Mower County transcript., 1908-10-21
st. Paul, Minn., May 1st, 1908.

<, w.
- st. Paul, Minn.. May LIST, 1908.
Hon. Julius A. Schmahl, Secretary Of
Sir: As required by Section Is Of tho
Revised Laws, a. amended, l. have tho
honor to furnish you herewith a state
ment Of the purposes and effects Of tho
irrespective amendments proposed to the
Constitution Of the State Of Minnesota by
the Legislature OF 1907, and which are
to be submitted to the electors Of said
state at the General Election Of 1908.
FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
The first proposed amendment Is con-
taIned In Chapter at of the Laws Of
1907. BY this amendment it Is sought to
repeal Sections one %, two (2), three
(3), four (D and seventeen (17) Of Article
nine (9) Of the Constitution (the latter
section being the amendment to said Ar
tlcIe nine (s), adopted In 1896), which
sections now read as follows:
''Section l. Ali taxes to be raised In
this state shall be as nearly equal as may
be, and all property on which taxes are
to be levied shall have a cash valuation
and be eQualized and uniform throughout
the state: Provided, that the legislature
may by general law or special act. au-
thor!ze municipal corporations to levy
assessments for local improvements upon
the property fronting upon such improve
ments, or upon the property to be bene-
flied by such improvements. or both.
without regard to cash valuation, and In
such manner as the legislature may pre-
scribe: and provided further, that for the
purpose of defraying the expenses OF lay
ing water pipes and supplying any city or
municipality with water. the legislature
may, by general or special law, authorize
any such city or municipality. having
popula tion Of five thousand or more, to
levy an annual tax or assessment upon
the lineal foot OF all lands fronting on
any water main or water pipe laid by
such city or munic icipality within oOr-
porate limits Of said city for supplying
water to the citizens thereof without
regard to the cash value Of such prop
erty, and to empower such city to collect
any such tax. assessments or fines, or
penalties for failure to pay the same, or
any fine or penalty for any violation OF
the rules Of such city or municipality In
regard to the use Of water, or for any
water rate due for the same: and pro-
yided further that there may be by law
levied and collecte. a tax upon all inher-
itances, devise3 bequests. legacies and
gifts Of every kind and description above
fixed and specified sum. Of any and all
natural persons and corporations. Suoh
tax above such exempted sum may be
uniform or it may be graded or progress
iva but shall not exceed a maximum LAX
of fiVc Der cent.
"section g. The legislature shah pro-
vide for an annual tax sufficient to de-
fray the estimated ordinary expenses OF
the state for each year, and whenever 1t
shall happen that such ordinary expenses
Of the state for any year shall exceed the
income of the state for such year the
clo "a 1oVVnp
for the ensuing year sufficient. with other
sources Of income to pay the deficiency
of the preceding year, together with the
estimated expenses Of such ensuing year
But no law levyirg a tax or making Other
provisions for the payment of interest o,
principal of bonds denominated Mime
sofa State Railroad Bonds,' shall take
effect or be in force until such law shall
have been submitted to a vote of the
people Of the state, and adopted by 6
majority of the electors of the state vot.
ing upon the same.
''Section 8. Laws shall be passed tax.
ing all moneys. credits, Investments I
bonds stocks, joint stock companies. o.
otherwise also all real and persona
property, according to it's true value II
money; but public burying grounds, pub
lie school houses, public hospitals
academies, colleges, universities, and al
s;eminaries Of learning, all churches
poses. and houses of worship, institu
tons of purely public charity, public
property used exclusively for any publi1
purpose, and personal property to al
amount not exceeding In value two hun.
dred dollars for each Individual. shall, b,
general laws, be exempt from taxation.
Section 4. Laws shall be passed fol
taxing the notee and bills discounted o.
purchased, moneys loaned. and all othe
property, effects, or dues of every de-
scription, Of all banks and of all bank
ers, so that all property employed Ii
banking shall always be subject to tax
alton equal to that imposed on the prop
erty of individuals I'D .aTH-. s
"6ection II. The legislature, may i'm
pose, or provide for tho imposition Of, up
on the property within this state Of an!
and all owners OF operators, whether cor
porate or individual. or otherwise, Of an,
and al sleeping, pArlsr and drawing room
cars. or any Or either Of the same. tWhic'
run In. into o. through: this state; ais
upon the property within this state %
any and all telegraph and telephone com
pAuies, or owners, whoao lines ara In, q
extend In, into or through this state: ID
upon the property within this 0tato q
all express companies; Or 0vHet1ss0f "A
o. either Of the same., doing ehusin0U3 4
this state; also NpoA 4 the pgupertyaWlthi
this state ~ An demestic lnsur11co nosln
paRaes Of THU stato of ASay ll14: ~
upon thS propssitsyr ~ 4 witllll tlhl1@ st1tS of q
and an foreign INSURANCE OamDanies dsin
upou the propsrty Within thlo state q 9