The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-10-29

synopsis of Laws and Amendments
to the Constitution, proposed by
the Legislature for submission to
the voters of Minnesota at the
General Election to be held on
the 3rd day of November, A. ID.
1896.
AT the general election to be held in the
vember, A. u. 1885, the following laws and
amendments proposed by the legislature of
SAID state at the last session thereof, will
De submitted for adoption or rejection, viz:
An act will be submitted to the people of
TINS state for their approval or rejection at
the next general election, entitled:
IAN act relating to the taxation of certain
lands owned by railroad companies in this
state, and repeating laws and parts of laws
relating to the taxation Of the same, and to
provide for the submission Of this act to
tn the pc people Of this state for their approval
SO far as~material the act is as follows
Sec l. All lands in this state heretofore
or hereafter granted by the State of Minne-
sofa or the United States, or the Territory
OF Minnesota, to any railroad company shall
be assessed and taxed as other lands are
taxed in this state, except such parts OK
right of way gravel pits, sidetracks, depots
and all buildings and structures which are
necessarily used in the actual mana cement
and operation of the railroads of said COM
panies.
Provided, That said railroad companies
shall continue to pay taxes into the state
treasury upon their gross earnings in the
same manner and in the same amount as
now provided by law. And that nothing In
this act contained shall be construed to re-
peal said laws except in so far as the same
relate to the tax upon said lands.
Sec 2. Such portion or portions of any
act or acts, general or special, of the State
or Territory of Minnesota heretofore en-
acted: which provides or attempts to pro-
clared taxable, from taxation, or for any
other method of taxing said last mentioned
lands different from the method Of taxing
other lands in this state, or which are in
visions of this act are hereby repealed.
"Sec. g. If this act shall be held to b
vold SO far as it applies to the lands Of any
1t shall not be ground for declaring it void
or inapplicable to any other company not
similarly situated"
taxation Of unused railroad lands acquired
by railroad companies under federal and
state grants.
l deem it proper to call attention to the
fact that the electors Of this state will bs
called upon to Vote upon the following prop
osition: "Shall there be convention to re-
wise the state constitution
III.
Attention is also called to the fact that a.
act will be submitted to the electors Of this
state at said election providing for the ar-
preparation of the income derived from the
investment Of the internal improvement
land fund to the road and bridge fund. Tho
act provides that such moneys shall be
used only for making public roads and
building bridges on public roads.
".
AN act providing for a a0snament -
sfSfH ' OF q se ct ~ 81 the
ing the authority and duties Of the governor
in relation to psrdons for criminal offenses
aP see sfeat4s 81 cs Se
of Minnesota Cow reads as follows:
Section 4. The governor shall communi-
cate by message to each session Of the legis-
lature such Information touching the state
and condition of the country ss he may
deem expedient. He shall be commander
in-chief Of the military and naval forces.
and may call out such forces to execute the
laws, suppress insurrection and repel in
vasion. He may require the opinion, IN
writing, Of the principal officer in each OF
the executive departments, upon any sub
tive Offices; and he shall have power to
grant reprieves and pardons, after convic-
ton. for ofenses against the state, except
power, by and with the advice and consent
of the senate, to appoint state librarian
and notaries public, and such other officers
as may De PROVIDED Dy law. lie Suall nave
power to appoint commissioners to take the
acknowledgment Of deeds, or other instru'
ments in writing, to be used in the state.
He shall have a negative upon all laws
passed by the legislature, under such rules
and limitations as are in this constitution
prescribed. He may on extraordinary occa-
sions convene both houses of the legislature.
He shall take care that the laws be faith
fully executed all any vacancy that may
occur in the Office Of secretary of state,
treasurer, auditor, attorney general, and
such other state and district offices as may
be hereafter created by law, until the next
annual election, and until their successors
are chosen and qualified
1t is proposed to amend the said section
by striking therefrOm the following words:
"And he shall have power to grant re-
prieves and pardons,, after conviction, for
offenses against the state
In place of the words thus proposed to be
stricken out, it is proposed to insert the fol-
lowing words:
And he shall have power, in conjunction
governor shall be eX-officio a member, and
the other members of which shall consist Of
the attorney general Of the State of Min
nesota and the chief Justice of the supreme
powers and duties shall be defined and regu-
lated by law, to grant reprieves and par
dons, after conviction, for offenses against
the state"
The effect of the adoption of the aforesaid
proposed amendment will be to deprive the
governor of the power to alone grant par
uOIS anu IepIleNeS, WHICH lie HOW euJOyS,
and to create a board Of pardons, consisting
of the governor, the attorney general and
the chief justice of the supreme court.
The proposed amendment contemplates
that its adoption will be followed by the
enactment of a suitable law defining and
regulating the powers and duties Of such
board of pardons in granting reprieyes and
pardons.
can act proposing an amendment to Sec
ton one az of article seven ca of the con-
stitution of the State of Minnesota which
relates to the elective franchise"
Section one of article Z Of the constitu-
ton of Minnesota now reads as follows:
''Spction 1. Every male person of the age
of twenty-one years or upwards, belonging
to either of the following classes, who shall
have resided in the United States one year,
and in this state for four months next pre-
cedng any election, shall be entitled to vote
at such election, in the election district of
which he shall at the time have been for
ten days resident. for all officers that now
are. or hereafter may be, elective by the
people.
Eirst-Citizens of the United States
Second-Persons of foreign birth, who
shall have declared their intention to be-
come citizens. conformably to the laws of
the United States upon the subject of nat
uralization.
Third-Persons Of mixed white and Indian
blood, who have adopted the customs and
habits of civilization.
Fourth-persons Of Indian hIood roSidipo