The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-10-14

sought to add an entirely new section
to Article TX of the Constitution, to be
known as Section IS, and which shall
read as follows:
"Section IS. TO secure a sustained
yield of timber for the use Of the peo-
shall annually. levy and collect tax
| of one-tifteenth Of one mill on each
dollar of taxable property within TINS
state, the proceeds of which shall pc
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 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 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, it may
be sold and the proceeds used for &C
curing or developing forestry land.
Until otherwise directed by the leg
isla1- .,e, which may supplement these
provisions with necessary enactments,
the state forestry board shall draw anu
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 amendment
hereafter mentioned should be read to-
gether. They constitute the fOunda-
ton for a plan of State demonstration.
As the constitution stands today. while
the Legislature might pass laws pro-
vidinE funds to be used for the pur-
chase of lands, and the cultivation OF
the same for demonstration purposes,
yet it is not directed to do so. The
effect then of this amendment is to
COMPEL the taxing officers OF the stare
to annually levy and collect tax OF
One-ffteenth 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 at
price not to exceed So 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 succeeding year and
shall be an addition thereto. 1t also
directs the sale, mt a fair valuation, of
the timber produced such land 80
purchased, the payment of three
fOurths of the money received there
from into the state treasury, and the
<>f prs.i, ,iv h
to the town, if organized, 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, hut 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
made. 1t Is further provided that two
successive regular legislatures shall
have power by tvvO-thirds vote Of
each house to repeal any of the fore
going provisions. Tint Is to say, If
after a trial, such plan for any reason
Is found to be tmpract1cable or unde-
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-
stitutiOn. Heretofore an amendment
might only be made to the Constitution
80 fl>n< H,>~t nv>k n1SI
mated by direct vote of the electors.
Under this amendment, If it be adopt
ed, that power In not taken away and
also exists. But Il 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.