The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-11-01
Proposed Amendments
Constitution Of Minnesota

UOuSuluLlUl vi MlQDeSOtd
Hon. Peter E. Hanson. Secretary of State
Sir:
Pursuant to Chapter 157 of the General
Laws of 1887. herewith file in your office
synopses Of Amendments to the Consti-
tuition Of the State of Minnesota as pro-
posed by 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 well as synop-
sis Of Chapter $50 Of the General Laws Of
1901, being an Act involving the taxation
OF railroad property, to be submitted to
the electors of the State for adoption OF
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-
tlon, 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:
Section 1. That every railway company
owning or operating any line Of railway
situated within, or partly within, this
nually thereafter, pay into the treasury
OF this state. as taxes upon all property
within this state owned or operated for
railway purposes by such company, in
Guiding equipment. appurtenances, APP
pendages and franchises thereof, sum
Oh money ne equal to four "a per cent Of the
ne IF railway Witbh this
ana the payment of such taxes shall be in
tull and in lieu of all other taxes upon the
property and franchises so taxed. i% The
lands acquired by public grant shall be
sold or contracted to be sold or conveyed
as provided in the respective acts whereby
saen grants were made or recognized:
sec: =. The term the gross earnings
OF railway within this state,' as used in
section one O of this act, is hereby de-
clared and shall be construed to mean all
earnings on business beginning and end
earnings on all interstate business passing
through' into or out Of the state as the
mileage operated within the state bears
TO the entire mileage operated by such
company. 80.
Sec. 8. All acts and parts of acts not
inconsistent herewith regulating the pay
ment, collection, time of payment, en-
amount Of taees UPON the gross earn1ngs
of railroad companies within this state, or
providing penalties for the non-payment
PIE to this act so far as may be; and all
acts and parts of acts inconsistent with
the provisions of this act are hereby re-
pealed.
Sec. 4. Upon failure to nav the amount
OF such taxes legally due upon the dates
heretofore provided by law for the paw
ment thereof, in addition to existing rem
e eill9' collection may. be enforced in
civil action brought in the name Of the
State of Minnesota in the district court
of any county.
Sec. s.. 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.
(The omitted provision refers to the
method of printing the ballot and submit
ting the act for ratification)
This act provides for an increase
of the amount taxes collected by
the state upon the prODerty of the
railroads situated within the State.
earnings derived from the operation
of such lines of railway within the
state, to 3 sum of money equal to
tour per cent upon the gross earn
nngs derived from the operation of
such lines of railway therein.
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
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.
lOo' 1t is proposed to amend Article
Eight (S). Section Six (0 of the Consti-
tuition.
This Section as now existing reads az
Section 6: The permanent school and
university fund of this State may be in
vested in the purchase of bonds of any
village of this state, but no such invest
ment shall be made until approved nv
the board CT commissioners designated by
Jaw y wv, TO ere regulate the investment of the
nent univr -,sity fund of this State; nor
shall such loan or investment be made
w Wnr the issue of which the same in
debtedness exceed seven per cent Of the
assessed valuation Of the taxable real
property of the county, school district
nor shall such loans or Indebtedness he
made at lower rate of interest than
three per cent per annum nor for a short
er period than five 90 years nor for a
no change of the town. school district
village, city or county lines shall relieve
ne real property in such town, school |
state at the time of issuing of such bonds
such bonds. '
1t is proposed by said act to amend the
same so as to read as follows:
Section &. The permanent school and |
fund of this State may be in
tested IS e; in the bonds of any county, school
state. but no such investm ragt shall th hs
made until approved by the board Of /
commissioners designated by law to reg
llate the investment of the permanent
'ity fund of this state; nor shall
such, loan or investment be made when
ne bonds to be issued or purchased i
snt{fs per- Cent ef the
assessed valuation of the taxable real
property of the county, school district,
Tor shall such loans or Indebtedness be
made at lower rate of interest than
g. pss cent ahaPp per xs ~ nor for
or longer period than twenty iso5
ears, and no change of the town, school |
district, city, village, or of county lines.
shall relieve the real property in such
own, school district. county, village or
city in this state at the time of the issu-
ng OF such bonds from any liability for |
axation to pay such bonds. -,
The effect of the above amendments
II adopted, Will be to authorize the |
investment of the permanent school |
md university fund of this state for
\ period of not less than five (5) or
more than twenty 600 years, at an
interest rate not less than three (3l |
per cent per annum, in the bonds OF |
my county, school district. city. /