Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-10

cent and law to that effect was
passed. This law could not, however,
take effect AID be in force unless the
same was al opted and ratified by
majority of the electors of the state
voting at the election at which the
same was submitted.
Pursuant to this requirement of the
constitution, the law referred to was
submitted to the electors of our state
at the general election held on the 4ti.
day OF November last. The required
majority was not received. This re-
suit is, however, not to be regarded as
IN expression of the people against
the measure. It was due to the fact
that many of the voters did not vote
upon this important measure because
their attention had not been called
specifically to it, and it's import was
not sufficiently understood; and also
| Inc TACT that the measure appeared
Upon the general ballot, which led to
oversight and confusion on the part of
the voters; and from the further fact
that great doubt existed in the minds
OF the electors whether the measure
as submitted did increase the revenue
Or not. This result suggests most en-
phatically that some plan should be de-
| vlsed which will require electors to
give attention to measures requiring
ratlhcatlon and to proposed cOnstitu-
tlonal amendments. To meet the diff
hculty referred to l would suggest
plan, to which l am advised there is
no legal objection, and l submit the
same for your careful consideration
1t is to SO amend existing laws that
each proposed constitutional amend
ment or measure requiring ratifica-
! ton be placed upon separate ballot
and that such ballot upon being voted,
If deemed necessary, be placed by the
judges of election in a separate ballot
box. This plan seems to be feasible
and ] believe would effectively meet
the difficulty referred to.
WOULD REsuBMiT TAX
COMMISSION PROPOSAL.
At the last general session a law was
passed providing for tax commission
whose duty it was to frame a tax code
for our state, and also to prepare a
bill or bills providing for necessary
constitutional amendments. Pursuant
thereto a commission was duly ap-
pointed, which commission made it's
report and presented a proposed tax
code for consideration by the legisla-
ture. The commission reported that
owing to constitutional limitations it
was very much hampered and restrict
ed in the preparation of the code pro-
posed. At the extra session, called
Immediately after the filing of the
report of the commission, and after
the most thorough consideration of the
subject matter, it was deemed wise to
present to the people of our state for
adoption or rejection at the next gen
eral election certain proposed amend
ment to the constitution. The saia
amendment was submitted to the cleo
tors of the state at the election held
on the 4th day of November last, and
owing to failure on the part of the
voters to vote upon the proposed
amendment the same failed to receive
the majority provided for by the con
stitution and was lost. The proposed
amendment, if the same had been
adopted and ratified by the voters OF
the state, would have removed many
of the restrictions of which the tax
commission complained, and would
have enabled the legislature to pass
many tax measures which seemed tC
be imperative and required under co
listing conditions.
] earnestly recommend that you pro
vide for the resubmission to the people
of the amendment as submitted at the
last election. Should such proposed
amendment be submitted to the people
and be adopted and ratified, the door
would then be open for new methods
of taxation. Under such conditions
the legislature would be enabled tc
pass a graduated income tax; also a
registry tax on all mortgages; tax
on franchises, and if DESIRED to pro
vide for gross earnings system as tC
public service corporations in lieu OF
direct taxation. In a word it would
permit tax reform and all property in
the state could be brought under equal
and uniform taxation.
FIGHT AGAINST NORTHERN
SECURITIES COMPANY
In November, 1901, corporation
called the Northern Securities com
pany was organized under the laws OF
New Jersey by certain stockholders OF
the Great Northern and Northern Pa
citic Railway companies, for the pur
pose OF acquiring the capital stock OF
those two companies; thus effecting a
consolidation of the property and
franchises of these two competing
lines of railway in this state, in viola
ton of the laws of Minnesota.
The attorney general retained spe
cial counsel to assist him in enforcing
the laws of this state and preventing
such consolidation. An application
was made on behalf of the state to
bring this suit in the supreme court
for the reason that the Northern Sc
curities company was New jersey
corporation, and it was questionable
whether or not jurisdiction could be
obtained over such corporation in this
state Owing to peculiar conditions
this application was denied, and short
ly after that suit was begun in the
district court of Ramsey county, anG
an effort made to acquire jurisdiction
over the Northern Securities company
The Northern Securities company and
the two railway companies involved
then made an application to remove
this suit to the federal court. filed an
affidavit that the company did not own