Article Nln; n theretc a new section, which reads as (9) of the Constitution by addi: follows: “Saction 17. The legislature ls hereby authorized to_ provide hy law for the mining and sale of aev fron ore or other minarals which the state owns, in its sovereign ca- pacity, and as trustee for the peo- ple of the siate, which_are situate under the waters or bed of any. { meavndered public lake or river, and for ‘that purpose mav provide . f0r the drainaze of any such lake s Or river: or ‘the ‘diversion of the ~ waters thereof to a new bed or vided, however, that riparian rights of prie SCioul AL~ : ,&e.’ltum : e Tuliber oL #cnuole Ars in“each township, between the gses snall ‘the specitic objects, of. the original grants ul{hg; gnacted by the legislature for the safe grmcxpnl of all funds which have heretoiore arisen.or which hereafter arise from the sale or other disposition of -such lands, or the such lands accruing in any way before the sale or disposition bonds of the United States, or of the State of Minnesota issued after the year 1860, or of such. other state as the legisla- ture may by law from time to time di- All' swamp lands now held by hereafter accrue e appraised and in the same manner and by the officers, and the minimum price shall be the same less one-third, as is law for the appraisement the school lands under the chapter hirty-efght of the General Statutes. derived rom sales of swamp lands as afore- reserved invio- One-half of the proceeds of said principal shall be 8chool und of the state; the remaining one- half shall be appropriated to the edu- cational and charitable institutions ot the state in the relative ratio of cost The paragraph which it is proposed to add to said Section Two reads ms on_Six e Con- T OF permanent school and university fund of this state may be invested in” the bonds of any town or village of this state, but no such in. vestment shall be made until approved by the board of commissioners desig- nated by law to regulate the invest- ment of the permanent school fund and thnt permanent university fund of this [ urchased would make the entire bonded indebtedness exceed fif- teen per cent of the assessed valuation operty of th city, town ol | three pei {:ar annum, nor for a shorter pe. loans or indebtedness be made af and n¢ ines shal y fo If the proposed amendment is adept- 'R u"nlr bujxé:bq‘t\a_li}élql-';(&:g uy - t nsent, unis pensation theruior B ¢ pald -or secured. T'he' principal of all. funds arising trom the sale‘of such iron ore, or:otjer minerals, shall'‘forever be pPresérved invios late and undiminished, but’the-in-« eome therefrom be used for the construction, , improvement and maintenance of the. public roads of the state. The principal of such funds shall be loaned or invested the same manner, by the sume officers and upon the sal terms as is, or from time to time hereafter may be authorized by the constitution and laws, for the lo-nh:s'o; ({weuanent of t‘lgm ermanen chool and university ’\Il‘ldl of the state.” THE PURPOSE ef the proposed imendment cannot be more clearly Rated than is expressed thereln. THE EFFECT of the amendment, if Mopted, would be to confer power lhe legislature to provide by law f£ { fe mining of iron ore and other mi: irals, which the state owns in its sov- ireign eapacity and situate under the jed of any meandered public lake or Hver, subject to the restriction that |he rights of ripariam owners on any such Iake or river, sball not be de- itroyed or injured without compensa- Hom. If the legislature exercises the power, in case it is conferred, it could also provide for the drainnge or di- version of the waters of the lake or river with reference to which it so legislates; it could also prescribe by whom such minerals could be mined and the compensation to be paid to the state ther-for. The proceeds of the pale of any such minerals would con- stitute a fund to be loaned and invest- td the same as the permanent school ‘and university funds, the income of such fund to be used in the construce tion, improvement and maintenance of public roads, PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 4 By Chapter 382, Laws 1915, the legis- llture proposed an amendment to Sec- ion Two (2) of Article Six of the Con- stitution. Said Section 3 now reads as follows: tion 2. SUPREME COUR T— | The supreme court shall consist of one chief justice and two associate iu - tices, but the number of associate jus- tices may be increased to a number Eot exceeding four, by the legislature, fleemed necessary.. It shall have orig- Inal jurisdiction in such remedial cases 28 may be sreuerlbed by law