The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-10-16
SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

SoHtdineO III SnapteT fIo VI tiS 49,"
Minnesota for the year 1907. BY TINS
amendment it is sought to repeal Section
sixteen (16) of Article nine (9) OF tne
Constitution, which section now reads as
folows:
For the purpose of lending aid in the
construction and Improvement OF puphc
highways and bridges, there is hereby
created fund to be known as the state
Road and Bridge Fund Said fund shaii
include all moneys accruing from the IN
come derived from investments in the
internal Improvement land fund, or tina.
may hereafter accrue to said FUND. anu
shall also include all funds accrulng 10
any state road and bridge fund, however
provided
The legislature is authorized to add to
such fund for the purpose Of constructing
or improving roads and bridges or TINS
state, by providing, in its discretion, for
an annual tax levy upon the property OF
this state of not to exceed in any year
one-twentieth (1-20) of one % mill on
all the taxable property within the state.
THE legislature is also authorized TO
provide for the appointment, by the gov
ernor of the state, of a board to be
known as the State Highway Commits
sion' consisting of three CD members
who shall perform such duties as snail De
prescribed by law without salary or COM
pensation other than personal expenses
such commission shall have general
superintendent Of the construction OF
state roads and bridges and shall use
such fund in the construction thereof and
distribute the same in the several coun-
ties in the state upon an equitable basis.
Provided further, that no county shall re-
ceiye in any year more than three l5)
per cent or less than one-half (12) OF one
Cd per cent of the total fund thus pro-
vided and expended during such year;
and, provided further, that no more
than one-third Q-3) of such fund accru-
ing in any year shall be expended Tor
bridges, and in no case shall more than
one-third (1-3) of the cost of construc-
ton or improving any road or bridge be
paid by the state from such fund.-,
and to substitute therefor the following:
Section 16. For the purpose of lend
ing aid in the construction and improve
ment of public highways and bridges,
there is hereby created fund to be
known as the State Road and Bridge
Fund. Said fund shall include all moneys
accruing from the income derived from
investments in the internal Improvement
land fund, or that may hereafter accrue
to said fund, and shall also include all
funds accrulng to any state road ana
bridge fund, however provided.
THE legislature is authorized to add to
such fund, for the purpose OF construct
ing or improving roads and bridges OF
this state by providing, in its discretion,
for an annual tax levy upon the property
of this State.''
The purpose and effect of this amend
ment Is to authorize the legislature to
levy upon all the property of the state
any amount necessary, In its Judgment
for the benefit of the roads and bridges
therein, and In so far removes the Iimita-
tion which now exists in the Constitution,
whereby the legislature Is prevented
from levying for such purpose tax ex-
ceeding onetwenteth G-20) of one CD
mill on the taxable property within the
state.
This amendment further authorizes the
legislature to provide salary and compen-
sation, including personal expenses in
Cured In The performance OF duty by the
highway commission, or any other like
officer entrusted by law with similar du-
ties.
Finally this amendment removes the
limitation which new exists in the Con-
stitutlon upon the powers of the highway
commission In the distribution of the road
and bridge fund of the state whereby au-
thorlZed, and the amount which the state
may pay from such fund toward the cost
of constructing CT improving any road or
bridge, and leaves the whole management
of such fund to be provided for by law,
as the legislature shall deem wise.
The adoption of this amendment VIII
not Interfere with the power of the legis-
ldtuTe TO Create d highway CofriIHiSSiOu
and define its powers, nor Will 1t inter-
fere with the appointment and tenure OF
office of the present commission.
THIRD PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
The third proposed amendment is con-
tanned In Chapter 379 of the Laws Of
Minnesota for the year 1907 BY this
amendment it Is sought to add the follow
ing section to Article nine (9) Of the Con-
stitution as a new sections:
Section II. The legislature may pro-
vide for the payment by the State OF
Minnesota of damages to growing crops
by hail and wind, or either, and to pro-
vide a fund for that purpose, may i'm
pose a specific tax upon lands, the own
ers of which, at their option, have listed
the same with county auditors for that
purpose, and no payment shall be made
of any such damages except from the
fund so provided"
The purpose and effect of this amend
ment Is to authorize the legislature to
permit the state to become the trustee in
the collection and disbursement of fund
for the payment of damages to growing
crops by hail or wind, or both. This fund
is to be created and maintained by spe-
clfc tax upon the lands of such persons
ONLY as shall VOLUNTARILY list the
same with their respective county audit
ors for such purpose. There can be no
tax for such purpose imposed on the lands
of any owner who does not consent there
to. Its adoption will authorize tine Iegis-
Iature to direct that the taxing machinery
of the state be used to levy and collect
the tax necessary to raise such fund, and
to provide for the disbursement of the
same by the officers of the state, but any
payments to be made by the state by rea-
SON of damage by hail or wind will have
to be made from said fund and from no
other. The state would assume no re-
sponsiblity beyond the amount Of such
fund, and could not further be rendered
liable.
FOURTH PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
The fourth proposed amendment is con-
talned in Chapter 490 of the laws of Min
nesota for the year 1907. BY this amend
ment it is sought to repeal the provisions
of Section seven () of Article seven ~
of the Constitution, which section now
reads ss follows:
Every person who by the provisions
of this article shall be entitled to vote at
any election shall be eligible to any office
which now is, or hereafter shall be, cleo
tive by the people in the district wherein
he shall have resided thirty days previous
to such election, except as otherwise pro-
vided in this Constitution, or the Consti-
tuition and laws OF the United States,
Every person who by The provisions of
this article shall be entitled to vote at
any election shall be eligible to any office
which now is, or hereafter shall be- cleo
tive by the people in the district wherein