The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-12-20
POLITICAL dope" FROM
SPECIAL correspondent
St. Paul Correspondent Writes the Pic.
neer Concerning Some "Live"
Political Topics.
St. Paul, Dec. 2O.-(Special CO

wa
respondence of Pioneer. 1.-The dis
covery by your correspondent of the
joker in the laws of 1907, which
disqualihes John Lind from becom-
ing candidate for governor because
he is a member of the board of
regents of the State University was
the occasion of a small-sized panic
among the faithful at the state
capitol this week. Those respon-
sible for the woodchuck had hoped
that it would 20 undiscovered; the
Democrats in the unmolested enjoy
ment of state patronage we're up in
the air because it deprived them of
even forlorn hope. Now they
fall back on the familiar cry that the
law is unconstitutional. It's cold
day in regard to any Objectionable
legislation when the question of its
constitutionality isn't raised.
The point made by those who
hope to force Lind into the game is
that it is not in the power of the
legislature to place other restrictions
on elective Offices than those con-
tanned in the constitution. The
only restrictions therein contained,
it is claimed, are that candidates for
judges must be learned in the law,
and that members of the legislature
cannot be candidates for Offices
which they have created or whose
salaries they have increased until a
year after the term for which they
have been elected has expired. MI.
-Lind's case. coming within neither,
of these categories, it is contented
that let him out. However, the
terms of the law disqualifying him
are explicit enough, and that is what
most people will 20 by.
II X Y
The attorney general has come in
to the lime light with declaration
of his intention to 20 after those
bloated bondholderS who are dead.
His contention is, and it is based on
a decision in the New York courts,
that shares of stock in Minnesota
corporations held by deceased non
residents are taxable under the
inheritance law of 1905. Some per-
son put Mr.. Simpson onto this when
he was in the East recently. The
question came up in connection with
the death of the late John Stuart
Kennedy, a large holder of Great
Northern stock. The decision of
the New York courts is to the effect
that the inheritance is not a mere
certificate of stock which the eastern
holder has in his safe, but his actual
share in the physical property,
which, under the inheritance tax law
is taxable in the State where it
exists.
The contention is that such in
heritances can be reached as in the
collection of any other debt, the pro-
bate and district courts being the
collection agents. There seems to be
considerable merit in Mr.. Simpsons
find, as the amount of stocks in
Minnesota corporations held outside
the State is believed to aggregate
many millions of dollars. 1t is said
that Staue Auditor Iverson is co.
operating with the attorney general
in making out a list of the States
corporations whose stock is likeley
to be held abroad.
The game and fish commission has
fired Sam Fullerton. For some years
Sam has been holding on by his eye.
brows. The commission was already
to unload him long ago. They went
as far as to put the matter up to
Governor Johnson, but the governor
wouldn't stand for it. On this &C.
count Mr.. Fullerton evidently con-
cluded he was a fixture. He is
said to have talked good deal
lately. Perhaps the board didn't
like what he said. At all events
he is now out, and the indications
are that he is out for good.
The board is very close-mouthed
about the matter. They have agreed
not to talk. Possibly they might
have told the governor. but the