The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-10-27
C0tNsTITUTI.0t,Ns4,Ii AMENDMENTS.

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CJNsTITUTI0xAiIi AMENDMENrs.
The politicians are SO busily en-
lgaged In discussing the merits and de-
merits of candidates that they have no
time to devote to the six proposed
constitutional amendments to be voted
on at the ensuing election, and the
adoption or rejection of one or all of
the amendments is of more vital i'm
portance to the people of the state
than the election of any candidate to
Office.
The first amendment on the little
pink ballot is of prime Importance.
It provides that SO per cent of the cost
OF constructing or improving any
road or bridge where state aid is
granted may be betrayed by the state.
AS it is at present the state can con-
tribute only one-third of the cost.
This restriction works hardship in
many of the smaller and thinly settled
counties, prevents them from receiving
state aid, and the less densely popu-
lated counties stand most in need of
state aid. Vote YES on amendment
first.
The second amendment, if adopted,
will save the state a few thousand
dollars annually. The present consti-
tuition requires the publication of the
state treasurer's report annually in a
newspaper published at the capital of
the state. No good purpose is served
by such publication, as complete
report of the transactions of the
treasurer office is published in book
form. Vote yes on amendment
second.
The third amendment provides for
insurance against loss by hail or
wind. Let the farmers mutual COM
panies attend to this business. There
is no necessity for the state going
into the insurance business, either
directly or Indirectly. It is safe to
vote no on amendment third.
The fourth amendment is an abomi-
nable make-shift the sole purpose of |
which is to furnish pretext to delay |
the enactment of an equitable appor-
tionment law. Vote NO on amend
ment fourth.
With all due respect to Gen. G. G.
Andrews, forestry commissioner, We
unhesitatingly advise every voter who
reads the 'U.nion to vote no on
amendments fifth and Sixth The fifth
proposed amendment provides for the
annual levying and collection of a
tax of lis of a mill for forestry pur-
poses. 1t is an innovation to pro-
pose constitutional tax. The only
constitutional tax that the Union
favors is a tax for the construction
and improvement of roads and
bridges. Under tho present constitu-
ton there is nothing to prevent the
legislature from appropriating money
for forestry purposes and a constitu-
tional amendment is unnecessary.
Vote no on amendment fifth.
The sixth amendment provides that
laws may be enacted exempting lands
from taxation for the purpose of en-
couraging and promoting the plant
ing, cultivation and protection of USE
full forest trees thereon. This is
seemingly praiseworthy object on
the face of it, but on general prin-
clples 1t is not a wise policy to pro-
vide for the exemption of property
from taxation. There is too much
property exempt from taxation in
Minnesota already. This proposition,
if adopted, may give rise to abuses
may be taken advantage of by large
land owners to escape taxation.
Under this proposed amendment
lumber baron might denude his land
OF all valuable timber and then claim
that he intended to reforest the same
for the sole purpose of evading taxa
ton. Vote NO on amendment sixth.
But the first amendment is the most
important of all. Again we urge vote