Newspaper Page Text
axiF'^r-*.^ SAY IT WAS A PLOT KEARNEY AM HAIMS, THE AL LEGED DYNAMITERS, RETIRN. They Declare That the Bombs Found in Their Room in the Hotel in Amsterdam Were Placed There by Scotland Yard Detectives Aft- They Had Been Arrested by Amsterdam Police. New York, Oct. 18.Among the ec ond cabin passengers who arrived on the steamship Werkendam to-day from Rotterdam were two men whose names were not on the published lists of passengers. Their tickets bore the names of John Williams and Henry Smith, but the-men themselves were John F. Kearney and Thomas Haines, respectively, who were arrested on Sept. 13 in Rotterdam for having dynamite bombs in their possession and as being concerned in a conspir acy against the lives of the czar and the queen of England. When a rep resentative of the Associated Press boarded the Werkendam his attention was drawn to two men with a strong Irish accent. The~.e two men denied that they were I rne and Haines, but after the steai. er had tied up in her dock in Hoboken they tacitly ad mitted their identity. The representa tive succeeded in getting statements from the two recently released sus pects. John F. Kearney said that he had gone some weeks ago to Antwerp and later to Rotterdam to see his wife's friends on family and business mat ters. While there he said he met Haines and both recognized each oth er through their speaking English. 'They stopped at the same hotel in Rot terdam, where they arrived on Sept. 11. Ha inPS was then ill and confined to his roori on the following day. On Sunday morning, the 13th, about 9 o'clock, while occupying the same room at the Queen's hotel they were awakened by a rapping at the door. Kearney jumped from his bed and opened the door. As he did so he was confronted by six Dutch police officers and an inspector. The latter told the two men to .Consider Themselves Under Arrest. They were surprised and asked what charge there was against them. The inspector informed them that he had orders to arrest them and asked that they would come peaceably to police barracks. They dressed themselves and consented *n be handcuffed. They were taken to the barracks and held there without being given any further information until 4 o'clock in the af ternoon. Then they were served with some sandwiches and coffee at their own expense. On the following Wednesday, after being separated in the meantime, Kearney was brought before the com missioner of police. "From Sunday afternoon until Wednesday," continued Mr. Kearney, "and in fact for the remainder of the time I was confined, I is kept aloof from all the other prisoners and con tinually under watch of two armed guards. When brought before the commissioner of police and inspector I was informed that I was charged with manufacturing and having in my pos session dynamite bombs. This I knew to be false, as I had never had possession of these things, and when told that several of them were found underneath the bed in which Haines and I had slept, I almost had a fit when I thought of the danger I had "been in. It seemed clear to me that it was simply another of those deep laid plots of the Scotland Yard men who stop at nothing in order to make a case against Irishmen whenever they find it necessary. Those ex plosives were put there after we were taken out of the room. "A week last Saturday two of ficers came to my cell and told me to come out. I met Haines at the en trance of the prison and we were both hustled into a carriage. Accom panied by the officers we were driven to the Netherland pier and put aboard the vessel." Newspaper Man Dead. West Superior, Wis., Oct. IS.S. G. Sherburne, an old newspaper man well known in Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapo lis, Kansas O ty and other places, died of heart failure here to-day. He was attacked on the street and expired in a few minutes. Sherburne came to La Crosse county, Wis., from New York in ISoo and entered politics, leav ing it for newspaper work. He was with the Chicago Times under Storey, and afterward with the Kansas City Star, Pioneer Press. St. Paul Globe and Minneapolis papers. He came here in 18& as managirg editor of the Daily Leader, and was engaged in newspaper work up to two weeks ago. He had wealthy relatives and a broth er at Spirit Lake, Iowa. French Botanist Dead. Paris, Oct. 18.Auguste Trecul, the French botanist, died to-day in a hos pital in this city in a condition of pov erty. Auguste Adolphe Lucien Trecul, member of the institute, was born in France in 1818. studied pharmacy at Paris but turned toward the study of botany and published in 1843 several memoirs. These caused to be confided to him a scientific mission to the Unit ed States by the museum of natural history and by the ninister of agricul ture for research, 'specially of certain