The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-03-11
Constitutional Amendments.
LETTER II.


to be voted on, in this state next
fall, and as what is called the tax
amendment stands first in order Of
four amendments to be voted on at
the next election, we shall take that
first. A constitution being writ
ten document defining the duties of
the three great branches of govern
ment; also proclaiming the rights
and liberties of citizens of the state,
should not be continually subject to
the tinkering of petty politicians.
Our national constitution has had bit
few changes in the century and
quarter of its existence and those
largely guarding the rights of citi-
IONS, but it seems that we have SO
many Solons in this state now with
heads too big for their hats, that
every legislature is proposing chang
es to our constitutional laws. The
writer has always looked upon a
constitution as a strong fence around
the rights, liberties, privileges and
immunities of citizens and that if
you break down that fence you have
nothing with which to guard free
people from the ravages of its most
selfish citizens, for the strong wild
beasts will slaughter and live on the
feeble, but often the more useful
kind. That this proposed so-called
amendment breaks big hole in this
fence we firmly believe, for it does
not amend but destroy. I quote
from Article TX what it is proposed
to eliminate. Section l reads: Cali
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 cash valuation
and be equalized and uniform
throughout the state" Then fol-
lows some powers for municipal tax
alton respecting water and which is
of interest only to cities. The last
part of this section further reads;
"And provided further, that there
may be by law levied and collected
tax upon all inheritances, devises,
requests, legacies and gifts of ev-
cry kind and description above a
fixed and specified sum, of any and
all natural persons or corporations.
Such a tax above such exempted
sum may be uniform, or it may be
graded or progressive. but shall not
exceed a maximum tax of five per
cent" This is the portion of the
constitution, on which is based the
Somerville law taxing inheritances.
Section 2. "The legislature shall
provide for an annual tax sufficient
to defray the estimated ordinary ex.
penses of the state for each year,
and whenever it shall happen that
such ordinary expenses of the state
for any year shall exceed the income
of the state for such year the legis-
lature shall provide for levying a
tax for the ensuing year, sufficient
with other sources of income to pay
the deficiency Of the preceding year. y
Then follows provision for pre-
venting the payment of certain
railroad bonds without vote of the
people.
i Section 8. Laws shall be passed
taxing all moneys, credits, invest.
ments in bonds, stocks, joint stock
companies or otherwise, and also all
real and personal property accord.
ing to its true value in money; but
public burying grounds, public
school houses, public hospitals. acad.
emies. colleges, universities and all
semlIaries of learning, all churches,
church property used for religious
purposes and houses of worship, in.
stitutions Of purely public charity
public property used exclusively fol-
any public purpose, and persona
property to an amount not exceed
ing in value 5000 for each individ
ual, shall by general laws, be ex
empt from taxation
| Section 4. Laws shall be passed
for taxing the notes and bills dis
counted or purchased, moneys loaned
and all other property. effects OF
/ dues of every description, Of al
banks and all bankers, so that al
property employed in banking shall
always be subject to taxation equa
49, 1 IL