The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-10-14
IMPORTANT TO ALL.

In response to a postal card handed
us by Mr.. Edwin Bradley, chairman
Of the Republican County central
committee, making inquiry about the
provisions of the swamp land amend.
ment to the Constitution, we to-day
publish for the benefit of our readers
not only the text of that amendment,
but the text Of the other three amend
ments which are to be voted upon ut
this falls election. Asa general rule
but little attention is paid by voters
to the Importance of voting upon
amendments. Not one voter in
ten when he arrives ut tho polls on
election day and receives II ticket
with the words amendment of Sec
tion (D, article 10y of the COnstitu.
ton" printed on the bottom Of his
ticket. really knows what that amend
ment is or what benefit or detriment
it will he to his interests. Therefore
we advise all readers of the FREE
PRESS To post themselves thoroughly
upon the provisions of these several
amendments, previous to voting upon
the same.
The first is an amendment to Sec
ton |, article IN, and is rs follows
SECTION l. All taxes to he raised I'm this
State shall he as nearly equal Us may be- anu
all property on which taxes are to he levied
shall have Il cash valuation AMI be cQualiZcd
and uniform throughout the State iroriaed,
thnt the legislature may by general law or
spccial net authorize municipal corporations
Ia levy assessments for local improvements
upon the property fronting upon such I'M
provemcnts, or upon the property "a bc Dene-
lifted 10y such improvements, or botn, WITHOUT
regard To cash valuation, and in such manner
rs the legislature may prescribe. AMI pro-
vided further, that for the purpose OF de-
fraying the expenses Of laying water pipes
and supplying any ,lty or 1 hw pan:r w or
special law, authorize any such city or mum,
cipality, having population OF fve thousand
t5,tVo) or more, To levy I'M annual tax or
assessment upon the lincal foot 81 all lands
fronting ON any water main or water pipe lniu
10y such city or municipality within the cor
poratc limits of said city for supplying water
Ia the citizens thereof without regard 10 the
cash value of such property, ana u empower
such city to collect any such thx-asscssinents
or fines, or penalties for failure to pay the
same, or any fine or penalty for any vioin-
ton of the rules of such city or municipality
in regard To the use Of water, or for any water
rate due for the same"
The constitution ut present is the
same as the above to the word ''pre-
Scribe" The amendment authorizes
towns having 5000 inhabitants or over
to levy special taxes for putting in IA
system of water works.
The ballots to he used by those voting in
favor OF the foregoing amendment must read:
amendment of Section one ~. Article nine
l9) of the Constitution.-Yes. The ballots tn
he used by those voting against such amend
ment must read amendment To Section ID,
Article nine W of the Constitution.-No."
The second amendment is to sections
and !, article Nv, in regard to the
length of sessions of the legislature
and the compensation of senators and
representatives. At present the
constitution limits sessions to sixty
days, and the compensation to five
dollars per day. The amendment is
to strike out the siXIy.day limitation,
and to make the compensation IS per
day, or not to exceed $3.50 for each
regular session and $500 for each
extra session.
The ballots to be used 10y those voting in
favor of the foregoing amendment must read:
"For the Amendment of section one ~
the Constitution of this Statc-Ycs." The |
ballots to he used by those voting against
such amendment must read: "Forthe amend |
ment of section one ID and section seven "a, |
If article four ~ Of the Constitution of this /
The third is an amendment adding |
sections to article w., as
follows:
SEC. 3D. The Legislature is prohibited from
.nacting any special or private laws in the
following cases
LIST For changing the name of person or
one person the heir ut law of
mother.
md. For laying out, opening or altering
highways.
Bird For authorizing persons to keep fer
lies across streams wholly within this State.
18th. For authorizing the sale or mortgage
II real or personal property of minors or
,ther persons under disability.
9Th. For changing any county scat.
9TH. For assessment or collection Of taxes
,r for extending the time for the collection
eth. For granting corporate powers or
privileges, except to cities.
sth. ForauthOrizing the apportionmcnt of
my part of the school fund.
9Th. For incorporating any town or vii
age.
10th. For granting to any individual, as
ISOLATION, or corporation, except municipal
my special or exclusive privilege, immunity
n franchise whatever.
18th. For vacuting roads, town plats,
trcets, alleys and public grounds.
Itut tue leRlSlNtuTe may Ttpc,tl ufiy cAtStius |
pecial law relating to the foregoing sub-divi-
ion.
SEC. a. The legislature shall provide
general laws for the transaction of any bust
icss that maybe prohibited by section one ~
# this amendment, and all such laws shall he
inform in their operation throughout the
state. |
The ballots to he used by those voting i'm
favor of the foregoing amendment must read:
= Amendment to article four ~ OF the COnSti-
tuition. to prohibit special legislation.-Yes."
The ballots tn be used by those voting against
said amendment must read: Amendment of
article four a. of the Constitution, to prohibit
special lcgislation.-No."
The fourth amendment is to section
article VIII, by adding the follow.
ing:
All swamp lands now held by the State, or
that may hereafter accrue to the State, shall
he appraised and sold In the same mannerand |
and the minimum price shall he the |
same less onc-thr dGs), as is provided by law |
for the appfuiscmcnt and sale OF the school |
lands under the provisions of title one ~ OF |
chapter thirty-cight C,s) of the General Stat |
utcs. The principal of all funds derived |
from sales of swamp lands us aforesaid shall |
forever he preserved invioatc and undimin- |
ishcd. One half "a of the proceeds OF SAIL |
principal shall he appropriated to the common
school fund of the State the remaining one |
cntional and charitable institutions of the |
State in the relative ratio of cost to support |
said Institutions.
The ballots used by those voting in favor |
of the foregoing amendment must read |
/" amendment to section two Csl of article |
eight 81 Of the Constitution.-fes." The |
ballots to be used by those voting against |
such amendment must read amendment |
tn section two CD Of article eight 90 OF the |
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