roots used by the savage tribes of North America. He wandered with the Osage Indians in 1S48 and was in Texas and Mexico the next year. Snow in Wisconsin. Marshfield, Wis., Oct. 18.The first enow of the season came down to-day It continued nearly all forenoon Hayward, Wis., Oct. 17Two inches of wet snow fell here this morning. Cuban Independence. Chicago, Oct. 18.A special to the Tmics-Herald from Washington S3ys: "If Spain does not end the war In Cuba within three months the insurg ents will receive from the United States virtual recognition of their inde pendence. It can be further stated on fuithority that the president does not expect that Spain will end the war 'jwith the tactics now employed daring ,the present year, and that he is fully convinced that the grave duty wJtt devolve upon him of taking a vigorous stand in this matter. GE3T. IiEB SAYS KAY. Spaniards at Havana Called Down by the Consul. Havana, Oct 18.Another interna tional incident occurred in the narbor to-day. The police attempted to arrest on board the Ward line steamship Vigilancia a passenger who was on his way from New York to Mexico. The man's name was Angel Fernandez. He was born in Asturias, Spain, but claimed to be a Mexican citizen. Capt. Mcintosh, of the Vigilancia refused to deliver up the man, and the police ordered the Vigilancia to be detained. Thereupon Capt. Mcintosh consulted with Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, the United States general, and soon alterward the vessel was allowed to sail with Fer nandez on board to Mexico. Gen. Malonias' gunboat Contram aestro while reconnoitering in the Riv er San Juan, near Trinidad, had a brush with some insurgents and suc ceeded in capturing over 500 rirtes, a. quantity of ammunition, a cannon," some medical supplies and some im portant correspondence. The arms, ammunition, etc., were found in boats marked "The Three Friends," but it is supposed the supplies belonged to the Dauntless expedition. The firing between the gunboat and the insurg ents lasted for about five hours. The commander of the gunboat Contram aestro met the gunboat Ardilla, on which Gen. Molinial was a passenger, near Trinidad, and hearing that there were indications that an expedition had landed in the River San Juan he sent Lieut. Pasquin and thirty men detailed from the two gunboats. The naval force on landing were fired upon by about 300 insurgents, but, protected by the fire of the Ardilla, the sailors captured two large boats believed to have belonged to the Dauntless, con taining 620 carbines, ammunition and medical stores. At Palma. Province of Santa Clara, the insurgents' leader, Ricardo Lugo and two of his followers have been killed in a skirmish with the Soria battalion. FIREMEN KILLED. Fatal Fire in a Chemical Ware house in Montreal. Montreal, Oct. 18. Three firemen were killed and six badly injured at a stubborn fire to-day at the chemical warehouse of Gilmour & Co. The dead are Edmund LaPorte, Harry King and Silvan Charpentier. The latter's body is still buried under the tons of debris. Of the injured the only one likely to die is Castian Ben nett. The fire raged with great fury owing to the combustible nature of the contents. The firemen fought the fire courageously, and after an hour's work seemed to have had it under con trol. At this stage the firemen were distributed in all parts of the building and were drowning out the flames when with a terrible crash the second floor gave way and fell to the floor beneath. The men who were on top escaped half-suffocated and bleeding from many wounds, but the men below were crushed under tons of timbers and goods. The loss to property is in the vicinity of $100,000 insurance about half. THE "PASSING BELL' Tolls I England for the Late Arch bishop of Canterbury. Canterbury, Eng., Oct. IS. There was general mourning throughout Great Bn ain to-day. Passing bells were tolling almost everywhere and memorial services in honor of the late archbishop of Canterbury and primate of all England, the Most Rev. Edward White Benson, D. D., who died sudden ly in Hawarden church on Sunday last, have been held in hundreds of churches. The lying in state of the remains of the deceased prelate in Canterbury cathedral was watched throughout by the clergy of Canter bury, the Sisters of St. Peter and the boys of the St. Augustine school. The old cathedral looked cold, dismal and forbidding. Rain was falling outside, the atmosphere within the huge edi fice was heavy and charged with moisture, and even the famous mar tyrdom chapel looked dark and frown ing in spite of the many tall, grace ful lighted tapers within it. Many prominent people attended the burial services. CALL ON M'KINLEY. Lehigh Valley People, Where the Coal Conies From. Canton, Oct. 18.Congressman Jas. H. Codding, of