and ap- ellate &urls iction in all cases, both in aw_and equity, but there shall be no trial by_jury In sald court. It shall hold one or more ‘terms in each year, es the legislature may direct, at th he | seat of government, and the legislatu may provide, bf & two-thirds vote, that one term In each year shall be held in each or any judicial district, It shall be the duty of such court to ap- point a reporter of its decisions. There shall be chosen, by the qualified elec- tors of the state, one clerk of the su- reme court, who shall hold his o6ffice or the 'm of four years, and.until his ‘successor is duly elected and qual fied; and the Jjudges of the_supre: court, or & majority of them, shall have the power to fill ‘any vacanoy in the office of clerk of the supreme court If the proposed amendment s adopt- ed the mection will then read as fol« lowss = s + “Section 8. The supreme. court shall consist of ‘one chief justi and six associate justices.” Fi shall constitute & quorum, and the concurrence of at least four shall be necessary to a decision. It shall have original jurisdiction in such remedial cases as may be pre- scribed by law, and appellate juri both in I ction in all cases, aw and oquity, but there shall be no trial by jury in said eeurt. It shall hold one or more terms in each as the legislature may direc the seat of government, and t! lefh ture may provide, by a twoe thirds ‘vote, that one térm in each ;ur shall be held in each.or any udicial district. It shall -be ‘the llg of such court to.appoint & re- 0! of its decisions and a clerk of the supreme court PURPOSE AND EFFECTi The Sue preme Court as mow constituted colie sists of a chief justice and four asso- eiate justices. The clerk of said courd is now elected. If the amendment is adopted, two ‘associate justices. will be added ‘to the court amd the clerk will be appointed by the court instead of being elected by the veters. PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. & By Chapter 383, Laws 1915, the legis- 1ature proposed for adoption by ‘the electors, an amendment of Section Eleven (11) of Article Four (4) of the Constitution. Sald section now reads aw followss “Section 11. APPROVAL OF BILLS Y GOVERNOR — VETO POWER— ery bill which shall have passed the senate and house of representatives, eonformity to the rules of each hou nd the joint rules of the two &ous all, befo ted to the governor of the state. If lp%rovel he shall sign and deposit t in the office of the secretary of state or preservation, and notify the house where it originated of the fact. But it not, he shall return it with his ob= Leetlon:. to the house in which it shall ave originated; when such objections shall be entered at large on the jour- nal of the same, and the house shall proceed to reconsider the bill. 1If, efter such reconsideration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sewut, toiether with_the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and if it be approved by two-thirds of that house it shall become a law. But in all such casos the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons votin for or against the bill shall be entere on the Journal of each house respec- tively. If any bill shall not be re- turned by the governor within three gayu (Sundays excepted) after it shall ave been presented to him, the same hall be a law in like manner as if Eo had signed it, unless the le%lslatura, y adjournment within that time, pre- vents its return; in which case it shall pot be a law. 'he governor may a) prove, sign and file in the otfice of t! Becretary of state, within three days after the adjournment of the legisla- ture, any act.passed during the last three days of the session, and the sam shall become a law. If any bill p: sented to the governor contains sev= eral items. of appropriation of muneg he may object to one or more of sucl items, while approving of the other portion of the bill. In such case, he shall anend to the bill, at the ti of signing it, a statement of the items 2o which he objects, and the appropria- Eon 80 objected to shall mot take ef- flect. If the legislature be in session, e shall transmit to the house in which the bill originated a copy of such stete- ment, and the items objected to snall be senarately reconsidered. If, on re- consideration, one or more of such Items be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each house, the pame shall be a part of the law, not- withstanding the objections of the gove ernor. All the provisions of this sec- tion, In relation to bills not approved bv the governor, shall anplv in cases In which he shall withhold