The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1910-10-22

sought to add an entirely new section
to Article TX of the Constitution, to be
known as Section 1s, and which shall
read as follows:
yield of timber for the use Of the peo-
pie of this state, the proper othclais
shall annually levy and collect tax
of one-tfteenth 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 tor
agriculture for the state at not over
$500 per acre, and for the production
and maintenance thereon of forest ac-
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 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 IT
unorganized, to the county, in which
the land is situated, in aid of public
schools and roads.
s., Should any tract acquired be FOUND
better adapted for any other purpose
than the production of timber. it may
be sold and the proceeds used for ac-
quiring or developing forestry land.
Until otherwise directed by the leg
islature, which may supplement these
provisions with necessary enactments,
the state forestry board shall draw and
disburse the money hereby prov1ded
and purchase, manage and control the
lands and forests.
NO money shall be paid for any
tract until the attorney general shall
certify to the validity of the title.
1T 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. amendment
hereafter mentioned should be read to-
gether. They constitute the fOunda-
tion for a plan of State refOrestrat1On.
As the constitution stands today. while
the Legislature might pass laws pro-
chase of lands, and the cultivation OF
the same for refOrestratiOn purposes,
yet it 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 tax OF
One-fffteenth of one mill on each dollar
of taxable property in the state, to be
used as the legislature shall direct, for
the purchase for the state of land
adapted to forestry purposes, but AZ a
unexpfred 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 succeeding year and
shall be an addition thereto. 1t also
directs the sale, at Il 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 otherwise
to the county in which the land is 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 adapted for any other pur-
pose than the production of timber,
authority is 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 twO-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
- 1OunU 10 Oe AmpTdct1cAD1c VI unue-
sirable, and it appears to two sue
cessive legislatures, any~or all of the
foregoing provisions of the amendment
may be repealed. The Legislature does
not now possess such power and the
same Is a distinct change in the meth
DDS heretofore in vogue In Minnesota,
in the making and revising of the Con-
stftution. Heretofore an amendme mt
might only be made to the Constitution
or b provision of that instrument elim-
mated by direct vote of the electors.
Under this amendment, If it be adopt
! ed, that power II not taken away and
also exists. But a new power, that of
repeal by the legislature, as to this
amendment, is created. Such power,
! however, would extend to no other pro-
| vision of the Constitution and affords
| an easy method of change in case of
necessity or advisability.