the Fifteenth district of Pennsylvania, led a delegation of several hundred people from the Le high Valley to the McKinley home this morning and introduced them as miners, mechanics, business men and other citizens representing that terri tory. The party was organized in the towns of Bradford, Luzerne, Wyoming and Carbon and adjactnt territory Their greetings to Maj. McKinley wee most cordial and their demonstration was enthusiastic. Tyler and Wetsel counties of West Virginia sent greet ings to Maj. McKinley with a delega tion of representative citizens in a special train of twelve coaches. Sis terville furnished the greater part of the crowd, organized as the Elkins Invincibles, named in honor of Sena tor Elkins. The party greeted Mai. McKinley with cheers and hurrahs. They were introduced by R. L. Moore and P. A. Shannon. Died for Love. Toronto, Oct. 18.A. W. Clemens, 25 years of age, of Preston, Ont, sprang over the railing of the Second road side ravine bridge to-day, dashing down 100 feet and was instantly killed. Clemens left a note on one side of which was a statement that his name was Austin W. Clemens and on the other side were these words: "I die for love and entertain no ill will to any one." Clemens has been under treatment for some time for nervous prostration. Tugr Sunk. New York, Oct. 18.The tug Niagara was run down in the North river oft the American line pier by the steam boat Magenta to-day. The tug went to the bottom three minutes after being struck. The crew jumped into the riv er and two were drowned. Three were rescued. It could not be learned positively whether there were five or six men on the tug. If there were six then three were lost. Capt. Moriarity, the cook and tt.e engineer were res cued. John Simms, colored, a cook's helper, and the fireman were drowned. MINNESOTA NEWS. Interesting Happenings In the North Star State. Ex-Mayor Smith has been appointed postmaster at St Paul, to succeed Capt. H. A. Castle. An insurance man was arrested in Minneapolis on the charge of obtaining some $30,000 by fraudulent means. Amelia Wildt secured a divorce fronj ex-Assistant Secretary of State Peter M. Wildt at St. Paul. Burglars robbed Roxey Reber's resi dence at St. Paul f about $1,000 worth of property. Duke Snplehs of Austria, in an inter view at St Paul, says ho finds Minne sota the best place for Austrian peas ants, and he will send all he can here^ Family trouble is supposed to have caused George R. Brennan, residing near Grand Rapids, to shoot himself, at his farm on the upper Mississippi. A man by the name of Mitchell was arrested at Elk River, and taken by officers from Anoka, who want him on a charge of forgery. The Minnesota Methodist conference has expelled Rev. J. C. Hull, who has been indicted by the grand jury at St Paul, for attempting to poison his wife. The state board of corrections and charities estimates the current expens es of state institutions for 1898 at $2,- 047,000. The Ramsey County W. C. T. U. has decided to ask the legislature to give women the right to vote at municipal elections. David Bonner, a former resident of South Stillwater, aged twenty-five, was killed in a railroad accident at Glas gow, Mont. The large barn of F. R. Grieber, at Brownton, burned to the ground. The barn was full of hay, and several cat tle were burned. The fire was caused by a lantern. A young son of T. W. Hinton of Al bert Lea, while out hunting, was acci dentally shot in the head while pulling a gun from a wagon. It is believed the wound will prove fatal. The farm residence of F. G. Doug lass at Baroda, a small station five miles west of Alden, was totally de stroyed by fire. It was one of the offi ces of the Blue Earth Valley tele phone. Jacob Fath was shot in the leg at Wells by Mrs. Grunskie. He worked for Grunskie. and they disagreed in settling. Fath drew a dirk4and cut the latter's hand, and the woman shot him, inflicting a flesh wound. He has been bound over to the grand jury under $1,000 bonds. The lumber office of Ghristensen & Somerville of Delhi, -was forced and the safe opened, but, fortunately, no money had been left there The only booty secured by the thieves was a new bicycle belonging to F. Hen ning. Another wheel was stolen from the farm of Peter McKay, three miles frem Delhi, a couple of night ago. While several boys were hunting in the woods near Camp Lakeview, one of their number, Ernest Bennett, fourteen years of age, was accidentally shot by his brother, Walter. The bullet en tered his shoulder and lodged at the base of the brain, the wound beim* in flicted by a twenty-two-caliber rifle. The lad is now in a precarious condi tion. The Faribault police have not been able to get any clue to the clever forg er who worked his game on the unso phisticated merchants here Oct. 8. Further