The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-19
JUDICIARY AT WORK
The House Committee Tackles the
$50 Constitutional Amendments.

The House Committee Tackles the
| Constitutional Amendments.
Work on the amendments to article 9 OF
the constitution was. begun yesterday az
ternoon by the house judiciary committee.
Nothing definite was. accomplished ow-
ing to the absence of three members Of
the committee. On going into executive
session at o'clock the first thing con.
sidered was the much debated question:
Shall the constitution leave the door wide
open for the legislature to make exemp-
tions or shall the Constitution specify
what classes of property are. to be ex-
empted.
The committee ran into breakers when
this question was tackled. The two schools
of thought We're both well represented
among the attorneys on the committee,
and a settlement of the point was de-
ferred until there is a full attendance.
One thing was agreed upon. In view of
the poor prospect Of passing amendments
at the general election, the first thing to
be considered in drawing them is to frame
such amendments as are likely to pass.
For this reason the sentiment is against
taking radical step.
Before going into secret session, the
committee conferred for an hour and
half with Attorney General Douglas and
with Secretary Childs of the tax commits
sion. y. t-
Attorney General Douglas spoke for
the amendments drawn by him. He de-
Tended his clause, providing that all
taxes shall be as nearly equal as may be-.
Members of the committee pointed out
that this might interfere with classified
ton. He contended that the classification
proposed was for the purpose Of bringing
about equality.
Mr.. Dunn inquired: Suppose one sec
ton should be adopted and another lost
nd fi,n finn ch
the old section still standing. Would it
by implication repeal the old section p
'In my judgment it would, returned
the attorney general
Mr.. Douglas and MIR. Childs agreed that
the exemption need not specify any class
of personal property, as household goods
or money in the bank. Mr.. Alley thought
that general sentiment would be against
the exemption of bank deposits, and such
a clause would tend to defeat the amend
ment.
Mr.. Douglas objected to county option
in assessments, holding that it was not
sound policy to set the counties bidding
against each other for business
General Childs addressed the commit
tee in defense of the amendments submit
ted by the commission He spoke for a
wide open" constitution, citing New
York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin as In
stances where such general grant OF
power to legislatures mao lOL Deeu dDuSeu.
If disposed to change the language OF the
first section, he recommended that the
committee adopt the one drawn by Mr..
Roberts. The reason for striking out all
exemptions in Sec 8. hi. said, was that
the courts held the exemptions ra1red to
be limitations beyond which the legisla-
ture cannot CO. IT not desiring to make
any exemptions, section Should be pre-
served in it's present form.
He supported the principle OF local OPP
ton, known as the New Zealand plan. 1t
was only to be brought about by gen
eral legislation, and did not involve the
vice Of snecial legislation. He admitted
that the danger Of con IetitiOn between
localities was an argument against the
system.
He suggested a concession, providing
that the, legislature might prescribe the
classes Of property which localities might
exempt;
Messrs Childs and Douglas took their
leave at 4 O'Clock after desultory dis
cussion General Chi1ds said I'M leaving:
Gentlemen, I desire to say that you
have pretty hard proposition
The committee then went into executive
session.
sT. LOUIS EXPO FAVORED
An Appropriation for a State Exhibit
Seems Probable.