The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-10-16

At the general election to be held In the
State of Minnesota on the 3rd day or NO
vember, A ID. 1896, the following Jaws and
amendments proposed by the legislature OF
said state at the last session thereof, will
be submitted for adoption rejection, viz:
l.
An act will be submitted to the people of
this state for their approval or rejection at
the next general election, entitled:
can 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, ana 10
provide for the submission of this act TO
the people of this state for their approval
or rejection"
So far as material the act is as follows:
"Sec l. All lands in this state heretofore
or hereafter granted by the State of Mime
sofa or the United States or the Territory
be assessed and taxed as other lands are
taxed in this state, except such parts OF
said lands as are held, used or occupied for
right of way, gravel pits, sidetracks, depots
and all buildings and structures which are
necessarily used in the actual management
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
1relate 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-
vide for any exemption of lands hereby de-
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
any manner inconsistent with the pro-
visions of this act are hereby repealed.
"Sec. 3. If this act shall be held to be
void so far as it applies to the lands of any
particular railroad company in this state,
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.
1 deem it proper to call attention to the
fact that the electors of this state will be
called upon to vote upon the following prop
osition Shall there be convention to re-
wise the state constitutions
III
Attention is also called to the fact that an
act will be submitted to the electors of this
state at said election providing for the APP
preparation of the income derived from the
investment of the internal improvement
land fund TO the road and bridge fund. The
act provides that such moneys shall be
used only for making public roads and
building bridges on public roads.
".
"An act providing for an amendment to
section four az of article five % OF the con-
stitution of the State of Minnesota, defn-
ing the authority and duties of the governor
In relation to pardons for criminal oHenses
and creating board of pardons.'
Section 4 of article of the constitution
of Minnesota now reads as follows:
Section f. The governor shall communi-
cate by message to each session or the legls-
lature such information touching the state
deem expedent. 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 SUD-
ject relating to the duties of their respec-
tive offices; and he shall have power to
grant reprieves and pardons, after convic.
ton, for offenses against the state, except
IN cases of impeachment. He shall nave
power, by and with the advice and consent
of the senate, to appoint state librarian
and notaries public, and such other officers
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 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. fill any vacancy that may
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
'onenSeS 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
with the board of pardons, of which the
pN-Otfl q
the other members of which shall consist OF
the attorney general of the State of Min
nesota and the chief justice the supreme
court of the State of Minnesota, and whose
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
donS and reprieveS, which he now enjoys,
and to create board of pardons, consisting
of the governor, the attorney general and
the chief justice of the supreme court
The proposed amendment contemDlates
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 reprieves and
,pardons.
San act proposing an amendment to Sec
ton one o. of article seven ca of the con-
stituton of the State Of Minnesota which
relates to the elective franchise"
SecC1On one OF dTUlcle { OIL the cOnSIlIu-
ton of Minnesota now reads as follows:
''Section 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-
ceding 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.
First-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 blood residing
In this state who have adopted the lam
guage, custom and habits of civilization,
after an examination before any district
court of the state, in such manner as may
be provided by law, and shall have been
pronounced by said court capable of enjoy
Ing the rights of citizenship within the
state"
The proposed amendment, If adopted, will
read follows:
"Section one O. What persons are en-
titled to vote:
Every male person of the age of twenty