developments show that eight checks were forged and passed, and that the same party buncoed a farmer out of a nice fur overcoat that same evening, in all, the fellow secured near $100. Two men engaged in a quarrel in an open lot at Moorhead, resulting in one of the men nearly losing his nose through being cut with a knife. The nose was almost severed. The injured man is said to be a gambler from Min neapolis and his assailant a resident of Fargo. No complaint has been made as yet, and there is certainly a disposi tion to hush the matter up. The Standard Oil company's oil house and stock yards of the Minneapolis & St Louis Railway company, at Hanley Falls, were destroyed by fire. The fire started in the oil house, spreading to the stock yards, which were in close proximity. Two large storage tanks of oil only a few feet from the fire, were the cause of considerable alarm, as there was great danger of an explo sion. The origin of the fire is not known. Loss, $3,000 partly insured. The ministers of the Lutheran church of the Norwegian district, com prising the Red River valley, held their annual conference at Brainerd. Questions of theology and methods of church work took up most of the time. Much interest was manifested in de Dating the various subjects introduced. Other matters pertaining to the church in general were discussed. It is ex pected that the local society at Brain erd will build what will be the finest church in the city A stranger arrived in Lake City re cently and secured lodging for the night at the Hotel Ryan. Next morn ing he was found dead in bed by the landlord The coroner was notified and an inquest held. The jury found that he came to his death through natural causes Nothing about his person could be found to identify him. The sum of 22 cents was found in his pock ets. He was about thirty years of age, weighed nearly 160 pounds, and from his appearance it was thought he was a laboring man. No one having called for nis remains, he was buried. About two weeks ago U. Thomp son of Mathews, a county commission er, so It is alleged, and as the evidence showed, set a fire near Mathews. He failed to attend to it, and allowed it to feo unprotected. Everything being in 'a dry condition, It soon got beyond the control of all the people in and around Mathowa, and the state warden was appealed to for help. He ordered as sistance from Barnnm and Carlton and several other towns, and after sev eral days' hard fighting the fire was i subdud mot, however, until it had done great damage to the timber and i destroyed several buildings and hun i dreds of tons of hay. Mr. Thompson, his wife and son were arrested and taken to Carlton. He was convicted, and sentenced to pay a fine of $75 or I stand committed for seventy days in the county jail. Mrs. Thompson and the son were discharged. Laws and Constitutional Amendments. Synopsis of Lairs and Amendments to the Constitution, proposed by the Legislature for submission to the voters of Minnesota at the General Election to be held on the 3rd day of November, A. D. 1SD6. At the general election to be held In the State of Minnesota on the 3rd day of No vember, A. u. l&yo, tne iollowmg laws and amendments proposed by the legislature of said state at the last session thereof, will be submitted for adoption or rejection, viz.: I. An act will be submitted to the people of this state for their approval or rejection at the next general election, entitled: "An act relating to the taxation of certain lands owned by railroad companies in this state, and repealing laws and parts of laws relating to the taxation of the same, and to provide for the submission of this act to the people of this state for their approval or rejection." So far as material the act is as follows: "Sec. 1. All lands in this state heretofore or hereafter granted by the State of Minne sota,or the United States, or the Territory of Minnesota, to any railroad company shall be assessed and tnxed as other lands are taxed in this state, except such parts of said lands as are held, used or occupied for right of way, gravel pits, sidetracks, depots and all buildings and structures which are necessarily used in the actual management and operation of the railroads of said com panies. Provided, That said railroad companies shall continue to pay taxes into the state treasury upon their gross earnings in the same manner and in the same amount as now provided by law. Anct that nothiug in this act contained shall be construed to re peal said laws except in so far as the same relate to the tax upon said lands. "Sec. 2. Such portion or portions of nnv act or acts, general or special, of the State or Territory of Minnesota heretofore en acted, which provides or attempts to pro vide for any exemption of lands hereby de clared taxable, from