The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-10-17

such Investments when the entire
Indebtedness, Including the loan in
question, does not exceed fifteen (15)
per cent of the asses-ed v1Iua ton
of the taxable real property In such
municipalities; whereas, under the
existing Constitution loans are per-
mitted only where such total in
debtedness does not exceed seven
ca per cent of the assessed valu-
alton.
BY An Act of the Legislature of the
State of Minnesota Approved April 13,
1901, and known as House File No. 1853. 1t
Is proposed to Amend Section Sixteen Q6
OF Article Nine co. of the Constitution.
The Section as now existing reads az
follows:
Section 10. For the purpose Of lending
aid in the construction and Improvement
Of public highways and bridges there is
hereby created a fund to be known as the
state road and bridge fund" Said fund
shall include all moneys accruing from
the income derived from investments in
the internal improvement land fund, or
that may hereafter accrue to said fund.
and shall also include all funds accruing
to any state road and bridge fund, how
ever provided.
The legislature is authorized to add to
such fund for the purpose of constructing
state, by providing in it's discretion. for
an annual tax levy upon the property OF
this state, of not to exceed in any year
one-twentieth Q-20) of one "a mill on all
the taxable property within the state,
The legislature is also authorized TO
Of fG he State 81 boaFd e @
as the state highway commission" con.
sisting of three go members, who shall
scribed by ui law Without Salary or COM
pensation other than personal expenses.
Sucn commission shall have general SUI
roads and bridges and snail use such
fund in the construction thereof and
basis. Provided, further, that no
county. shall receive in any year more
than TN three 60 per cent or less than one;
fund thus provided and expended during
such year; and provided, further, that no
accruing in any. year shall be expended
than one-tRird 11-S5 Of the cost of con-
etructing or improving any road or bridge
be paid by the state from such fund.
It is proposed by said Act to amend the
same so as to read as follows:
SECTION Is. For the purpose of lending
Of public highways ard bridges, there is
hereby created tur.d to be known as the
state Road and Bridge Fund. . Said
fund shall include all moneys accrufng
from the interest derived from the In
vestments in the internal Improvement
land fund or that may hereafter accrue
funds accruing to any state road and
bridge fund however provided.
The legislature is authorized to add to
Ing or improving roads and bridges of the
state and providing in its discretion for
an annual tax levy. upon the property OF
year one-tenth Q-10) of one mill on all
the taxable property within the state.
The existing Constitution author
tzes legislation providing for levy
= of a state tax of 1-2O OF one mill for
bridges, and provides for Its use
under the direction of State High
way Commission in such counties
as shall contribute at least double
the amount of the State moneys ex-
pended by said Commission for such
purpose, subject also to certain
other limitations.
BY the proposed change. n tax OF
LILO of one mill is authorized to be
levied for this purpose; the High
way Commission is abolished, and
the result, if the proposed amend
| ment is adopted, will be to place
the distribution of such funds in the
hands of the Legislature, without
limitation or restriction.
w.
BY an act of the legislature of the State
of Minnesota, known as chapter one ~
of the Laws of the Extra Session of 1902,
1t is proposed to amend sections one %,
two (2) and three 90 of article nine 90
/ of the constitution,
The sections as now existing read an
lows: :,
this state shall be as nearly equal as may
| be, and all property on which taxes are
to be levied shall have a cash valuation,
and be equalized and uniform throughout
the state; provided, that the legislature
may, by general law or special act, au-
thoriZe municipal corporations to levy
the property fronting upon such improve
ments, or upon the property to be bene-
fted by such improvements, or both,
prescribe; and provided. further, that for
the purpose of dcfraying the expenses Of
city or municipality with water, the Leg
islature may, by general or special law,
authorize any SUCH city or municipality,
having population of FIVE thousand or
more, to levy an annual tax or assess
ment upon the lineal foot of all lands
fronting on any water main or water
pipes laid by such city or municipality
within corporate limits of said city, for
supplying water to the citizens thereof.
without regard to the cash value of such
property, and to empower such city to
collect any such tax assessments, or fines
or penalties for failure to pay the same,
OF any fine or penalty for any violation
Of the rules Of such city or municipality
in regard to the use of water, or for any
water rate due for the same.
And provided further. that there may
be by law levied and collected a tax upon
all inheritances, devises, requests, Legal
cies and gifts of every kind and descrip-
ton above a fixed and specified sum, Of
lions Such tax above such exempted
SUM may be uniform, or it may be grad
ed or progressive. but shall not exceed
q maximum tax of five per cent.
Sec .. The legislature shall provide
for an annual tax sufficient to defray the
estimated Ordinary expenses of the
shall happen that such ordinary expenses
of the state for any year shall exceed
the income of the state for such year.
q tax for the ensuing year sufficient,
with other sources of income, to pay the
deficiency of the preceding year. together
with the estimated expenses of such en-
Sec g. Laws shall be passed taxing
all moneys, credits, investments in bonds,
stocks, joint stock companies. or other
wise; and also all real and personal prop
erty, according to It's true value in
money but public n buying grounds pub
emies, colleges, universities and all semi
naries of learning, all churches, church
properly used fSE religions purposes and
public charity, public property used ex-
ciusively for any public purpose, and
u two 20 Sn amount de not
each individual, shall, by general laws,
be exempt fror taxation.
It Is proposed by said chapter to amend
the Same so as to read as follows:
Section 1. The power of taxation shall
never be surrendered. suspended or con-
tracted away. The legislature shall pro-
vide for an annual tax sufficient to defray
the estimated ordinary expenses of the
state for each year, and whenever it
shall happen that such ordinary ex-
penses for any year shall exceed the In
come of the state for such year the
legislature shall at its next general ses-
sion provide for levyfng tax sufficient
to pay such deficiency. And whenever
the income Of the state from other
sources shall be sufficient to defray all
of its ordinary expenses without the levy
Of any annual state tax, such tax levy !
shall be omitted. All taxes to be raised
In this state shall be as nearly equal as