The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-06

sisting of three (9) members, who shall
perform such duties as shall be prescrib-
ed by law, without salary or compensa-
ton other than PERSONAL expenses.
Such commission shall have general SUI
perintendence of the construction of state
roads and bridges and shall use such
fund in the construction thereof and
distribute I'll. the same in the seXe raj
basis. Provided, further that no
county shall receive in any year more
than three go per cent or less than one.
fund thus provided and expended during
such year; and provided, further, that no
more than one-third Q-S) of such fund
accruing in any. year shall be expended
than one-third (1-3) of the cost of con-
struct1ng or improving any road or prldge
be paid by the state from such fund:
1t is proposed by said Act to amend the
same so as to read as follows:
Section 16. For the purpose of lending
aid In the. construction and improvement
of public highways and bridges, there is
hereby created fund to be known as the
Estate Road and Bridge Fund" Said
| fund shall include all moneys accruing
| from the interest derived from the in
vestments 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 however provided.
The legislature is authorized to add to
such fund for the purpose of construct
ing or improving roads and bridges of the
state, and providing in its discretion for
an annual tax levy upon the property of
| this state of not to exceed In any one
year one-tenth Q-10) of one mill on all
the taxable property within the state.
! The existing Constitution authorizes
| legislation providing for levy of a state
tax of 12o of one mill for the purpose
of building roads and bridges, and provides
for its use under the direction of State
shall contribute at least double the
amount of the State moneys expended by
said Commission for such purpose, subject
| also to certain other limitations.
BY the proposed change, a tax of ITO
Of one mill is authorized to be levied for
this purpose; the Highway. Commission is
abolished, and the result, If the proposed
amendment is adopted. will be to place
the distribution of such funds in the hands
OF the Legislature, without limitation or
restriction.
BY an act of the legislature of the State
of Minnesota, known as Chapter one Cd
Of the Laws of the Extra Session of 1902,
it is proposed to amend sections one ~,
| two (2) and three (3) of article nine COY
of the constitution.
| The sections as now existing read as
| follows
| Section 1. All taxes to be raised in
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,
| the state; provided that the legislature
may, by general law or special act, au-
| thoriZe municipal corporations to levy
assessments for local improvements upon
| the property fronting upon such improve
| ments. or upon the property to be bene-
fitted by such Improvements, or both,
without regard to cash valuation, and
in such manner as the legislature may
prescribe; and provided, further, that for
the. purpose of defraying the expenses of
laying water pipes and supplying any
itIyT wit ton ffn
1slature may, by general or special law.
authorize any such city or municipality,
having a 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,
or 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 NAV
be by law levied and collected a tax upon
all inheritances. devises. requests, lega-
ton above a fixed and specified sum, Of
| any and all natural persons and corpo-
ratlons. Such tax above such exempted
sum may be. uniform, or it may be graded
maximum tax of five per cent.
Sec. ?. The legislature shallsprovide for
an annual tax sufficient to defray the es-
| timated ordinary expenses of the state
for each year; and whenever it shall hap
pen that such ordinary expenses of the
state for any year shall exceed the in
islature shall provide for levying a tax
| for the ensuing year sufficient, with other
! sources of income, to pay the deficiency
OF the preceding year. together with the
"a nCn Of
Sec. 8. Laws shall be passed taxing
| all moneys, credits, invest ments 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 burying grounds, public school
! houses, public hospitals, academies col
Ieges; universities and all seminaries of
| learning, all churches, church property
! used for religious purposes, and houses of
| worship, institutions of purely public CT Gr-
| 1ty public property used exclusively for
any public purpose, and personal property
| to an amount not exceeding in value two
! hundred dollars for northumberland shall
by general laws. be exempt from taxation
1t is proposed by said chapter to amend
! the same so IS 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-
| come of the state for such year the
legislature shall at its next general ses-
sion provide for levying a tax sufficient
the income of the state from other
sources shall be sufficient to defray all
OF It's ordinary expenses without the levy
shall be omitted. All taxes to be raised
| in this state shall be as nearly equal as
| may be and shall be levied and collected
for public purposes only; and all property
which n hn 1nxyin6
| as herein otherwise provided shall have
cash valuation and shall be equalized
and uniform throughout the state pro-
vided that whenever the levy of tax
| for state purposes is omitted as above
| provided, the taxes levied for local pur-
poses shall be upon valuation of the
| the subdivisions thereof, which shall be
| equalized and uniform throughout each
county. The legislature may by general
! or special law authorize municipal cor
| porations to levy assessments for local
! improvements upon the property fronting
| upon such improvements, or upon proper
| ty benefited thereby, or both, without re-
| gard to cash valuation in such manner
| as the legislature may prescribe. There
may be levied and collected an annual
tax upon franchises granted by public
authority, in addition to the tax on the
real property and other personal property
of the person or corporation holding such
FRANCHISE; or in lieu of tax on such
franchise alone, or in lieu of a tax on
such franchise and the personal property
used in connection with the exercise Of
the same, there may be imposed such tax
upon the gross earnings of the person
or corporation holding such franchise as
the legislature may determine; and said
tax shall be apportioned between the
state, counties and municipalities where
| such franchise is exercised, in the same
! manner as real estate taxes are appor-
| toned. There may be levied and col
! lected a transfer tax not to exceed 5
| per centum upon the estates Of decedents
above a fixed and specified sum- which
! tax may be uniform or graded or pro-
gressive. There may be levied and col