The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-10-31
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

-
Minnesota voters have an important
duty TO perform aside from. casting
their ballots for their favorite candi-
dates on election day. They must.de'
eide whether the constitutional
amendments shall be adopted. - A
peculiar Importance attaches to IAN
affirmative vote on these propositions
from the fact that it requires ma
iority Of all the votes cast at the elac-
ton to adopt an amendment to the
constttution-nUt majority of the
votes cast on q particular amendment
but more than half of all the ballots
cast ut the election. Thus. failure to
vote either for or against an amend
ment in effect counts against
it. The voter who fails to infor n
himself as to the merits of the propos-
ed changes IN the constitution can not
escsps being counted unless he stays
away from the polls altogether. If he
casts his ballot at all it must be count
ed one way or the other and he. votes
against an amendment quite as effectu-
ally by failing to mark his ballot in
respect to that proposition as If he
marked il in the negative. N n
Ths 6rst amendment is on sthe in
crease Of the gross earnings of
railroads frou three to four per cent.
The seoond is to increase the size of
State loans that can be made to cities.
villages, towns and school districts.
Third concerns state aid in road and
bridge building. The fourth is to per-
nit The drawing of a model tax law.
The legislature recognizing the i'm
port8uce Of such measures and the i'm
portancs of having everyone vote on
them has placed the amendments first
Oh the ballot. They will be right at
the top
Under the constitution the railroads
de not pay any direct tax on their
tracks. cars, engines, depots or any
property used by them for railroad
purposes. In place of all other taxes.
however, the railroads pay tax OF
three per cent of all their earning;
from che operation of their lines
within the state, and just proper
tion If their earnings on all interstate
business passing through. coming
into OF going out of the state. This
three per cent tax last year WAS about
81, 600, 600 It is now proposed to
make 5his tax four per cent. The
vote Of the people on this will be eb.
solute aud final. No law will be re.
quirei to carry it into effect and the
Supreme conrt has already held that
this increase can be made as to al
roads organized since Minnesota be.
came state, and Attorney Genera
Douglas holds it has the same power
as to the roads organized while Min
nesots was a territory. In any event
this Tote will simply show if the peo
pie want this railroad tax increased
any question as to the right TO in
crease it as TO part of the roads. the
courts can settle. 1t is 'tup to the
eopie The constitution now per
mits tosn5 10 be made from the perma
nent aehooi and university funds tc
oounSie s, school Districts, towns cities
ami villages &C not less than three pei
cent interest, for not less than five
nor longer than twenty years. wher
the loan does not make che total bond
ed tebt OF thu borrower exceed sever
per cent Of the assessed valuation
The proposed amendment only changes
this by increasing the. amount tina
can he loaned from seven to fifteer
per cent OF the assessed valuation
Tho constitution fixes all state loans a
thfee per cent net. No state fund
can be loaned for less than this and ye
as tie money market is now and ha
been FOR some time it is almost i'm
possible TO get safe investments il
large sums at that rate, The com
mission. consisting of = the governor
auditor and treasurer. have hunted tn,
country over Tor safe loans and We
right here at home our own peopl,
have been paying on their county
school. town. village and city bond
seldom less than. Ave per cent. A
every voter knows these loans are ab
soluteiy safe The experiment of loan
lag up TO seven per cent Of the yalua
tisn has been a success but the amour
permitted is SO low that only tn,
smaller. aad s- practically debt FREE
organizations can take advantage o
tho Law. :. 1t is..uow proposed to ex
tend It's scope. permit larger loan
while leaving the limit still absoiutel,
safe. Fifteen Der cent of the, assessed
violation Is not TO exceed on the aver