his approval rom any item or items contained.in a i1l appropriating money.” It is proposed to amend ““at section % that it shall read as fohuws: | metion 1 mvery bl Y & two-thirds votg, ‘when it shall be until an election can be regularly had.”: g0 oimice of th g preservation,” and notify the nouse Where ‘it originated of the tact. But it not, he shall return it, with his objection to the house in Wwhich 1t shi ha originated; when such cbjections shall be en- tered at large on the journal of the same, and the house shall pro- ceed to reconsider the bill. " If, after such reconsideration, two- thirds of that houss shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, to- gether with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall Mke=- ‘wise be reconsidered; and if it be approved by two-thirds of that house it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by :a.s and nays, |n.nd!uae names 0: e persons voting for or agains the bill shall be entered on the !ournal of each house respectivee . It any bill shall not be re- turned by the' governor within three days gundlyu excepted] after it shall ,ve been presente to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the legislature by ad- Journment ' within that time, pre- vent its return; in which case it shall not be a law. The governor may approve, sign and flle in the office of the secretary of state, within three days after the ad- Journment of the legislature, any act passed during the last three days of the session, and the same shall become a law. If any bill zresented to the governor containg ,Beveral items of appropriation of money, object to one or ms in whole or in part, while approving of the other Kortlon of the bill. In such case e shall append to the bill, at the he ma more of such |¥e time of signing it, a statement of the items and parts of items to which he objects, and the part of any appropriation so objected to shall not take effect. If the legis- ature be in session, he shall trans= mit to the house in which the bill originated a copy of such state- ment, and the items objected to in Whole or in part shall be separate- 1y reconsidered. , on reconsid. eration, one or more of such ite: be agproved by two-thirds of the members elected to each house, the same shall be a part of th law, notwithstanding "the objec tlons of the governor. All ‘the rovisions of this section, in rela- fon to bills not approved by the shall apply in cases in shall withhold his_ ap- proval in whole -or' in part from any item or items contained in a bill appropriating money.” PURPOSE AND EFFECT: the amount appropriated for eific purpose; The amendm ed, will give the gover reduce the amount, PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 6. tion Thirteen (13) of the Constitution. or- Undes the Constitution as it now is, the gov- ernor may veto any ftem in an appro- priation bill, but he cannot cut down . legislature of a statement of the part of an item of an sppropriation bill to which ke objects, the two houses, each by a two-thirds vote, approve the item as it was o-igin- - By Chapter 384, Laws 1915, the legis= lature proposed an amendment of Secs of Article One (1) The section as it mow astands remds as follows: pensation therefor first pai eure “Section 13. PRIVATE PROPERTY aged for public use, without just come or se- If the amendment i adopted the see- tion will read as follow: “Section 13. Private property shall not be taken, destroyed or damaged for public use, without just compensation therefor first paid or secured, and such private Property ma; or damaged be taken, destroyed or the purFou of pri- vate as well as public drainage upon just compensation therefor belng first pald or secured.” THE PURPOSE eof the prepesed @mendment is to permit the taking of private lands for the purpose of draim- age purposes :Where the draim or diteh will be of 46 Jublic bemefit, but on the contrary ‘will saly bemefit the land or struciing the drainage ditch. PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO, 7. By Chapter 385, Laws 1918, the lej re proposed for -do¥tlon by electors, an amendment ot Section .lands of .the persom or persoms com- (IJ of Article Four (4) ol the Consti- tution. “Section 1. BIONS — The leglnlu of the senate and h tives, which shall shall cons: oul meet Section One as it mew stands, reads as follows: TWO HOUSES — SES- of representas biennially at the seat of government of the stat ‘l hall b Y aw, bul term of ninet; slative pew bill shall b.