Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-10-31
GENERAL ITEMS.
The Amendments.

they should vote upon the pending
constitutional amendments to have the
pith of each amendment conciselv
stated. In the Governors procla-
nation they are designated for con-
yenience by numbers in the order of
their passage by the Legislature. We
shall accordingly refer to them as
there designated:
AMENDMENT NUMBER Ito amend
section II of article > of the constitu-
ton, is simply intended to give the
Governor power to veto particular
items in an appropriation bill without
yetoing the entire bill.
Many States have adopted this pro-
vision, the wisdom Of which is obvious,
and which has met general approval.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ITO amend
ton. provides that the Legislature
shall not alter or amend the charter of
any corporation existing at the time
of the adoption of this article, or pass
any other general or special law for
the benefit of such corporation, except
upon the condition that such corpora
ton shall surrender all claim to
exemption from taxation or from re-
peal or modification of its charter.
This is intended to apply to cor
porations chartered before the adoption
of the constitution of 1851. Since that
| time the Legislature has been pro-
hibited from granting any charters or
exemptions from taxation which a
subsequent Legislature may not alter.
modify or repeal. the object of the
amendment is to compel corporations
having irrepealable charters or enjoy
ing a perpetual exemption from taxa
| ton to surrender privileges which are
anomalous, in fact contrary to every
sound principle of 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 similar provision is
contained in the new constitution of
Kentucky recently adopted.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3-To amend
article Is of the Declaration of Rights.
simply requires that taxes shall be
uniform upon the same kinds of prop
erty or class of subjects.
1t does not say that the same taxes
shall be levied upon all kinds of prop
erty and every class of subjects. 1t
defines and limits the power of the
Legislature to exempt any property
from MISUNDERSTANDING the power
of exemption to property used eX-
clusively for public, religious or purely
charitable and benevolent purposes,
literary or benevolent institutions,
necessary for such uses, and as the
same have heretofore been exempted
by law. 1t does away with all special
exemptions and subjects all property
not so declared to he exempt by gen
eral laws, as provided in the amend
ment, to taxation. and it authorizes
the Legislature in its discretion to inn
pose general income tax.
AMENDMENT NUMBER ITO 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 80 amend
section of article II Of the constitu-
ton, authorizing the board of public
works to sell, subject to such regula-
lions and conditions as the Legislature
may prescribe, the States interest in
all ks of internal improvement or
banking corporations, receiving in
payment the bonds and registered debt
now owing by the State equal in
amount to the price obtained for the
States interest.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 6-To amend
section 81 of Article 3 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 sit
uated, instead of at the residence of
the owner of the mortgage, as required
in reference to other kinds of personal
property, except goods and chattels
permanently observation-disclosures SIM