The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-10-11

poSeu. ny the General Laws OF the state
of Minnesota enacted at the General Ses-
sion of the Legislature in 1901 and the
Extra Session in 1902, as wen as a synop-
sis of Chapter $50 of the General Laws Of
1901, being anhAct involving the taxation
of railroad property, to be submitted to
the electors of the State for adoption or
rejection at the next General Election.
Yours respectfully,
W. B. DOUGLAS
Attorney General
SYNOPSIS OF AMENDMENTS TO
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA PROPOSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE SAID STATE
AT THE GENERAL SESSION IN 1901
AND THE EXTRA SESSION IN 1902,
AS WE'LL AS A SYONPSIS OF CHAP
TER $50 OF THE GENERAL LAWS
OF 1901, PROPOSING AN INCREASE
OF THE GROSS EARNINGS TAX
UPON RAILROAD PROPERTIES. .
Pursuant to the provisions of Section
ga, of Article " of the State Constitu-
ton, the Legislature by Act approved
April &, 1901, known as Chapter $50 of the
General Laws Of 1901, present to- the cleo
tors of the State for rejection or approval,
the following, to wit: A.. =.
Section l. That every railway company
owning or operating any line of railway
Shall aurng the eay 1Ss and t an
nually thereafter, pay into the treasury
OF TINS state. as taxes upon all property
within this state owned or operated for
Guiding equipment, appurtenances, ap-
pendages and franchises thereof, a sum
Of money equal to four (4) per cent of the
gross earnings derived from the operation
OF such line of railway within this state;
and the payment Of such taxes shall be in
full and in lieu of all other taxes upon the
fv,ox <,l,:,
lands acquired by public grant shall be
and remain exempt from taxation until
sold or contracted to be sold or conveyed
as provided in the respective acts whereby
such grants were made or recognized.
Sec. 2. The term the gross earnings
derived from the operation of such line
of railway within this state as used in
section one Q of this act, is hereby de-
clared and shall be construed to mean all
earnings on business beginning and end
ing within the state, and proportion of
ct the sate as ths
mileage operated within the state bears
to the entire mileage operated by such
Company. "'"~.
Sec. 3. All acts and parts of acts not
inconsistent herewith regulating the pay
ment, collection, time of payment, en-
forcement, or reports involving the
amount of taxes upon the gross earnings
of railroad companies within this state, or
providing penalties for the non-payment
of such taxes, are hereby made applica-
acts and parts of acts inconsistent with
the provisions Of this act are hereby re-
pealed.
Sec. l. Upon failure to pay the amount
OF such taxes legally due upon the dates
heretofore provided by law for the pay
ment thereof in addition to existing rem
edies, collection may be enforced in a
civil action brought in the name of the
State of Minnesota in the district court
Of any county.
Sec. 5. This act shall be submitted to
the people of this state for their approval
or rejection at the next general election
for the year 1902. . -. $685. go.
tThe omitted provision refers to the
method of printing the ballot and submit
ting the act for ratificaton.) 49,.
This act provides for an increase
of the amount of taxes collected by
the State upon the property of the
railroads situated within the State,
from three per cent upon the gross
earnings derived from the operation
of such lines of railway within the
State, to sum of money equal to
four per cent upon the gross earn
ings derived from the operation of
such lines of railway therein. q
Under the terms of the Constitu-
ton above referred 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 election.
BY an Act of the Legislature of the
State of Minnesota approved February
%. 1901, and known as House File No.
100, it is proposed to amend Article
Eight (S, Section Six (0 of the Consti-
tuition.
This Section as now existing reads as
follows: ".
Section 6. The permanent school and
1yosxy f,,t,I ~ t1 ok4& -
vested in the purchase of bonds of any
county, school district, city, town or
village of this state, but no such invest
ment shall be made until approved by
the board of commissioners designated by
law to regulate the investment of the
permanent school fund and the perna-
shall such loan or investment be made
when the issue Of which the same in
part would make the entire bonded in
debtedness exceed seven per cent Of the
assessed valuation of the taxable real
city, town or village issuing e such Bonds
nor shall such loans or Indebtedness be
made at lower rate Of interest than
three per cent per annum nor for short
er period than five 90 years nor for a
longer period d. than 1pa twenty go years, and
village, city or county lines shall relieve
the real property in such town, school
State at feun me Of ysgs n or Of tch da this
from any, liability for taxation to pay
such bonds. >.r !. :
1t is proposed by said act to amend the
same so as to read as follows:
Section 6. The permanent school and
university fund of this State may be in
vested in the bonds Of any county. school
state. but no such Investment shall be
made until approved by the board OF
ae se nvestmsn e by aw to
sity fund Of this state; nor shall
fe bond to be be
would make the entire bonded indebted.
ness exceed, fifteen 90 per, cent Of the
property of the county, school district
city, town or village issuing such bonds
nor shall such loans or Indebtedness be
three (3) per cent per annum, nor for 8
for a longer period than twenty go
district, city, village, or of county lines
shall relieve the real property In ucl
town, school district, county, village o.
city in this state at the time of the issu
ing of such bonds from any liability TO-
taxation to pay such bonds.
The effect of the above amendmen emit
If adopted, Will be to authorize the
investment of the permanent school
and university fund of this state fol
a period of not less than five (S) OIL
more than twenty coo years, at an
interest rate mot less than three (3
per cent per annum, in the bonds OF
any county. school district, city
town, or village of this state, wheI
the bonds to be Issued or purchased
will not make the entire bonded
indebtedness OF such municipalitie,
exceed fifteen G5 per cent OF TIL,
assessed valuation of the taxable
real property contained therein.
The substantial change prOpOsei
by said amendment is to authorize
such Investments when the entire
inde hte dnesS. including the loan. In