‘llntroducfleay.l'n rescribed by, exceed _the, and no| either branch except on the written reques f the governor, during the last twen: y days of such session, except the at=: tention of the legislature shall o called to some important matter of rneml interest b; rom the governor:.’ vection will then read as followa: . TWO HOUSES—SES- BIONS, — The legislature shall consist of the senate and house of representatives, which shall meet biennially ‘at the seat of govern- ment of the state, at such time as shall be prescribed by law, but no session shall exceed the term of ninety (90) legis'ative days, and no bill shall be introduced in either branch, except on the written re- quest of the governor, during the last twenty days of such session, except the attention of the lefils- lature shall be called to some im- portant matter of general inter- est by a special rmessage from the fovurnnr; but the people reserve lo themselves direct power as fol- ows: a) CONSTITUTIONAL INITIA- TIVE.—When at any time prior to the commencement of any session of the legislature, there shall have been flled with the secretary of 2 petition proposing” an amendment to the constitution, signed by two per centum of the electors of the state, the secretary of state shall transmit the same to the legislature not later than ten (10)' days after the com- mencement of the sesaion. If th samendment 80 proposed be not sul mitted to the electors by the legis- lature at such session, or if it be submitted in an amended form; then, upon a further petition or natitions, each signed by eight per centum of the tors of the state, filled with the secretarv of state within six months after the ad- journment of the legislature. the amendment proposed in the first _petition, or one or more ame nded 'orms. thereof, shall be. submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection at the next general or lrgclll state-wide election oecur~ ring not less than . ninety days after the filing of any such fur- ther petition; d by Inltu,tAl“‘y n:mggm $ Ve BT orteing o o 2 ammended If the amendment is adopted, the FOR PUBLIC USE — Private property shall not be taken, destroyed or dam- | & special message " yote upon each measure submits - * ted. '!F conflicting praposed laws ™ i submitted . te.. o legislature or som St ltion 1 Apor bl :lhly iof ‘the ‘me by & lectors ¥o! electors votingon the 8 uhndx‘none nnro % » less: than ‘“thre enths R electors voting at said election Yyoted for the proposed amendment. This section shall be construed as & means in addition to Section 1, Article 14, of the state constitu- tion, for amending the same. (b& STATUTORY TIATIVE. —When at any time prior to the commencement of any session of the legislature there shall have been filed with the secretary of state, a petition proposing a law, signed by two per centum of the electors of the state, the secretary of state shall transmit the same to the legislature not later than ten (10) diy- after the commence- ment of the session. If the law m{msed be not passed by the ure at such session, or if it be passed in an amended form, then upon a further petition or petitions, each signed by six per Centum of the electors of the state, filed with the secretary of state within six months_after the ad- ournment of the legislature, the aw proposed in the first petition or one or more amended forms thereof, shall be submitted to the electors at the next general or spe- clal state-wide election, occurring not less than ninety days after the filing of any such further petition or petitions, and if approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, provided the vote in favor of the proposed law be not less than thirty-three per centum of the total number of votes cast at such election, the same shall be- come a law and go into effect thirty days after such election, and shall supersede any amended form of such law which may have been passed by the legislature. No law passed by the initiative petition and approved by the electors shall be subject to the veto of the gov- ernor. The authority of the people to _enact laws, as provided in this subdivision, shall extend only to laws authorized by the provisions of the constitution. (c) THE REFERENDUM. — If within ninety days after the final adjournment of any session of the legislature, a referendum petition, signed by six per centum of the electors of the atate, shall be filed with the secretary of state against any law or an{ part of a law, passed by the legislature at such session, such law, or such part of & law shall be submitted to_the electors at the next general or special state-wide election, occur- ring not less than ninety days after the filing of said petition. If a majority of the votes