The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-20

Proposed Amendments !.
...s,......... TO THE
Constitution Of Minnesota.
Hon. Peter e. Hanson, Secretary of State-Sir:
pursuant to Chapter 1877 of the General Laws
OF 1887, herewith file in your office synopses of
amendments to the Constitution Of the State OF
minnesota as proposed by the General Laws or
the state OF Minnesota enacted at the General
session or the Legislature in 1901 and the Extra
Session in 1902, as we'll as a synopsis of Chapter
100 OF the General Laws Of 1901. being Act
involving the taxation of railroad property, to
be submitted to the electors of the State for
ADOPTION or rejection at the next General Elec-
ton.
Yours respectfully,
". B. DOUGLAS,
Attorney General.
SYNOPSIS OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CON-
STITUT1ON OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
PROPOSED BY THE LlIGI STATURE OF THE
SAID STATE AT THE GENERAL SESSION
IN 1901. AND THE EXTRA SESSION IN
1902, AS WE'LL AS SYNOPSIS OF
CHAPTER 100 OF THE GENERAL LAWS
or 1901, PROPOSING AN INCREASE OF
THE GROSS EARNINGS TAX UPON RAIL
ROAD PROPERTIES.
Pursuant to the provisions of section ga Of
Article ~. of the State Constitution, the Legis
1ature by act approved April 6, 1901, known as
Chapter $50 Of the General Laws Of 1901, pre-
sent to the electors of the state for rejection or
approval, the following to wit:
Section 1. That every railway company own
Ing or operating any line of railway situated
ing the year 1903, and annually thereafter, pay
into the treasury of this state. taxes upon
all property within this state owned operated
Tor railway purposes by such company, including
equipment =, appurtenances, appendanges and
franchises thereof, a sum of money equal to
from the operation of such line of railway within
TINS sta a and the payment of such taxes shall
the property and franchises so taxed. The
lands acquired by public grant shall be and re-
main exempt from taxation until sold Or con on
tracted to be sold or conveyed provided in the
respective acts Whereby such grants were made
Sec. 2. The term, "the gross earnings derived
from the operation Of such line of railway within
this state,' used in section one 1) of this
act, is hereby declared and shall be construed to
ending within the state, and Il proportion Of
earnings on all interstate business passing
through. into or out of the state, the mile
age a! operated within the state bears to the en-
tire en- mileage operated 1t by such company. ;nu
sistent herewith regulating the payment, col
lection; time of payment. enforcement or re-
of raroa OF upon
TINS state or providing penalties for the nom
ne TO TINS act SO far as may be; and all acts
and parts OF acts inconsistent with the provisions
OF this act are hereby repealed.
such taxes legally due upon the dates hereto
fore provided by law for the payment thereof.
IN ADDITION to existing remedies, collection may
be enforced in a civil action brought in the
name of the State of Minnesota in the district
e0 see Of any h county mt sno, ho snn,t+oa +,o
people of this state for their approval re-
lection at the next general election for the year
CThe omitted provision refers to the method
of printing, the ballot and submitting the act TO,
rattle lrion.)
This act provides for an increase in the amount
erty of the railroads situated within the State
| from three per cent upon the gross earnings de-
within the State, to of money equal to
| tour per cent upon the gross earnings derived
from the operation of such lines of railway
Under the terms of the Constitution above re.
ferred to, this Act of the Legislature must be
submitted to legal voters of the State and will
/ become operative if adopted by a majority OF
such electors voting at the next general cleo
| ton.
| By an act of the Legislature of the State O
Minnesota, approved February 2S, 1901, ant
| known as House File No. 100, it is proposed t,
amend Article Eight (s), section Six (6) of thu
constitutions.
| This section as now existing reads as follows
| Section g.. The permanent school and univer
| sity fund of this state may be invested in the
purchase of bonds of any county, school distrr!
or vii La of cfofa h,,f NJ
| Investment shall be made until approved by the
| board of commissioners designated by law to reg
fund Of this State; nor shall such loan or invest
| ment be made when the issue of which the same
In part would make the entire bonded indebted
alton of the taxable real property of the county
| school district, city, town village issuing
such bonds; nor shall such loans or Indebtedness
| be made at lower rate Of interest than three
per cent per annum nor for shorter periot
than five (5) years for a longer period thar
school district, village, city county lines shall
| relieve the real property in such town, school,
district, county village or city in this state al
the time of issuing of such bonds from any liza
| biltty for taxation to pay such bonds.
1t is proposed by said act to amend the sam
! so as to read as follows:
| Section 6. The permanent school and univer
sity fund of this state may be Invested in the
bonds of any county, school district city, toW'r
! or village of this state, but no such investment
| shall be made until approved by the board OF
commissioners designated by law to regulate thu
| investment of the permanent school fund ant
| the permanent university fund Of this state: mol
shall such loan investment be made wher
the bonds to be issued or purchased would make
the entire bonded Indebtedness exceed ffteeI
| (15) per cent of the assessed valuation of the
| taxable real property of the county, school dis
trict, city, town village issuing such bonds
| nor shall such loans Indebtedness be made Al
| lowel rate of interest than three (3) per cen
per annum for a shorter period than five Is
| years, nor for longer period than twenty go
| years, and no change Of the town, school dis
| trict, city, village. Of county lines. shall re
| lieve the real property In such town. schoo
district county, village city in this state a
| the time Of the issuing of such bonds from any
liability for taxation pay such bonds.
! Tho effect Of the above amendment if adopted
will he to authorize the investment of the per
manent school and university fund of this state
for period Of not less than five 60 or more
| than twenty (20) years, at an interest rate no
| less than three (3) per cent per annum. in the
bonds Of any county. school district, city town
| or village, of this state. when the bonds to b
issued or purchased will not make the entir,
bonded indebtedness of such municipalities ex
coed fifteen (15) per cent of the assessed valua
ton of the taxable real property contained
| therein.
The substantial change proposed by said amend
| rnent is to authorize such investments when tn
| entire indebtedness, including tho loan in ques
| ton, does not exceed fifteen 15) per cent of tn
| assessed valuation of the taxable real propert.
in such municipalities; whereas, under the exist
ing constitution loans are permitted only wher
! such total indebtedness does not exceed sever