Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-10-14

the voters of Minnesota at the
General Election to be held ON
the 8rd day of November. A. d.
1896.
At the general election to be held In the
State of Minnesota on the 3rd day of No
Vember, A ID. 1896, the following laws aud
amendments anne proposed by the legislature 81
De submitted for adoption or rejection, VIZ:
An act will be submitted to the people Of
this state for their approval or rejection at
the next general election. entitled:
San 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
the people of this state for their approval
or rejection"
So far as material the act is as follows:
"Sec. /. All lands in this state heretofore
or hereafter granted by the State of Mime
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 or
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-
R sats s4 to f Ry a sHs h sa3 sdds the same
'tSec. ?. 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visions of this act are hereby repealed.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 inapplcabe to any other company not
similarly situated"
The purpose of this act is to secure the
taxation of unused railroad lands acquired
by railroad companies under federal and
state grants,
| 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 a 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 ueFiFeu from luz
Investment of the internal improvement
land fund to the road and bridge fund. The
act provides that such moneys snaH De
used only for making public roads ana
building bridges on public roads
".
can act providing for an amendment to
section four az of article five 20 of the con-
stitution of the State Of Minnesota, dehn-
ing the authority and duties Of the governor
in relation to pardons for criminal oHehses
and cPp1 ting a hoard of DdfdOlS.
Section Of article of the constitution
of Minnesota now reads as follows:
Section 4. The governor shall communl-
cate by message to each session of the egis-
lature such information touching the state
and condition of the country as ne 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, n
writing, of the principal of1cer IN each OF
the executive departments, upon any SUD-
ject relating to the duties OF their respec-
tive offices: and he shall haze power 10
grant reprieves and pardons, after eonvlc-
ton, for offenses against the state, eXcepf
IN cases of impeachment. He shall have
power, by and with the advice and consent
of the senate. to appoint state Hbraflan
and notaries public, and such other officers
as may be provided by law. He shall have
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, fill any vacancy that may
occur in the Office of secretary OF state;
treasurer, auditor, attorney general, ana
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, Tor
offenses against the state.
In place of the words thus proposed to be
stricken ont. it is proposed TO insert the IoI-
lowing words:
"And he shall have power, in conjunction
with the board of pardons, OF which the
governor shall be ex-officio a member, and
the other members of which shall consist or
the attorney general of the State of Min
nesota and the chief justice Of 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.
that its adoptfon will be followed BY the
enactment Of suitable law defining and
regulating the powers and duties of such
board of pardons in granting reprieves and
pardons.
EAn act proposing amendment to sec
ton one ~ of article seven ~ of the con-
stitution of the State of Minnesota which
relates to the elective franchise.
Section one Of article { of the constitu-
tion Of Minnesota now reads as follows;
''Sectfon l. 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
uraIization
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
Lxy sold RI oa ne hIp nf oni0V-