St. Paul tidende. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1902-1928, 1910-10-14

sought to add an entirely new section
to Article TX of the Con.titutton, to 10
known ~ Section 10, and which shall
read as follows.
Section 10. TIC secure a sustained
yield of timber for the use of the peo-
pie of this state, the proper officials
Of one-ffteenSth 10y of one n mill on each
dollar Of taxable property within this
state, the proceeds of which shall be
used for the purchase of land better
adapted for forestry purposes Than Tor
agriculture for the state at not over
$500 per acre, and for the production
and maintenance thereon of forest &C
cording to forestry principles.
"Unexpended balances shall not lapse
but constitute a fund for forestry pur-
poses.
The timber produced thereon shall
be sold at a fair valuation and the rev.
enue therefrom or from other source
shall be paid into the state treasury.
except that one-quarter of the net rev.
enue shall be paid to the towns, or il
unorganized, to the county, In which
the and is situated, in aid of public
schools and roads.
Should any tract acquired be found
better adapted for any other purpose
lALol1 ShC pLOouSllO1 III III ~ AAAo
be sold and the proceeds used for &C
quiring or developing forestry land.
Until otherwise directed by the leg
i%slature, which may supplement these
provisions with necessary enactments,
the state forestry board shall draw and
disburse the money hereby provided
and purchase, manage and control the
lands and forests.
mo money shall be paid for any;
tract until the attorney general shall
certify to the validity of the title.
ut shall be competent for two sue
cessive regular legislatures, by a two
thirds vote of each house. to repeal any
of these provisions"
EFFECT. This proposed amend
ment, and the proposed
hereafter mentioned should be read to-
gether. They constitute the fOunda-
ton for a plan of State reforestration.
As the cOnstitution stands today. while
the Legislature might pass laws pro-
viding funds to be used for the pur-
chase Of lands, and the cultivation OF
yet 1T Is not directed to do so. The
effect then of this amendment Is to
COMPEL the taxing officers of the state
to annually levy and collect a tax OF
One-hfteenth Of one mill on each dollar
of taxable property in the state, to he
used as the legislature shall direct, for
the purchase for the state of land
adapted to forestry purposes. but at n
price not to exceed 81 per acre. All
~unexpired balances In the fund at the
end of each fiscal year shall not lapse,
but shall be carried over into the fund
thus raised for the succe edinE year and
shall be an addition thereto. 1t also
directs the sale. at a fair valuation, of
the timber produced on such land so
purchased, the payment of three
fOurths Of the money received there.
from into the state treasury, and the
payment of the remaining one-fOurth
to the town, If organized. or Othervise
to the county in which the land ls sit
uated, and that the same shall there
be credited to the public school funds.
If after the land Is purchased 1t Is
found better adaptcd for any other pur-
pose than the production of timber,
authority IL contained in this amend
ment to sell 1t, but the proceeds must
be used for acquiring or developing
forestry land. Until the legislature
provides otherwise, all purchases shall
be under the direction of the State For
estry Board. The title to all lands
purchased must be approved by the
Attorney General before purchase Is
made. 1t Is further provided that two
successive regular Legislatures shall
have power by a tNO-thirds vote OF
each house to repeal any of the fore
going provisions. That is to say, If
after a trial, such plan for any reason
IL found to he lmpracticable or unde-
sirable, and it so appears to two sue
c%essive legislatures, any or all of the
foregoing provisions of the
may be repealed. The legislature does
not now pOsSess such power and the
same In n Instinct change in the meth
DDS heretofore in vogue in Minnesota,
in the making and revising of the Con.
stitUtfen. Heretofore an nendmen
might only be made to the Constitution.
or a provision of that instrument elm,
mated by direct vote of the electors.
Under this amendment, II 1t be adopt
ed, that power is not taken away and
also exists. hut Il new power, that OF
repeal by the legislature, as to this;
amendment. is created. Such pOwer,E
however, would extend to no other pro-
vision of the Constitution and Affords
an easy method of change In case OF
necessity or ability.