The Redwood gazette., 1909-12-22
St. Paul Cor. Gazette.

st. Paul Cor. Gazette.
The discovery by your correspond
ent of the Joker in the laws of 1907
which disqualifies John Lind from
becoming a candidate for governor
because he is member of the board
of regents Of the state university
was the occasion Of a small-size
panic among the faithful at the state
capitol this week. Those responsible
for the woodchuck had hoped that it
would go undiscovered; the Demo-
Gratis in the unmolested enjoyment
of state patronage were up in the
air because it deprived them of even
a forlorn hope. Now they fall back
on the familiar cry that the law is
unconstitutional. It's cold day in
regard to any Objectionable legisla-
ton when the question of its uncon-
stitutionality 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 the
elective officers than those contained
in the constitution. The only re-
strictions 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. Mr..
Lind's case, coming within neither
of these categories, it is contended
that that lets him out. However,
the terms of the law disqualifying
him are explicit enough. and that is
what most people will go by.
The attorney general has come in
to the lime light with the declaration
of his intention to go after those
bloated bondholders who are dead.
His contention is, and it is based on
decision in the New York courts.
that shares of stock in Minnesota
corporations held by deceased non
residents are taxable under the in
heritance law of 1905. Some person
put Mr.. Simpson onto this when he
was in the East recently. The ques-
tion came up in connection with the
death Of the late John Stuart Ken
nedy, large holder Of Great North
ern stock. The decision of the New
York courts is to the effect that the
inheritance is not mere certificate
of stock which the eastern holder
has in his safe, but his actual share
in the physical property. which, un-
der the inheritance tax law, is tax
able in the state where it exists.
The contention is that such inherit
ances can be reached as in the col
lection of any other debt, the pro-
bate and district courts being the
collection agents. There seems to
be considerable merit in Mr.. Simp
sons find, as the amount Of stocks
in Minnesota corporations held out
side the state is believed to aggre-
gate many millions Of dollars. 1t is
said that State Auditor Iverson is
cooperating with the attorney gen.
eral in making out a list of the
states corporations whose stock is
likely to be held abroad.
There has been good deal of talk
about the reputation by Stevens
county Of seed grain loans made to
the state. Evidently politics are
more or less mixed up with the
charges. As | understand the mat
ter, there never was any public SEN
timent in Stevens county against the
county's paying its obligations. The
only question raised was as to the
way the county officials could pay
the loan without making themselves
or their bondsmen liable in case
some person undertook to bring
suit; for the loan was only a moral
and not q legal obligation as against