The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-08-08
AMENDMENTS.
Important Measures to be Voted on at the
Coming Election.

The voter will have no more import
ant duty at the next election than &c
vote on the proposed constitutional
amendments. Under the cOnstitu-
tiOn no amendment can be passed
except by a majority of all the votes
cast. 1t has to have more than half
the votes put in the ballot boxes and
therefore the man that does not vote
at all on the amendments, that is,
does not mark them at all. in effect
votes against them. TO vote for
them you have to mark the ballot, to
vote against them you merely have
to do nothing. 1t is therefore abSO-
lutely essential that the voter mark
his ballot if lie wants the amendment
to pass. This years proposed amend
mentS are also the most important
ever submitted in this state.
! Four constitutional amendments
will be on the ballots. The first is on
the increase of the gross earnings tax
Of railroads from three to four per
cent. The second is to increase the
size of state loans that can be made
to cities, villages, towns and school
districts. The third concerns state
aid in road and bridge building. The
fourth is to permit the drawing OF d
model tax law
The legislature, recognizing the
Importance of such measures and the
Importance of having every one vote
on them has placed the amendments
| first on the ballot-right at the top.
IfyOu do not mark your ballot, 1t
counts as vote against the amend
ments but it does not show cOncluS-
| lively that you do not approve OF them
bu5 only that you were Indifferent
Mark each amendment yes or no ana
then there can be no question as TO
what you want.
THE GROSS EARNINGS TAX.
Under the constitution the railroads
do not pay any direct tax Gu 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 or
three per cent of all their earnings
from the operation of their lines
within the state. This includes all
business done beginning and ending
i'm tie state, and d just proportion OF
their earnings on all interstate busl-
ness passing through, coming into or
going nut Of the state. Ihls three
per cent tax last year was about
81, GOO, 300. It is now proposed TO
make 5lis tax four per cent, which
would this last year nave mace III
50. 100000 The vote of the people on
this VIII be absolute and final. NO
law'W6l be required TO carry it into
effect and the supreme court has al
ready held that this increase can be
made as to all roads organized since
Minnesota became Il state ana AttOr-
ney General Douglas holds it has the
same power as to the roads organized
While Minnesota was territory. In
nveyent this vote will simply show
if the people want this railroad tax
increased: any question as to the
right to Increase it as to part or the
roads, the courts can settle.
STATE LOANS AMENDMENT.
The constitution now permits loans
to be made from the permanent
school and university funds to count
les. school districts, towns. cities and
villages at not less than three per
cent interest, for not less than five
nor longer than twenty years, when
the laan does not make the total
bonded debt of the borrower exceed
seven per cent of the assessed valua
tiOn.
The proposed amendment only
changes this by increasing the amount
that can be loaned from seven to tlf-
teen per cent of the assessed Vafua-
ton. The constitution fixes all state
loans at.three per cent net, No state
funds can be loaned for less than this
and vet as the money market is now
and has been for some time it is al
most Impossible to get safe invest
ments in large sums at that rate.
The commission consisting of the
Governor, Auditor and Treasurer
have hunted the country over for safe
loass and yet right here at home our
own people have been payingon their
county, school, town, village or city
bonds. seldom less than five per cent.
Az every voter knows. these loans are
absolutely safe. The experiment of
loaning up to seven per cent OF the
valuation has been a success but the
amount permitted is so low that only
the smaller and practically debt free
organizations can take advantage Of
tile law. 1t is now proposed to extend
its scope and permit larger loans,
Wlilc leaving Uuc liIllIU dDSOluCCly
safe. Fifteen per cent of the assessed
valuation is not to exceed on an aver
age probably five per cent of the real
wealth of any district named and yet
this will relieve a great many cities.
towns and villages that are now pay
ing almost double the interest asked
on state loans, while the state will
keep its money at home. safely loaned
to its own people.
ROAD-BRIDGE FIND AMENDMENT.
The constitution now provides a.
state road and bridge fund consisting
of all the returns from the invest
ment of internal Improvement land
funds and any other state road and
bridge fund together with an annual
tax Of not to exceed one-twentieth of
one mill. This fund the legislature
can divide among the counties, CIV
inc not over one-third the cost of any
bridge or highway. nor more than
three per cent nor less than one-nalf
of one per cent of the total fund to
any one county, nor more than one
third of the total fund for bridges.
All money is to be expended under