Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-09-30
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution
of the State of South Dakota.

To the people of the state of South Dakota:
The Eleventh Legislative Assembly OF the
state OF South Dakota, begun and held al
Pierre, the Capital on the 9Th day OF January,
1909, and concluded on the NTH day OF March.
1905. proposed the following Amendment to the
Constitution of the state, viz:
That Article NJ OF the Constitution OF the
state OF South Dakota be amended so as to
ARTICLE Xxi.
Section |. The legislature shall provide for
an annual tax, sufficient to dcfruy the estimnt-
ed ordinary expenses Of the state for each year
not to exceed in any one year two mills on
each dollar OF the assessed valuation Of all
taxable property in the state, to be ascertained
by the last assessment made for state and
county purposes.
And whenever it shall appear that such ordi
nary expenses shall exceed the income Of the
state for such year, the legislature SHALL pro-
vide for the levying OF a TAX for the ensuing
year sufficient with other sources of iucome to
made. And for the purpose of paying the
levylng "A tax annually. sufficient to pay the an
nual interest and the principal of such debt
within ten years from the final passage OF the
law creating the debt. Provided, that the an
nual tax for the payment OF the interest and
principal OF the public debt shall not exceed in
any one year two mills on each dollar Of the as
sessed valuation of all taxable property in the
state, as ascertained by the last assessment
made for state and county purposes.
Section 2. All taxes shall be uniform on all
property and shall be levied and collected for
public purposes only. The value OF each sub
JcCG u tdkdIlOu SHALL NC 50 HSca III money LQuL
every person and corporation shall pay Il tax
in proportion to the value OF his, her or It's
property. Franchises and licenses to do bust
ness In the state. gross earnings and net in
comes, Shall be considered in taxing corpora
tons and the power to tax corporate property
shall not be surrendered or suspended by any
contract or grant to which the state shall be a
party. The Legislature shall provide by gencr-
al law for the assessing and levying of taxes on
all corporate property, as near as may be, by
the same methods as are provided for assess
ing and levying of taxes on individual property.
II . h us fi,r ohnll rn,yi1 -
taxing all moneys, credits, Investments in
bonds, stocks, Joint stock companies, or other
discounted or purchased. moneys loaned, and
all other property, effects or dues Of every de-
scription, of all banks and Of bankers so that
all property employed in banking shall always
be subject to a taxation equal to that imposed
on the property OF individuals.
Section 4. The Legislature may classify in
heritance, devtses, legacies and requests and
gifts In view Of death in respect to the receipt
or progressive tax therein, with such exemp-
lions to the surviving husband or wife,
children and other relatives as 1T may pre-
scribe.
Section 5. The legislature shall classify in
comes in respect to the recipients thereof, and
thereon with such exemptions as it may pre-
scribe.
Section 6. The property of the United States
and OF the state. county and municipal corpor-
atoms, both real and personal. shall be ex-
empt from taxation.
Section 7. The Legislature shall, by general
law, exempt from taxation property used ex-
cIusively for agricultural and horticultural So
cieties., for school, religious. cemetery and
charitable purposes, including church parson-
ages and houses of the presidents OF church
colleges and personal property to any amount
not exceeding in value two hundred dollars for
each individual liable to taxation:
Section 8; All laws exempting. property
article, shall be void.
Section 9. No tax shall be levied except in
pursuance OF a law which shall distinctly state
the object Of the same. to which the. tax only
shall be applied.
Section 10. All taxes levied and collected
for state purposes shall be paid into the state
treasury, No Indebtedness shall be incurred
or money expended by the state. and no war;
ants shall be drawn upon the state treasurer.
except in pursuance Of an appropriation for
the specific purpose first made.
The legislature shall provide by suitable en-
Section II. The legislature may vest the cor
porate authorities Of cities, towns and villages
special taxation Of contiguous property or
otherwise.
For all corporate purposes, all municipal
corporations may be vested with authority to
assess and collect taxes; but such tax shall be
uniform with respect to persons and property
within the jurisdiction OF the body levying the
Section le. The making of a profit. directly
or school district money. or using the same
for any purpose not authorized by law, shall
be deemed a felony and shall be punishable as
Section is An accurate statement of.the
receipts anal expenditures of the public
moneys shall be published annually, in such
manner as the Legislature may provide.
The proposed Amendment will be voted upon
by the people at the general ELECTION to be
November. 1910. The proposed Amendment
will be printed upon the ballot followed by the
words shall the above amendment to the
constitution in relation to taxation and the
amount of tax to be levied be approved and
rattfied?" Immediately to the left Of which
shall be printed the words, yes and NO,
each preceded by a square in which the elector
can place a cross to Indicate his vote. Elect
ors desiring to vote Yes will place a cross
before the word yes. and those desiring to
vote mo" place a cross before the word NO"
Dated at Pierre, the Capital. this 25th day of
July, A. d.. 1910. SAMUEL c.. POLLEY
Secretary Of State.