taxation, or for any other method of taxing said last mentioned lands different from the method of taxing other lands in this state, or which are in any manner inconsistent w-ith the pro visions of this act are heieby repealed. "Sec. 3. If this act shall be hold to be void so far as it applies to the lands of any particular railroad company in this state. It shall not be groun for declaring it void or inapplicable to any other company not similarly situated." The purpose of this act is to secure the taxation of unused railroad lands acquired by railroad companies under federal and state grants. II. I deem it proper to call attention to the fact that the electors "f tins state will be called upon to vote upon lite followim,' prop osition: "Shall there be -onvcntion to re vise the state constitutiox. III. Attention is also called to the fact that an act will be submitted to the electors of this state at said election providing for the ap Jnvestmenn iropriatio of the income demed from the of the internal improvement land fund to the road and bridge fund. The act provides that such moneys shall be used only for making public toads and building bridges on public roul^. IV. "An act providing for an amendment to section four (4) of article live (5) of the con stitution of the State of Minnesota, defin ing the authority and duties of the governor in relation to pardons for criminal offenses and creating a board of pardons." Section 4 of article 5 of the constitution of Minnesota no.v reads as follows: "Section 4. The governor shall communi cate by message to each session of the legis lature such information touching the state and condition of the country as he may deem expedient. He shall be commander in-chief of the military ,and forces, and nipy call out sue'' '-ee tonaval execute the laws, Funpress insu 'on and repel in vasion. He may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any sub ject relating to the duties of their respec tive offices and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons,, after convic tion, for offenses against the state, except In cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to appoint a state librarian and notaries public, and such other officers as mav be provided by law. He shall have power to appojnt commissioners to take the acknowledgment of deeds, or other instru ment" in writing, to be used in the state. He shall have a negitive upon all laws passed by the legislature, under such rules and limitations as are iu this constitution prescribed. He mav on extraordinary occa sions convene both houses of the legislature. He shall take care that the laws be faith fully executed, fill any vacancy that may occur in the office of secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, and such other state and district offices as may be hereafter created by law, until the next annual election, and nnril their successors are chosen and qualified." It is proposed to amend the said section by striking therefrom the following words: "And he shall have power to gi'int re prieves and pardons, after conviction, for offenses against the state." In place of the words thus proposed to be stricken out, it is proposed to insert the fol lowing words: "And he shall have power, in conjunction with the board of pardons, of Inch the governor shall be ex-offlcio a member, and the other members of which shall consist of the attorney general of the State of Min nesota and the chief justice of the supreme court of the State of Minnesota, and whose powers and duties shall defined and regu lated by law, to grant reprieves and par dons, after conviction, for offenses against the state." The effect of the adoption of the aforesaid proposed amendment will be to deprive the governor of the power to alone grant par dons and reprieves, which he now enjoys, and to create a bonrd of pardons, consisting of the governor, the attorney general and the chief justice of the supreme court. The proposed rmendment contemplates that its adoption will be followed by the enactment of a suitable law defining and regulating the powers and duties of such board of pardons in granting reprieves and pardons. V. "An act proposing an amendment to sec tion one (1) of article seven (7) of the con stitution of the State of Minnesota which relates to the elective franchise." Section one of article 7 of the constitu tion of Minnesota now reads as follows: "Section 1. