The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-10-11

CONSTITUTIONAL AMEADMEAlS.
This week we publish the proposed
constitutional amendments to b.
voted on at the general elections il
November. We urge their careful
reading by every voter Constitu
tional amendments in the past have
Jared badly at the hands of voters
in this state This is attributed &c
Indifference on the part OF the voter
in not Investigating their merits
and not understanding them when
they came to vote, erased them from
the ballot.
Seven amendments are submitted
this time. All are very important in
that they would work radical
changes in the fundamental law of
the state, and all of them deserve
thoughtful consideration. But three
OF them are OF pre-eminent interest
TO the people. Two OF these are i'm
portant because they provide for
essential steps in the promotion OF
the Louisiana Purchase Centennial
Exposition at St Louis. The third
because it will work change in the
methods OF assessing property and
win place a burden OF taxation upon
u class that has heretofore largely
escaped taxation.
The two World Fair amendments
provide for the issuance OF bonds by
the city Of st. Louis TO the amount
of s., 900, 900 for the Fair. and for
the Appropriation by the state legis-
nature OF 81 900, 900 out of the sink
ing fund for q state exhibit at the
Fair. Ii these two amendments fail,
the Fair will be given a death-blow.
because the appropriation of s., 0O0,-
600 by the federal government is
conditioned partly upon the raising
of the s., 100000 by the city OF st.
Louis by an issue of bonds.
The third amendment especially
mentioned provides for the taxation
of mortgages. For the purposes of
taxation mortgage shall be treat
ed as an interest in the property. The
value of the property shall be divided
into two parts when assessed, the
equity being one part and the mort
gage the other. The tax upon the
equity shall be levied upon the owner
of the property. The tax upon the
mortgage shall be levied upon the
holder OF the mortgage. As it is not
always easy to tell who owns the
mortgage, the two taxes are made
lien upon the two things taxed, and
the taxes may be paid by either man.
who is to receive credit for same in
the settlement of the mortgage
claim.
The first of the amendments |
provides that persons may be prose |
cuted criminally FOR felony or INSIDE |
meanor by information, as we'll as
by indictment. At present an indict- |
ment is necessary. Information, by |
this amendment, is made a concur |
rent remedy.
The second amendment provides |
that in the counties III this state a |
special tax not 10 exceed l. cents |
per 500 valuation may be levied |
exclusively for road and bridge pur-
poses.
The third, fourth and fifth amend |
ments are explained fully above.
The sixth amendment provides |
that no grand Jury shall be- convened |
except upon an order OF a Judge of a |
court having power TO try and de-
termine felonies In other words. /
the grand jury shall not convene |
except when ordered 10 do - bv the
Judge. /
The seventh amendment provides
that in courts not q record. in civil |
eases. a two-tirds majority OF the
jury may bring ii verdict: and in
civil eases in courts ofracord a three
iourths majority e: the Jury mavi
render verdict