The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1910-10-18

sought to add nm entirely new section
70 Article TX Of the Constitution, to be
known as Section 10, and which shall
read as follows:
Section Is. To secure sustained
yield OF timber for the use of the peo-
PIE OF this state, the proper officials
snal annually levy and collect tax
OF One-fifteenth 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
s3.00 per acre. and for the production
and maintenance thereon of forest ac-
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 IL
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
curing 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 provided
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 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 plan Of State PeforestratiOn.
As the constitution stands today, while
the legislature might pass laws pro-
vidtng funds to be used for the pur-
chase of lands, and the cultivation OF
the same for refOrestratfOn purposes,
yet II IL 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 a tax of
One-fifteenth of one ELL ON each dollar
Of taxable property I'm the state, to be
Hsed as the legislature shall direct, for
the purchase for the state of land
adapted to forestry purposes, but at n
nrice NOT TO exceed So per acre. All
uneXpfred balances i'm the fund mt 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 am addition thereto. 1t also
directs the sale, nj 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 remafni1x 0ne-fourth
1aa he Anx al yfaa
to the county i'm which the land il sit
uafed, and that the same shall there
be credited to the public school funds.
III after the land ls purchased it In
found better adapted for any other Pur-
pose than the production Of timber,
authority is contained in thfs amends
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 In
made. IL is further provided that two
successive regular legislatures shall
have power by twO-thirds vote OF
each house TO repeal any OF the fore
gofng provisions. That is to say, IL
after trial, such plan for any reason
is found to be impracticabIe or unde-
aAraDIes anu ~ SD appSdKs 10 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 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
or a provision of that instrument elm
mated by direct vote of the electors.
Under this amendment, if 1t be adopt
ed, that power il not taken away and
also exists. But new power, that of
repeal by the legislature, as to this
amendment, In created. Such power,
however, would extend to no other pro-
vision of the Constitution and affords
an easy method of change in ease of
necessity or adyisability.