Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-17
srHE BOND QUESTION.
The BiLI Witch Is to be Toted On at tn
Coming Election.

The BiU Witch Is to be Toted On at the
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 a large number of
documents commonly known as the Minnesota State
ralread bonds, the validity of which the people Of
the State 90 not recognize but which it is desirable
be destroyed. Therefore,
Be d enacted By the Legislature Of the State of
Minnesota:
Section 1. All 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 manner
provided Tor In this act for the purpose of
ing the said bonds and the satisfaction of said
claims, to the end that the same may be destroyed
But this act shall not be construed In any manner
preventing the sale OF said lands under existing laws.
sec. z. On and after the first (1st) Monday In
July, A. ID. one thousand eight hundred and seventy
| nine 187a), the commissioner of the State land
once shall be ready to exchange said lands for said
claims, at rate and proportion that shall make the
whole OF said lands equal to the whole amount of
SAID bonds and claims together with the unpaid
coupons. Ihe Land Commissioner, with the advice
ana approval OF the Governor shall adopt such rules
ana regulations for exchanging the lands for the
said bonds and claims shall nearly practicable
secure to the holder of each bond and claim an equal
chance fer choice of lands for each bond and claim
deposited for such exchange, before said first
(1stl Monday in july A. D. one thousand eight hun
dred and seventy-nine (1879).
All bonds presented for exchange after said date
snail have choice of land In the order presented
Deeds OF conveyance of said land exchanged shall
| of the sale of said lands.
Sec. 8. 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 news
paper in each of the cities of Boston. New York
Philadelphia, Chicago and Milwaukee giving a gem
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 cause 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
puDhcaon and mailing Of notice to be not less than
| two months before said first C1st) Monday in July,
1s79). 1880 - ''-'' '''''' 7''--'
Sec. 4. The land exchanged for said State rail-
road bonds and claims, shall be free from taxation
until sold, contracted to be sold or released or
used and cultivated by the grantees Of the State OF
their legal representatives. But such exemption from
| taxation shall not extend beyond seven (D years
from the first 1sO day of july A. D. one thousand
| eight hundred and seventy-nine C879).
| Sec. 5. 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 az
equal to the number of acres of land from which de-
rived and the holders of said bonds and claims may
in the order of their choice take the proper proper
ton OF said funds and securities in place of land
All money received from stumpage of said internal
improvement lands shall be apporioned to the land
from which derived, and shall go with said land as
part thereof. The State land commissioner shall
give certificate for any excess in number of acres
of land to which bond would be entitled over and
above legal subdivisions of said land and when sai6
certificates are surrendered'in amounts equal to 6
legal subdivision of land they shall be received in
exchange for the same.
Sec. 6. A complete record of all bonds and claims
surrendered, shall be kept by the land commissioner
and the name and address, of the person from WHOM
received. All such bonds shall be DESTROYED by firt
in the presence of the Governor and attorney gen
eral. who shall attest the fact of records.
Sec. z. The claims or judgement of Mcdonald
Graham, and of Fitz, Grindan & Keepers, as recog
nzed and set forth in chapter one hundred and fifty
two $50, on page three hundred and eighty-eigh
1881 of special laws of eighteen hundred and sixty
seven (1S60, and the claims hereinafter specified
shall be regarded and treated the same as an equa
of said State railroad bonds and be received
| the same in exchange for saiu lands
Sec. 8. There shall be commission appointed
by the Governor consisting of three 81 disneresei
persons, who shall examine all claims presented b,
persons who did the work or furnished supplies OF
material for the building of the railroads for which
such bonds were issued and which were never pait
for by the contractors or sub-contractors undel
whose charge the same were done and furnished
and which claims are evidenced by some order, &C
ceptance, book account other writings; and fo
such claims as shall be valid and unpaid, said com
mission shall issue numbered certificates for sucl
Indebtedness, and such certificates shall be received
on the same basis the bonds and for all the pur
poses contemplated by this act but no claims shall
der any railroad company.
Sec. g. Such commission shall advertise in a
least three 3) of the State papers having creates
cir ulation during period of two (2) weeks wher,
and at what time they will hear and ascertain sucl
claims, such places being Owatonna Winona and st
Paul. and shall make their report to the Governor b,
the first t1s0 day of March, A. D. eighteed hundred
and seventy-nine G879), giving detailed account O
the amounts of such claims allowed. Such com
mission shall each be allowed compensation of fiv
($5l dollars per day and ten (1O) cents per mile TO
each mile actually travelled in going to and returnn,
from the places appointed for the meetings of sait
commission. Providz d. That such commission shal
not he allowed compensation for more than twent
. (20l days in the adjustment of said claims.
Sec. 10. This act shall be submitted to a vote O
the people at the next general election in November
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight (1s7s
The ballots for the adoption of this act shall be ssFo
recovery and destruction of the railroads bonds
Yes" The ballots against the adoption of this &C
shall be "For the recovery and destruction of tn
railroad bonds No." The returns of the election OF
the question shall be made and the result ascertaine
in the same manner provided by law for the election
of State officers. If majority shall have voted TO
the measure, the Governor shall make proclamation
of the adoption of the same.
Gee. II. This act shall take effect from and afte
its passage.
Approved March 9, 1878.