Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-04

The last legislature passed six amend
ments TO the State constitution. TO be
voted upon at the ensuing general cleo
ton. For information and convenience
CT voters we append from the Sun the
pith OF each amendment eoncisely stated
Amendment Number Ito amend
section II Of article Of the constitution
is simply intended to give the Governor
power TO veto particular items in an APP
preparation hin without vetoing the en-
tire bill Many States have adopted this
provision, the wisd m of which is OBJ
vious, and which has met general APP
proyal.
Amendment Number To amend sec
tion - of article 3 of the constitution.
provides that the Legislature shall not
alter or amend the charter of any cor
poration existing at the time of the adop-
ton of this article. or pass any other
general or special law for the benefit of
such corporation, except upon the con
dition that such corporation shall sur
render all claim to exemption from taxa
ton or from repeal or modification OF its
charter. This is intended to apply to
corporations chartered before the adop-
tion of the constitution of 1851. Since
that time the Legislature has been pro-
hibited from granting any charters or
exemptuous from taxation which a subse
quent Legislature may t altar, mildly
or repeal The object of the amend
ment is to compel corporations having
irrespealab,e charters or enjoying per-
petual exemption from taxation 10 sur
render privileges which are anomalous,
in fact contrary to every sound princi-
pie or public policy and to the interests
of the whole people of the Stately
making the retention of those privileges
incompatible with participation in the
benefits of future legislation. A SINH
lar provision is contained in the new
constition of Kentucky recently adop-
| ted.
Amendment Number 3.-To amend ar
ticle Is of the Declaration of Rights,
simply requires that taxes shatl be uni
form upon the same kinds of property
or class of subjects 1t does not say that
the same taxes shall be levied upon all
kinds Of property and every class of sub
| iects. 1t defines and limits the power of
the Legislature to exempt any prop
erty used exclusively for public, relig-
ious or purely charitable and benevolent
purposes, literary or educational insti
tutions. necessary for such uses. and as
the same have heretofore been exemp-
ted by law. 1t does away with all sre-
cial exemptions and subjects all proper
| tY not so declared to be exempt by gen.
eral laws, as provided in the amendment
to taxation, and it authorizes the Legis-
lature, in its dissertation, to impose a
general income tax.
Amendment Number 4.-To amend
section of article of the constitution,
authorizes the Legislature to fix the
terms of county commissioners, now
limited to two years, at any limit not
exceeding six years, and also to pre-
| scribe when they shall be elected.
Amendment Number 5.-To amend
section of article 10 of the canstitu-
ton, authorizes the board of public
works to sell, subject to such regulations
and conditions as the Legislature may
prescribe, the States's interest in all
works of internal improvement or bank
ing corporations, receiving in payment
the bonds and registered debt now ow-
ing by the State equal in amount to the
price obtained from the States inter-
est.
Amendment Number 6.-To amend
section 81 of article of the constitu-
ton, permits, in the discretion OF the
Legislature, the taxation of mortgages
and mortgage debts in the county where
the mortgaged property is situated, in
stead of at the residence of the owner OF
the mortgage, as required in reference
of other kinds of personal property, ex-
cept goods and chsttels permanently To-
Gated