The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-01-17
SENATE DEBATE
MAY BE SLIGHT
ONEAMENDMENTS
Continued From Page One.)


by article 20, by emitting the words:
"And shall be levied and collected for
public purposes only" and by adding
the words, ,'the legislature. may, by
law exempt any or Al classes Of per
sonal property from taxation. and
within the meaning OF this section,
fixtures, buildings and Improvements
of every character whatsoever upon
land shall be deemed personal prop.
erty," and, except as restricted by
this article. the Legislature may pro-
vide for raising revenue and fixing
the situs Of all property for the pur-
pose of taxation" -
Hail Indemnity.
The fifth amendment provides for
hail indemnity. amending Sec. 1T in
article II to read: "The legislature may
by law provide for the levy and col
lection Of an acreage tax on lands
within the state in addition to the
limitations specified in Sec. ia, ar
ticle IL OF the constitution. The pro.
ceeds of such tax shall be used to in
demnify the owners Of growing crops
against damages by hail, provided that
lands used exclusively for public
roads, rights of way of common car
riers, mining, manufacturing or pas.
turage may be exempt from such
tax"
Debt Limit. .-
The sixth amendment removes the
present debt limit of 100000 and
amends Sec. 1872, article 70, by pro-
viding that "All bonds in excess 81
two million dollars shall be secured
by first mortgages upon real estate IN
amounts not to xeceed one.half of its
value; or upon real and personal prop
erty OF state-owned utilities, enter
prises or industries, in amounts not
exceeding its value, and provided, fur
Their, that the state shall not issue or
guarantee bonds upon property OF
state-owned utilities. enterprises or
industries in excess OF ten million
dollars"
Public Ownership. '!''. q.
The amendment providing for pub
lie ownership changes Section 1875 in
article IL to read: "The state, any
county or city may make internal I'M
provements and may engage in any
industry, enterprise or business not
prohibited by Article 20 of the constr
tuition *
Article 20 OF the constitution is the
prohibition clause.
While all of these amendments &C.
cupy some Importance in the leagues
scheme, making it easier to initiate
LEGISLATION which the league may wish,
or to amend the constitution in such
a manner as, the league may from time
require, tho two amendments most
essential to the leagues economic pro-
gram are the sixth and seventh. II
Four bills embodying the principal
planks of the league economic pro-
gram already have been introduced,
and It IS anticipated that the first two,
which originated in the house, will
come up for third reading and final
passage today. These are House Bills
II and 10, providing for an industrial
commission which may establish, IL
nance and operate all manner of utll'
tiles, industries and enterprises, and
which is to have full control OF all en-
terprises of every. description which
may be Separately esta blished by the 4.
legislative assembly; and creating
the Bank Of North Dakota, which Will
be the financial bulwark about which
all Of the leagues schemes wills re-
volve, and in. which every public OF.
flee in the state and every state'oWn'
ed utility must deposit its funds.
The senate probably will bring up
for third reading before the close OF
the present week its two companion
bills, one of which established the
North Dakota Mill & Elevator associa'
ton, which is to be the manufactur.
ing and distributing organization OF
the league and the other creating the
Home Building association Of North
Dakota, which is building and loan
association operated on a statewide
scale which is expected in the course
of a few years to concentrate several
million dollars in funds in the bank
OF North Dakota, which is the reposi'
tory Of all these institutions.
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