cast thereon be in the negative, provided such megative vote be mnot less tham “thirty-three per centum of the to- tal number of votes cast at such eiection, such law or such part of a law ehall thereby be repealed. Provided, that if a referendum pe- tition ic signed by fifteen per cen- tum_ of the electors of the state, the law, or part of a law, lgainsf Fhich sduch petition 18 fifed” shall be_suspended ' pending the refer- endum vote thereon. Provided the same shall equal 33 per cent of the votes at such election. Any law providing for a tax levy or appropriating money for the current expenses of the state gov- ernment or state institutions, any act of the legislature submitting a constitutional amendment or other question to the electors of the state, or any emergency law necessary for the immediate pres- ervation of the public peace, health, or safety, shall go into ef- fect immediately upon {ts passage and approval by the governor, and such laws, except emergency laws, shall not be subject to a referen- dum vote. All other laws shall go into effect ninety days after the ournment of the legislature. A bill proposing an emergency law shall contain a preamble briefly ting forth the facts constitut- ing' the emergency. A geparal vote shall be taken upon the pr amble of such bill by a call of the zell and nays, and if the srenm- le be adopted by a two-thirds vote of all the members of each house, it shall be an emergency.law. (d) GENERAL PROVISIONS.— All petitions provided for in this section shall contain a title indi- cating the subject and purpose of the proposed law or constitutional amendment, or the law, or Jnrt of & law to be referred, and if a ehmqo is proposed in an existing constitutional provision or statute, in addition to referring to the same, it shall state the general effect of the gropo ed change and 0 the full text of the proposed \W or amendment to the constitu- tion, or of the law or part of & .Jaw, to be. referred. Any initia- . tive or referendum petition may bé signed In separate parts but each part shall conform to the provie #io; herein contained. 1 peti- tions shall be signed and verified before a person authorized to ad- minister an_oath, and shall be in such form that a person signing & cfltlon thereby states under oath, e date of signature, his resi- dence, that he is & qualified elec- or, that he has not previously signed any part of such petition, and thnt;b’e gnu signed the petition with knowledge of the contents thereof, 'To each part of such pe- tition shall be attached the affi- davit of .the person before whom the same was signed, which affi- davit. shall contain a statement of the number of signers thereon, that each of the signatures at- tached to such part was made the ' presence of the afflant, that to the best of his knowledge and belief each signature is the gen- uine signature of the person whose name it purports to be, that he be- lieves the persons who have signed such petition to be electors, that they signed such petition with knowledge of the contents thereof, and that each person signed the same on the date stated opposite his name, The circulation of the {etmon rovided for herein, or he prohibition of the circulation thereof, may be regulated by law, and ih case the circulation of any petition is prohibited by law, the percentage of signers required on any petition provided for in this section shall be one-half of the percentage specified in subdivi- sions &, b and ¢ of this section. The percentage in any case shall be based ugon the total number of ‘votes cast for governor at the next preceding election. All petitions provided for in this section shall contain the signature of not less than one-half of the desifnuted ercentage of the electors in not ess than one-fourth of the coun- ties of the state. In initiating a law or constitutional amendmen electors who have signed the firs shall be qualified to sign the sece ond petition. The sufficiency of all petitions shall be decided by the secretary of state subject to review by the court. If the secretary of state decides that any petition is Insuf- ficient, he shall permit a reason- able time for making corrections or for filing additional signatures. In the event of legal proceedings in court to prevent giving effect to any such petition on account of insufficiency, or any other ground, the burden of proof shall be uyon the person attacking the ?