The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-01-25

not expected that a strong be-
ginning can be made until these
matters have been decided.
CANADA Farmer PAYS NO
TAX ON IMPROVEMENTS
Exemption of farm improve
ments from taxation has proven
practical in Canada, said Geo. f..
Wallace, member of the state tax
commission, in his address. be-
fore the Tri-State Grain Grow
ers' Convention yesterday morn
ing. Mr.. Wallace has studied
the tax system used in the land
across the border during the trip
made last summer. Some of the
results of the investigation he
gave to his audience in this ad-
dress. Mr.. Wallace said in part:
I'm the United States all of the
political powers rest with the com
mon people. This power is re-
tanned in the hands of the com
mon people unless voluntarily
surrendered. All the powers
which the federal government en-
joys are merely such powers as
the states have voluntarily sur
rendered to the government. The
law does not presume that the
Federal government has any in
herent power within itself. The
constitution of the United States
sets forth the fundamental prin-
ciples which the states have. sur
rendered 20 the Federal govern
ment.
Legislature Supreme horo
I'm the government of a state
of the union we find that the leg
islature has unlimited authority,
except where they have voluntar-
ly restrained themselves either by
the constitution of the United
States. The constitution of a
state is not a grant OF power from
the people of the state, but is q
restriction upon the power of the
legislature. On the other hand
in the Dominion of Canada we
find that the common people DO
not have any powers whatsoever
except such as have been specia...
ly granted to them.
Tine common people of Cana.
da look to the British Parliament
at London for the source of all
their powers. The British Parl-
lament enacted a. law for !he
BritishNorth America act. This
act is very broad and gives to
Canada practical home rule. Thus
We see that the power has been
transferred from London to Otta-
wa. The Canadian Parliamen., lat
Ottawa hnds down much power
3 it chooses to the various prov
inces and retains the rest Of the
power within it's own hands. If
has handed down the power of To-
cal self government in very
as it chooses to the various prov
noes of Canada by positive enact
ment. We thus find portion
of the power which has been trans
ferred from London to Ottawa to
be handed down from Ottawa to
the capitals of the various Cana
dian provinces.
Parliament Rules There
"As an illustration let us dis
cuss the Province of Manitoba.
The Dominion of Parliament at
Ottawa transferred to the proyin.
clal parliament at Winnipeg all
the powers which the common
people there are entitled to enjoy.
These powers are plenary and in
tended to give that province
practical home rule. The pro-
vince is governed by a provincial
parliament similar to our state
legislature: The provincial parl
lament in turn passes down a liz
tic closer to the common people
the rights which they enjoy by
statute. In doing this they grant
to a large extent home rule to the
cities, villages, towns and rural
municipalities.
Thus we find thatthe charters
for cities and all other units of
government are given them direct
~ by the provincial parliament.
In Canada the people are not con-
fronted by their constitutions. In
the United States the state CONT
tuition is for the purposes of
checking the people against their
own acts. The power in Cana
ia which restraints the people Is
the government organization
higher up. If the local units of
government desire broader powers
than they enjoy they have to make
application to the provincial parl
lament to broaden their powers
and scope. This can be done at
any time upon application.
EniarsIng Powers
I'm the United States all pro-
cess OF granting larger powers
to the legislature is by the amend
ment of the constitution which
process will require six years to
cOnsummate. We have also
pointed out to us illustration Of
what is done in Canada with re-
ference to taxation and many neo