The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-10-10
State Law Says Changes In Constitu-
ton Must Be Ratified By Ma
jority of All Voting Then.
MEANS SMALL TAX INCREASE
Proposes to Raise Available Road
and Bridge Fund From $780,
600 to $1,000, 900 a Year.

G. M. King, president of the Nor
thern Minnesota Development assoc
lation, F. w.. Murphy, president of
the West Central Minnesota Devel-
opment association; and T.. R. Bon
nallle, president of the Southern Min
nesota Development association have
banded together to use the combined
influence of these associations to see
hat the Dunn amendment is passed
by the voters this fall.
The constitution Of the state of
Minnesota, provides that the legisla-
lure may levy an annual tax upon
the property Of this state not to ex-
coed one-quarter of a mill to be used
in the construction and improve
ment of public highways (the term
"highways" includes bridges.) At
the last regular session of the legis-
lature an amendment was proposed
changing this section so that the leg
islature might provide for an annual
tax levy of one mill instead of one
quarter Of a mill to be used in the
construction and improvements Of
public highways.
The change is a simple one. 1t
increases the tax levy for the purpose
mentioned only three-quarters of a
mill. The present law provides for
and this produces a little more than
100000 a year. A one mill tax levy
would raise approximately $4,000 900
annually to be expended by the state
upon the highways and bridges, and
in a manne that would not be felt
by any taxpayer. The pending
amendment increasing the levy from
one-quarter of a mill to one mill be-
m vitality important for the reas-
on that the only manner in which aid
may be obtained from the state for
the construction of highways and
bridges, is through the State High
way Commission.
The rule governing the adoption of
amendments to the constitution of
the State of Minnesota, makes it nee
essary for the amendment to receive
a majority of all the votes cast at the
election at which the amendment is
submitted. 1t is not sufficient that
more voters vote for the amendment
than vote against it.
To Observation-Disclosures there are
100000 votes cast at the general
election in November, 1912, and
suppose that only 100000 vote upon
a given constitutional amendment,
100000 woulo Jbe a majority of the
100000 voting upon the amendment.
In fact, it would be lost. For the
amendment to carry and be adopted
it would be necessary that it receive
affirmative votes amuonting to a ma
jority of 100000 votes, the tota1
number cast at the election. For in.
stance, $4,000.
Many persons not feeling that they
understand the amendment fail t(
vote at all upon it.. Such failure tt
vote at all counts as a negative vote
just as effectively as if the voter hat
voted no on the amendment. Thi:
rule places the burden upon the ad'
vocates of all constitutional amend.
ments. A burden much greater thar
is planned upon the advocates of {
certain person for election to of.
flee. Ills.
For a candidate to be elected gov
or any other office with tn,
state, it is only necessary that he re
ceive more votes than any other can
.didate for the same office. 1t is no
necessary that he receive a majOrit,
of all votes cast at election. Thus, i
will be noted that it is made mucl
more difficult to adopt a constitution
al amendment than to elect any Off
k,cer within the state. Friends an,
advocates of the one-mill tax amend
Ement should fully understand an
bear this rule in mind in their effort
ito secure the adoption of this amend
ment at the coming general election
The object of this tax is so meri
ferrous and the amount thereof to b
borne by the average voter, is S
very insignificant that people n es
pecially interested in securing th