&m on., No law or amendment to the con- stitution initiated and approved b the electors as herein provide shall be held unconstitutional . or void on account of the lnsumcienn{ of any initiative petition; nor shn& the repeal of any law_submitte by _referendum petition be held in- valid for such insufficiency. A1l inftiative laws and_consti- tional amendments shall be' so submitted to the electors as to permit an affirmative or./negative or conflicting proposed: " amend-* 5 its ‘to .the constitution be .8t the same election, :‘ TR “n iof .E: ) ‘one recelving the highest ' ‘mative - votes -shall := :éfl iom'eun‘rprovl;llou ‘at election,: or. by four-sevenths der ‘’th &1l ‘be: F enacted by People of the tate of . " esota.’ The provisions of thig section ma; be' enforced by appropriate les{lllnon. but antil euch legisla- tion has been enacted, this section shall be self executing. THE PURPOSE AND EFFEOCT o fhis amendment, if adopted, will be three-fold. (a) It will permit the voters to pro. jose amendments to the state comstitu- tom, for adoption, without action by the legisiature. Umder the constitution as it now stands constitutional amend- ments can be proposed only by the leg- Islature. (b) So, too, if adopted, the X ment will permit electors to propos * iaws for enactment and if mot enacted by the legislatures, the voters may by sufficient petition, require the question »f the enactment of the proposed law to be submitted to the voters. If ap. proved by a majority of the electors voting, thereon, provided the vote in favoF of the proposed law is mnot lesy than thirty-three per cent of the total mumber of votes cast at such election, - the sanme becomes a law with the same force and effect as though passed by the legislature. =The governor will have no power to veto a Iaw 8o passeZ but the people cannot 80 pass any ; svhich. is prohibited by the co. stitution, - / (c) So too, if adopted, the amend- ment will permit the voters by proper petition to require a vote on the ques- tion of whether or not any law or part thereof, of certain classes of laws, passed by the legislature shall be re- pealed. If the petition asking for the referendum fis signed by fifteen per cent of the voters of the state, the num. ber of whom is to be determined by the number of votes cast for Governor at the preceding election, the law me referred to the voters will not take effect pending the referemdum vote thereon. The vote required to repeal a law passed by the legislature and the claises of laws which cannot be se repealed are specifidd in Subdiviston “C” of the proposed amendment ms mbove printed. T jmomsmn AMENDMENT NO. 8. By Chapter 386, Laws 1915, the legis latu're proposed for adoption it‘y %{A\ lon / electors _an_amendment of Sec Article 6, of the constitution. . The section now reads as follows: “Section 7. PROBATE COURTS— There shall be established in each or- ganized county in the state a probate court, which shall be & court of rec- ord, and be held at such times and flace- as_may be_ prescribed by law. t shall be held bv one judge, wha shall be elected by the voters of the county for the term of two years. Hs ghall be a resident of such county al the time of his election, and reside therein during his continuance in of- fice; and his compensation e&hall be provided by law. ¢ may appoint hit own clerk where none has been elect- ‘| ed; but the legislature may authorize the election, by the electors of any ‘{county, of one clerk of register of pro- | bate for such county, whose powers fl‘\lxt{?ui,:erm Oflggiic% "id com‘{nenu':h;n sha! prescr! y law. probate . court shall have jurisdiction over thw# estates of deceased persons and per- eons under guardianship, but no other {\l:rlndicuon. except as prescribed by is constitution.” The amendment simply proposes ts X substitute the word “four” for the word “two” mo that the sentence pre- scribing the duration of the term of office will, if the dment is adopt- ed, read as follows: 4 11 held wh'g‘fl:lfl x,é" elec'!edbbyy The i:‘:legrei of the county for the term of four years.” PURPOSE AND i:rmm-. The amendment, i” adopted will make the term of office of the Judge of Probaty four years instead of two. WE you to learn about CHIROPRACTIC, s If someone offered to help you im- prove your business you would think it wise to investigate. Is not health as important? Pro:{ for yourself that normal conditio can be restored by CHIROPRACTIC. A. Dannenberg, D. C. First Nat’l. Bank Bldg., Bemidji Office Hours: 10-12, 1:30-5, 7-8 Phone 406-W. A N L Dwight D. Miller Insurance Specialist I Can Insure Anything Anywhere —Special Agent— 5 Midland - Insurance Co., Life, o~ Accident, Health Insurance Agents Wanted Telephone 360-W 116 Third St. Over Baker’s Jewelry Store Offices FUNERAL DIRECTOR (] M. E. IBERTSON = UNDERFAKER ' 405 Befh\t::fAv