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years or upward^, belonging to either of the following classes, who shall have resided in the United States oe year, and in this state for fonr months next pre ceding any election, shall be entitled to vote at such election, in the election district of which he shall at the time have been for ten days a resident, for all officers that now are, or hereafter may be. elective by the people. FirstCitizens of the United States. SecondPersons of foreign birth, who shall have declared their Intention to be come citizens, conformably to the laws of the United States upon the subject of nat uralization. ThirdPersons of mixed white ani Indiai. blood, who have adopted the customs and habits of civilization. FourthPersons of Indian blood residing In this state, who have adopted the lan guage, custom and habits of civilisation, after an examination before any district court of the state, in such manner as may be provided by law, and shall have been pronounced by said court capable of enjoy ing the rights of citizenship within the state." The proposed amendment, if adopted, will read as follows: "Section one (1). What persons are en titled to vote: Every male person of the age of twenty one (21) years or upwards belonging to either of the following classes who has re sided in this state six (6) months next pre ceding any election shall be entitled to vote at snen election in the election district of which he shall at the time have been for thirty (30) days a resident, for all officers that now are, or hereafter may be, elective by the people. FirstCitizens of the United States who have been such for the period of three (3) months next preceding any election. SecondPersons of mixed white and In dian blond, who have adopted thecustoua and habits of civilization. Thirdrersons of Indian blood residing in this state, who have adopted the language, customs and habits of civilization, after an XSttniuatiou before any district conrt of the Btate, In such manner as may be pro-rided! by law, and shall have been pronounced by said court of enjoying the rights citwenshicapable within the state. The effect of then el ctiv 3- 1 last above proposed amendmenet upon a person's right tobevote i officers i this state will I. To eliminate the present requirement or one year's residence fn the United States. To requiremonths a residence fce inrequired. this state, nett precedinrg an election, of six months I as now ot ou require a residence in the election district, next preceding an election, of thir ty days instead of ten days as now re quired. _.4- require a citizenship of the United Mates of three months. The constitution nov permits citizens of the United States to vote regardless of the periodeof sW citizen- P'.- Provide they possess th requisite 'l^lincations cf residence above indicated. 5. To repeal the present nrovisioas of the constitution which enables a person of for eign birth to vote after having declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and before becoming a fully i atural Ized citizen thereof. In addition to the foregoing, the effect of the adoption of such last proposed ai:-end- ment will be to deprive a foreign born per son of the right to hold an ele.-tive office in this state before becoming a fully natural ized citizen of the United States. VI. "An act proposinconstitution an amendment to arti- ron (4 of the of the Stat Cl of Minnesota allowing cities already incor porated, and villages desiring io br-cnnie in corporated as cities, to frame Iheir own charters as cities." It is proposed to add to article fonr of the constitution the following section: Sec. 36 Any city o- village in this state may frame a charter for its own -caem inent as a city consistent with and suhiect to "the laws 'ot This staTj sis foTtows: The legis.alure shall provide, under sich re strictions as it deems nroper, for a board of fifteen freeholders, who *u.ill be and for the past five years shall have been qualified voters thereof, to be appointed by the dis trict judges of the judicial d'strict in which the city or village is Mtuated. Aiiuh Uard shall, within six months a'ler its ci-roint ment. return to the -aef lagntr.ite such city pr village a draft r-t such charter signed by the members of said board or a majority thereof. Su^h charter stall be submitted to the qualified voier.s of such city or village at the next election there after, and if four-sevenths of tbe qualified voters voting at such election shall ratify the same it shall, at the nd of thirtv davs thereafter, become the charter of such city or village as a city, jnd supersede any ex isting charter and amendments thereof pro vided, that in cities naving patrol limits now established such r-harter snail require a three-fourths majority vote of the quali fied voters voting at su^h election to change the patrol limits now established. Before any city shall incorporate under this act the legislature shall prescribe by law the general limits within which such charter shall be framed. Duplicate certifi cates shall be made setting forth the char ter proposed and its ratification, which shall be signed by the chief magistrate