The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-10-28

sought to add sn entirely aea sesffsa
known a. Section 10, aad which shall
read a. follows; - ~
Section 1s. 20. secure 3 sustained
yield Of timber for ths Use CT the peo-
pie OF this state, the proper officials
shall annually IeYr and coilect a tar
| Of ons-ifteenth OF {one 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 for
agriculture for the state at not over
$500 per acre, and for the production
| and maintenance thereon Of forest so-
cordins to forestry principles.
| "Unexpended balances shall not lapse
but constitute fund for forestry Par-
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 II
! unorganized, TO. the county, in which
| the land is situated, in aid OF public
schools and roads. -.
! Should any tract acquired be found
| better adapted for any other purpose
than the production of timber, 1t may
he sold and the proceeds used for &C.
curing or developing forestry land.
Until otherwise directed by the isE-
isiature, 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. ~ u. ~
mo money shall be paid for any
tract until the attorney general shall
certify to the validity OF theytitle. :ft
ut shall be compe tent for two suc-
cessive regular legislatures, by s two
thirds vote Of each house, to repeal any
or these provisions" so. /Te
EFFECT. This proposed amend
ruent, and the proposed amendment
hereafter mentioned should be read too
xether. They constitute the founda-
tiOu for plan Of state refOressfatien.
Az the constitution stands today. while
the legislature might pass laws pro-
yi0ins funds 10 be used for the pur-
chase OF lands, and the cultivation of
the same for reforestratiOn purposes,
yet IL Is not directed to do 30. The
effect then Of this amendment II to
COMPEL the taxing officers of the state
TO annually levy and collect tax OF
One-ffteenth of one mill ON each dollar
Of taxable property In the state, 10 be
used as the legislature shall direct, for
the purchase for the state Of land
adapted fO forestry purposes, but at O
Drice not to exceed 81 per acre. All
unex pIred balances I'm the fund at the
end of each fiscal year shall not lapse,
but shall be carried over into the fund
thus raised for the succeeding year and
shall be an addition thereto. 1t also
directs the sale. at = fair valuation, OF
the timber produced ON such land 50
purchased. the payment of three.
fonrths OF the money received there
from into the state treasury, and the
payment of the remaining ODe-fourth
to the town. IL organized, or otherwise
to the county in which the land IL sit
united, and that the same shall there
be credited TO the public school funds.
IT after the land Ia purchased It IL
found better adapted for any other pur.
pose than the production of timber,
authority is contained fn this anne nd
ment to- sell It. but the proceeds must
be used for acquiring or develOplne
forestry land. Until the Iegis,ature
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 -
made. 1t is further provided that two
successive regular legislatures shafa
have power by twO-thirds vote of
each house 10 repeal any OF the fore
going provisions. Tint 10 to say. ff
after "a trial, such plan for any reason
is found to he impractieabte or unde-
sirable, and il So appears to two sue
eessise legislatures. any or ali of the
foregoing provisions of the amendment
may be repealed. The legislature does
not now possess such power and the
No me- Is q. distinct change in the meta
DDS heretofore in vogue in Mfnnesota,
In the making and revising OF the Con-
stitutfOn. heretofore amen dmeut
might only he made to the Constitution
OF q provision OF that Instrument elm.
mated by direct vote of the electors.
~ 4A
ed, thar power il not taken sway and
also exists. But a new power, that OF |
repeal by the Legislature, as to this |
Is created. Scch power, |
however, would extend TO NO other pro-
vision of the Constitution and affords |
m easy method of change I'm case o.
necessity vt advisabiIity.