The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-01
NEW SCHEMES OF TAXATION
THAT ARE PROPOSED ARE VIEWED
WITH SUSPICION IN SOME
QUARTERS.
SCHOOL AND GOOD ROAD FUNDS.
Are the Beneflciaries of Two PrOpo-
sitiOns-BOard of PnrdOns- Con-
stitutiOnaI Convention,


the electors of Minnesota at the COM
ing election. Attorney General Childs
has supplemented the official list of
amendments with a concise statement
of the changes which they make in the
existing laws, which has already been
published in the G l O e.
A number of them, however, deal
with subjects far removed from the
daily life of the average citizen and
they have for that reason been largely
ignored in the heat of the personal
campaign now being waged for some
of the state offices.
The first amendment relates to the
taxation of lands owned and held by
railroad companies not in use for the
actual purposes Of the operation of the
road. 1t provides that such lands
shall be taxed in the ordinary ways,
and there is an express provision that
the law shall not be construed as re-
pealing the gross earnings tax on the
railroads. In theory, at least, the law
seems to meet with general public
favor. It would greatly increase the
taxation Of the railroads for a time,
but would result inevitably in having
them place upon the market at once
the lands which they are now with
holding from cultivation. Friends of
the bill argue that the resultant sale
and settlement Of the lands would re-
turn to the companies In short time
any incidental expense of the taxation,
beside benefiting the state at large.
On the other hand, it is argued that
the favorable vote on this proposition
might be construed by the courts as
setting aside the gross earnings tax,
which in the constitution it is provided
shall stand until it is set aside by the
vote of the people. This contention Is
based on the wording Of the constitu-
tional provision that the gross earn
ings tax shall be in lieu Of all other
taxes upon the real estate, etc., Of the
roads. It is legal question as to
whether or not the provision in the
constitution is equivalent in force to
a contract with the railroad COM
panies.
The ninth amendment on the ballot,
too, is associated with corporate in
terests 1t provides for the taxation
Of sleeping, drawing room, parlor and
other car companies, and "other" COM
papies. Aside from the vague indei-
niteness of this class, suspicion has
also attached from this provision:
Provided That this act shall not apply to
property owned by sFailroad companies, their
lands and other property, and upon the prop
erty of either or any of such companies" Ito
wit, railroad companies), or owners, tax, as
uniform may be with the taxes imposed
upon similar property in said state, or upon
the earnings thereof within this state, but
may be graded or progressive, or both, and
in p<oviding for the true value Of such prop
erty it shall be competent for the legislature,
in either or all of such cases, to impose such
tax upon any or all property thereof within
This state; and in either case, by taking as
the basis of such imposition the proportion
ate business earnings, mileage or quantity
Of production or property now or hereafter
existing, of any such companies, persons,
or owners, etc.; or in such manner or by
such method as the legislature may deter
mine"
Making as it would, the legislature
the judge Of methods of taxation to be
enforced against the railroad CON-
panies, the apparent result would be
the gathering in the legislative halls Of
q powerful and well-capitalized rail-
road lobby, to prevent adverse legis-
lation.
The second amendment provides for
the appropriation to the internal inn
provement or road and bridge fund of
the investments in the internal i'm
provement fund. The road and bridge
fund has been exhausted, and the
friends of good roads favor this meas
have been more or less familiar with
the methods by which the fund named
was exhausted, say that the legis-
latures expended the money extrava-
gantly and argue that the increase of
the fund by this act would be a new
temptation to injudicious expenditures.
The third amendment provides for a
constitutional convention to consider
the drawing up Of a new constitution.
IT is urged by the advocates Of the
bill, especially lawyers, that there are
q number of poorly defined provisions
in the constitution which lead to pro-
nounced legal uncertainties in certain
lines. 1t is TO remedy these that the
measure is proposed ostensibly. It Is
argued against the convention that one
of the objects Of the promoters is to
make an extra seat on the supreme
court bench, now limited to five judges
by the constitution, and that in the
absence of any serious wrongs, it would
be better to have the entire people of
the state vote upon propositions to
change one by one. as they come up,
rather than delegatlng to q convention
the drafting Of the new constitution.
Besides it is estimated 1t would cost
100000.
The fourth amendment provides for
the establishment Of board of par
dcns, consisting of the governor, at
torney general and chief justice Of the
granted to the governor under the
present constitution. New York has
the board of pardons as have other
states, the idea having gained consid-
cradle ground in recent years.
The fifth amendment is aimed to pre-
vent colonization of voters. It pro-
yides a six months residence in the
state and a thirty days residence In
the precinct as a qualification for
voters. Naturalized citizens must have
been such at least three months prior
to the election.
The sixth amendment grants to all
es in the state the right to draw up
own charters. The act is the out
of q compromise. When the
IRE Of 1895 was considering bills
o. ~ charters for Minneapolis and
st. Paul 1t became apparent that the
country legislators were going to out
vote the city members, and as result
Senator Sheehan introduced a COM
promise bin providing that every city
should frame It's own charter.
Amendment No. adds to the consti-
tutional provision prohibiting the TAX
8 ing Of private property for public use
without just compensation by adding
ssdamaging or destroying" to taking"
The eighth amendment Is quite i'm
portant. It is as follows:
Be 1t Enacted by the Legislature OF the State
of Minnesota:
Section /. The following amendment OF
ticle eight 90 Of the constitution Of the state
az Minnesota is hereby proposed to the peo-
oIe for approval or rejectment. that is to say,
that said article eight 90 be amended by
adding thereto the following section, viz:
Sec 6. The permanent school and univers-
{ty fund of this state may be invested In the
purchase of bonds OF any county, school dis
4rict city town or village of this state, but
GIN ,nnf hall hp do Until