Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-10-22

1ennSyIVAnl6, whose constitutional con-
vention metln 1872, under the cry OF RE-
FORM" when Alex Medium and
whole class Of the leading republicans OF
that great state had come out and de-
nounced the party Of that state - under
the control sf rings and monopolies,
whn . new national party I'D noninas-
cd Greeley and Wsyne Mcveigh came
before the people ~ cham
pion Of reform and became
the leader Of the msjority in that conven.
ton that produced what in many re-
spects were the most radical changes in
organic Law that any convention he'd
ever made-so strong was this senti-
ment that had been sngendsred by long
abuses prscticed by the Pennsylvania
railroad company, one Of the most power
ful corporations, under ito great manager
Tom Scott. that hes ever existed in any
state, that they prohibited by oonstitu.
tional provision the issuing Of any pass
BY any railroad in the state, except to
an actual employes-prohibited any
railroad in the state from discriminating
in its rates of freight, even by drawback,
or abatement, and in many other respects
gave to the people of that state the most
advanced constitution then existing,
yet with such abuses before them, that
convention with its strong and earnest
majority seeking to protect the people
against every abuse upon this question
Of taxation, thought it necessary to pro-
vide this section only, and it is the more
pertinent and suggestive as it il almoet
verbatim the words selected to supple
ment the first part Of our section and Of
which this unknown author 20 much
complains. It is az follows:
L Article 9, Section 1-All taxes shall be
uniform upon the same class Of subjects
within the territorial limits of the au-
thority levylng the tax, and shall be
levied and collected under general laws.
Read it farmers; read it mechanics and
laborlng men. Compare it with the
words Of those great uen who conpossd
the Pennsylvania and Missouri conven-
tions. and say, is it sin favor of the mon
led oorporations?" l. it framed to suit
railroad corporations Is tho man
honest who makes such statements to
the people? DO you wonder that such
man, or such nsn are afraid to sub
scribe their names to, or admit the
authorship Of. such paper?
| But We promised to give you the Sec
tions from every state. Let Us take
California, which is the latest of all, 1879
No one will deny this convention was
elected and controlled by An overwhel.
ing majority Of anti.railroad men and
anti.monopoiists of every character. So
notorious is the fact that it il referred to
as the ''sand lots" constitution. Thif
convention had before il all the wisdom
OF Illinois Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Mis-
souri and other states. 1t was elected te
protect the people against the gigantic
Central Pacific monopoly. 1t wa
pledged to 30 do. It was smarting undel
injuries done to its constituents. It hai
the majority to place any and every safe
guard in its constitution it deemet
necessary, and what Is its section? Wha
| did the anti-railroad people Of Californi
, demand and what did their expectation
,, give them? It is as follows:
: Article l3. Section 1.-Au property j
: the state not exempt under the laws q
!. the United States, shall be taxed in pr
.. portion to it's value, to be ascertained q
. provided by law. The word property
as used in this article and section
Q hereby declared to include money
( credits. bonds, stocks, dues, franchise
and other matters and things real, pei
sonal and mixed, capable OF privai
, ownership.
1t is very good section. In many .
= it's features it is the same as ours, but
:" more general and not 90 CAREFUL
guarded. Read it and say for yourselve
D Let us take Colorado, which. excel
California, WAS the last constitute
, adopted. It was q wise body of me-
d It is an admirable production. The
b had all the lights Of modern constitution
y before them that We had, except Cal
fornia and their own able work. Here
Q is.
Article 10, Section l-All taxes sha
be uniform upon the same class OF sui
jects within the territorial. limits of Il
u authority levying the tax. and shall
y levied aud collected under general law
,! which shall prescribe such regulation
d Ms shall secure Just valuation for ia
u u alton of all property. real and persons
Transpose the section and you ha,
10 our section almost exact-and the =
10 markabls feature is that the words tn
writer complains Of, are put first. the il
- portant words of the section. Do
o. . this anonymous writer still want
:. know where these words came from
y But to continue-the Indiana section
y =; as follows:
:" Article 10. Section 1.-The genei
assembly shall provide by Law for VI
3e form aud equal rate Of assessment Al
Il taxation. and shall prescribe such regul
, tions rs shall secure just valuation
taxation OF all property. both real q,
M personal, excepting such only for NUT
in cipm, educational. literary. scientif
~ religious or charitable purposes rs M,
ha be exempted by Law.
10 Michigan as follows:
h Article "A. Section 1.-THE legisl
ture shall provide uniform rule
ge taxation, except on property payi
ct. specific taxes, aud taxes shall be levi
u on such property as shall be prescsib
in by law.
Onpon ia more LENGTHY and speoific