The Worthington advance., 1878-10-17
1.-THE BOND QUESTION.
The Bill UhicN is tn be Voted On at tn,
Coming Election.


AN ACT to provide for the recovery and destruction
Of what are commonly known as Minnesota State
railroad bonds and the payment of certain claims
incurred In the building of certain railroads for
which said bonds were issued.
WHEREAS, There is outstanding large number of
documents commonly known as the Minnesota State
railroad bonds, the validity Of which the people of
the State do not recognize but which it is desirable
shoud De recovered to the end that the same may
be destroyed. Therefore.
Be a. enacted by the Legislature Of the State OF
Section l. Ali lands donated to the State of Min
nesota for the purpose of internal improvements and
known as the five hundred thousand acres of internal
improvement lands, and the funds arising from the
sales OF said lands, shall be disposed of in the
provided for in this act for the purpose of recover
ing the said bonds and the satisfaction of said
claims, to the end that the may be destroyed
But this act shall not be construed Az in any manner
preventing the sale Of said lands under existing laws
Sec z: On and after the first (1st) Monday in
July, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy
nine tisIs1, the commissioner of the State land
once sha be ready to exchange said lands for said
calms at rate and proportion that shall mako the
whole OF said lands equal to the whole amount OF
SAID bonds and claims, together with the unpaid
and approval Of the Governor shall adopt such rules
and regulations for exchanging the lands for the
said bonds and claims shall nearly practicable
secure to the holder of each bond and claim an eoua
chance fer choice of lands for each bond and claim
deposlted for such exchange, before said first
qstl Monday in July, A. D. one thousand eight hun
urea ana seVenty-n1ne {lS19>.
AL bonds presented for exchange after said date
shall have choice of land in the order presented
Deeds OF conveyance Of said land exchanged shall
be made in the manner now provided by law in case
OF the sale OF said lands.
Sec. 3. The commissioner of the land Office shall
cause notice to be published in two (2) daily news
papers at the State capital and in ) daily
paper in each of the cities of Boston, New York
Philadelphia, Chicago and Milwaukee. giving gen.
eral description and the location of said lands and
the time and manner that the same will be exchanged
for said bonds. He shall also such notice to
be mailed to every holder of said bonds far as he
shall be able to obtain the address Of the same Such
publication and mailing Of notice to be not less than
two months before said first (1st) Monday in July
(1s7o). ~ N' ~ '''N ''' '''''' ''''A@
Sect. The land so exchanged for said State rail.
road bonds and claims, shall be free from taxation
until sold, or contracted to be sold released OF
used and cultivated by the grantees of the State OF
their legal representatives. But such exemption from
taxation shall not extend beyond seven (7) years
from the first 1s) day of july A. D. one thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine (1s7a).
Secs The funds and securities derived from the
sale of the internal improvement lands shall be re.
garded and treated FOR the purposes of this act ar
equal to the number Of acres of land from which de.
rived and the holders of said bonds and claims rnay
In the order Of their choice take the proper proper.
ton of said funds and securities in place of land
All money received from stu1npage of said internal
Improvement lands, shall be apporioned to the land
from which derived, and shall 80 with said land az
part thereof. The State land commissioner shall
acres
of land to which bond would be entitled over and
above legal subdivisions of said land and when said
certificates are surrenderedin amounts equal to
legal subdivision of land, they shalt be received in
exchange for the same.
Sec. 6. complete record of all bonds and claims
surrendered, shall he kept by the land commissioner
and the name and address, of the person from whom
received. All such honds shall be DESTROYED bv fire
in the presence of the Governor and attorney gen.
eral. who shall attest the fact of records.
Sec 7. The claims or judgement Of Mcdonald 4
~ ~ ffV rfF6nn N
nized an' set forth in chapter one hundred and fifty
two 152), on page three hundred and eighty-eighi
(38s\ Of special laws OF eighteen hundred and sixty
seven (1967), and the claims hereinafter specifiei
shall be regarded and treated the a. an equal
amount of said State railroad bonds and be received
the same in exchange for SAID lands
Sec 8. There shall be commission appointed
by the Governor consisting Of three {3 sinterested
PERSONS who shall examine all claims presented by
persons who did the work or furnished supplies Of
material for the building Of the railroads for which
for by the contractors sub-contractors unde,
whose charge the same were done and furnished
md which claims are evidenced by some order, &C
ceptance, book account or other writings: and TO,
such claims shall be valid and unpaid, said com
mission shall issue numbered certificates for such
indebtedness and such certificates shall be received
poses contemplated by this act; but no claims shall
be received from contractors or sub-conractors un
der any railroad company.
Sec: .. Such commission shall advertise in a
cir ulation, during period Of two (2 weeks, wher.
and at what time they will hear and ascertain suct
claims, such places being Owatonna, winona and St
Paul. and shall make their report to the Governor b!
the first 1sD day Of March, A. D. eighteed hundred
and seventy-nine {1s79) giving a detailed account O.
the amounts of such claims allowed. Such com
mission shall each be allowed compensation Of 1v'
(s5l dollars per day and ten (10> cents per mile TO
each mile actually travelled in going to and returning
from the places appointed for the meetings Of sait
commission. Provided, That such commission shal
not be allowed compensation for more than twent
(20) days In the adjustment Of said claims.
Sec. 10. This act shall be submitted to . vote o
the people at the next general election in November
one thousand eight hundred and seventy yeight la78)
The ballots for the adoption Of this act shall be Fo
the recovery and destruction Of the railroads bonds
Yes" The ballots against the adoption Of this &C
shall be teFor the recovery and destruction of tn
railroad bonds, No." The returns Of the election
the question shall be made and the result asoertatne
in the manner provided by law for the electio
of State officers. II majority shall have voted 70
the measure, the Governor shall make proclamatfo
Of the adoption Of the same.
Sec. II. This act shall take effect from and ate
its passage.
Anrrovod March O. 1879.