The Redwood gazette., 1902-10-22

4SO1, De1n8 an ACT involving the taxation
of railroad property. to be submitted 10
the electors of the State for adoption or
rejection at the next General Election.
Yours respectfully,
W. B. DOUGLAS,
Attorney General.
SYNOPSES OF AMENDMENTS TO
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA PROPOSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE SAID STATE
AT THE GENERAL SESSION IN 1901
AND THE EXTRA SESSION IN 1902,
AS WE'LL AS A SYONPSIS OF CHAP
TER $50 OF THE GENERAL LAWS
OF 1901, PROPOSING Al INCREASE
OF THE GROSS EARNINGS TAX
UPON RAILROAD PROPERTIES.
Pursuant to the provisions OF Section
o2a, of Article " of the State Constltu-
tlon, the legislature by Act approved
April T, 1901, known as Chapter 1oU OF tle
General Laws Of lJO1 present to the elec-
tors OF the State for rejection or approval.
the following, to wit:
Section l. That every railway company
owning or Operating any line OF railway
situated within, or partly WlLhln, tAls
state shall, curing the year 1903, and an
hually thereafter, pay llto the treasury
OF tlls state. as ta.,ts upon all property
WITHIN this STATE owned or operated tor
rallWay purrUs'c5 py such company, ln-
Guiding equipment, appurtenaHces, ap-
pendages and franchises thereof, a sum
Of money equal TO TOUR l4) per cent Of the
gross earnings derived from the operation
OF such line Of railway within this state :
and the payment OF such taxes shall be in
full and in lieu Of all other taxes upon the
property and franchises SO taxed. The
lands acquired by public grant shall be
and remain exempt from taxation until
sold or contracted to be sold or conveyed
as provided in the respective acts whereby
such grants were made or recognized.
Sec. ?. The term the gross earnings
of railway within this state" as used in
section one o. of this act, is hereby de-
clared and shall be construed to mean all
earnings on business beginning and end
earnings on MI interstate business passing
through. int Mor out OF the state as the
mileage aAed within the state bears
to the entire Mileage operated by such
Company. y
Sec. g. All acts and parts of acts not
inconsistent herewith regulating the pay
ment. collection, time of payment, en-
forcement, or reports involving the
amount of taxes upon the gross earnings
Of railroad companies within this state, or
providing penalties for the non-payme mt
BILE to this act so far as may be; and all
acts and parts Of acts inconsistent with
the provisions Of this act are hereby re-
pealed.
Of such taxes legally due upon the dates
heretofore provided by law for the pay
ment thereof, in addition to existing rem
edes, collection may be enforced in a
civil action brought in the name of the
State Of Minnesota in the district court
Of any county.
Sec. 5. This act shall be submitted to
the people of this state for their approval
or rejection at the next general election
for the year 1902. . . . i.
(The omitted provision refers to the
method of printing the ballot and submit
ting the act for ratification0
This act provides for an increase
of the amount of taxes collected by
the State upon the property of the
railroads situated within the State.
from three per cent upon the gross
earnings derived from the operation
| of such lines of railway within the
state, to sum of money equal to
four per cent upon the gross earn
inEs derived from the operation of
| such lines Of railway therein.
Under the terms of the ConStitu-
| tion above referred to. this Act OF
! the Legislature must be submitted
| to legal voters of the state. and will
become operative if adopted by n
| majority of such electors voting at
| the next general election.
| H.
| BY an Act of the Legislature of the
| State of Minnesota. approved February
| IS 1901. and known as House File No
| 100. it is proposed to amend Article
| Eight (S), Section Six (6) Of the COnsti.
tuition.
This Section as now existing reads a
follows
Section 6. The permanent 2Hhool and
| university fund of this State fay be in
vested in the purchase OF bonss of any
| county, school district city, town OIL
Of tot ny inv acS
| ment shall be made until approved bl
the board OF commissioners designated b,
| law to regulate the investment of tn,
permanent school fund and the perma
nent university fund OF this State: mol
| shall such loan or investment be made
| when the issue OF which the same II
| part would make the entire bonded in
debtedness exceed seven per cent of th'
| assessed valuation of the taxable rea
| property of the county. school district
city, town or village issuing such bonds
| nor shall such loans or Indebtedness b
made at lower rate of interest thai
| three per cent per annum nor for a short
er period than FIVE 60 years nor for
longer period than twenty COO years. an'
no change of the town, school district
village, city or county lines shall reliev
the real property in such town. schoo
| district. county. village or city in thi
state at the time of issuing OF such bond
from any liability for taxation to pa!
such bonds.
It is proposed by said act to amend tn
|
Section 6. The permanent school ant
university fund of this State may be in
vested in the bonds of any county. schoo
district. city. town or village of thi
state. but no such investment shall b
made until approved by the board o
commissioners designated by law to reg
ulate the investment of the pernanen
school fund and the permanent univer
sity fund of this state; nor shal
such loan or investment be made vhe
the bonds to be issued or purchase
would make the entire bonded indebted
ness exceed fifteen I5l Der cent of tn
assessed valuation Of the taxable rea
property of the county. school district
city. town or village issuing such bonds
nor shall such loans or indebt tedness b
made at lower rate of interest tha
three (S) per cent per annum. nor for
shorter period than five (0 years. no
for a longer period than twenty Ca
years. and no change Of the town. schoc
district. city. village. or OF county lines
shall relieve the real property in sue
town. school district. county. village o
city in this state at the time of the issu
ing of such bonds from any liability 70
| taxation to paw such bonds.
| The effect of the above amendm N,
II adopted. will be to authorize tn
investment of the permanent schoo
and university fund of this state 70