The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-10-22

stitution Of the State Of Minnesota
Proposed by the Legislature OF the
State Of Minnesota at the General
Session In 1903, az Well as synop.
sis Of Chapter 253 Of the General
Laws Of 1908 Proposing an Increase
Of Gross Earnings Tax Upon Rail-
road Property:
Pursuant to the provisions Of Section
80 (a) of Article Of the Constitution, the
18th, 1903, known as Chapter 25s of the
General Laws Of 1903 present to the er ees1
Section 1. Every railroad company
owning, or operating any line Of 81. railway way
state. shall during the year 1908, and an.
nually thereafter pay into the treasury OF
this state in lieu Of all taxes and assess
owned or operated for railway purposes
by such company, including equipment.
appurtenances, APPENDICES and iran
four ~ per cent of the gross earnings de.
rived from the operation of such line or
railway within this state; and the annual
payment of sucn sum shall be IN full and
in lieu Of all other taxes and assessments
upon the property and franchises so
taxed. The lands acquired by public
grant shall be and remain exempt from
sold. or conveyed, as provided in the re-
spective acts whereby such grants were
made or recognized.
Sec. 2, The term the gross ear r IS
railway within this state, as used In sec,
ton 1 of this act. is hereby declared and
shall be construed to mean. al earnings
on business beginning and ending within
this state, and g. proportion. based upon
the proportion Of the mileage within the
state to the entire mileage over which
Interstate inter t BUSINESS NJ passing through. into
Sec 3. All acts and parts of acts not
tne pay
forcement or reports involving the
amount Of taxes upon the gross earnings
of railroad companies witaln TINS state.
ps n RScs re'
far as may be: and all acts and parts OF
Sec. 4. Upon failure to pay the az amount Gun
of such taxes legally due upon the date
ment: thereof. in addition to existing
remedies, collection may be enforced in
q civil action brought in the name of the
State of Minnesota in the district court
Sec. 5. Before any railroad company
shall be heard to contest or continue
to contest the validity of this act or any
as condition precedent thereto. pay into
the treasury Of the State of Minnesota,
the amount of taxes due or payable
from such railroad company under the
Sec g. This act shall be submitted TO
the people of this state for their approval
refer to the method Of prnt
ing the ballot and submitting this act
for ratihcatton0
This act provides for an increase in
the amount Of taxes collected by the
state upon the property of the rail-
roads situated within the state from
three per cent of the gross earnings
derived from the operation of railways
within the state to a sum equal to four
per cent of the gross earnings derived
from the operation of such lines of
railway within the state. The annual
payment of such sum shall be in full
and in lie uof all other taxes and as.
sessments upon the property so taxed.
The lands acquired by public grant
shall be and remain as heretofore ex.
empt from taxation until sold or con.
tracted to be sold or conveyed, as pro.
vided in said acts where such grants
were recognized.
Provision is made in this act where
by the disputed and unpaid taxes on
the gross earnings of any railway com.
pany within the state may be collected
BY a civil action brought in the name
of the State of Minnesota in any coun.
ty thereof. The right to maintain such
civil action Is in addition to existing
v,ood{oc for tho ooo1ootiou oe <ho 49,.
centum tax upon the gross earnings of
railroads within the state. The exist
ing remedy which the State of Mime.
sofa may use in enforcing the payment
by any railroad company within the
state Of any disputed and unpaid taxes
upon it's gross earnings. 10 by destraint
of its movable property by the State
Treasurer. and sale Of sufficient there.
of to satisfy the states claim. This
new method of enforcing the collec:
ton of such taxes. proposed by this
amendment, will. II adopted, enable
the state to secure a speedy and direct
judicial determination Of the liability
of any such railway company for dis
puted and unpaid items of gross earn.
ings taxes.
Under the terms of the Constitute,
of the State of Minnesota this act Of
the legislature must be submitted to
the legal voters of the state, and will
become operative il adopted by a ma
jority of the electors voting at the
next general election. Il,
II.
BY an act of the legislature of the
State Of Minnesota. approved March 3rd,
1908. known as Chapter Is Of the Gem
eral Laws Of Minnesota Of 1903. the
same being House File No. 4. 1t 10 pros
posed to amend Section 9 Of Article :