of said city or village, and authenticated by its cor porate seal. One of said certificates shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state, and the other, after being recorded in the office of the register of deeds for the county in which such city or village lies, snail be deposited among the archives of such city or village, and all courts shall take judicial notice thereof. Such charter so deposited may be amended by a proposal therefor made bv a board of fifteen free f aforesaid, published for at least thirty days in three newspapers of general circulation in such city or village, and a cepted by three-fifths of the qualified voters of such city or village voting at the next election, and not otherwise: but such charter shall always be in harmonv with and subject to the constitution and laws of the State of Minnesota. The legislature may prescribe the duties of the commission relative to submitting amendments of char ter to the vote of the people. The borrd of freeholders ibove provided for shall be permanent, and all the vacan cies by death, disability to perform duties, resignation or removal from the corporate limits shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original board was created, and saiudt boardf shall always con tain Its full complement of members. *i. i^? fure all such charters that there shall be provided, among other taings. for a mavor or chief magistrate, and a legislative body of either one or two houses: if of two honses, at least one of them Fhi'l be elected bv general vote of the citizens. In submitting any such charter or amend ment tnereto to the qualified voters of such city or village any alternate section or arti cle may be presen ted for the choice of the voters, and may be voted on separately without prejudice to other articles or sec tions of the charter or any amendment thereto. The legislature may provide general la-.vs relating to affairs of citieseitheer 2 th application class, and of which may be limited to cities of over fifty thousand inhabitants, or to cities of fifty and no1t leshs than fifteen thousand in habitantso, cit!e to cities of fifteen thousand a1or suc inhabitants, or less, which shall applv eq i which shall be paramount while in force to the provisions relating to the same matter Included in the local charter herein pro vided for. But no local charter, provision or ordinance passed thereunder shall super sede any general law of the ''"ite defining or punishing crimes or misdemeanors." The effect of the adoption of the last named proposecities amendment wil be- A est and villagel with To right of framing their own charters, sub ject to limitations imposed bv the laws of the state.charter Th will be framed by a board Of fifteen freeholders, or a majoritv thereof. 3. The charter will thereupon be submit ted to the qualified voters at the next en suing election, and will require for its rat ification four-sevenths (4-7) of the qualified voters voting at such election. 4. If ratified at *uch election the charter will thereupon, after the lapse of thirty days, becou.e the charter of such city or village. 5. A city will be unable to iaeorporate under the proposed amendment until the legislature shall havp tim prescribed by law the general limits within which its charter may be framed. 6. A charter once adopted may be amend ed in a manner similar to that prescribed for the framing and adoption of the orig inal. 7. The board of freeholders is to be per petual and without limitation of term, ex cept that arising from death, disability to perform duties, resignation or removal from the corporate limits of the city or village. 8. The charter must provide for a mayor or chief magistrate, and a legislative body of either one or two houses: if of two houses, the members of at least one house shah be elective "by the general ot of the citizens." 9. Alternate articles or sections of a pro posed charter may be voted upon that is to say, the voter may vote for one or the other of two given articles or sections* 10. The legislature may classify cities upon the basis of population alone, as fol lows: (a) Cities of over 50,000 inhabitants. (b) Cities of 50,000 and not less than 15,- 000 inhabitants. (c) Cities of 15,000 inhabitants or less. II. When cities have been so classified, the legislature may thereupon pass general laws limited in, their application to one or more such classes 12. The general law applicable to any class of cities, will be paramount to any inconsistent provision found in the charter of any city belonging to such class. VII. "An act proposing an amendment to sec tion thirteen (13), article one (1), of the constitution of the State of Minnesota, re lating to taking private property for pub lic use." Section 13, of Article 1, of the constitu tion of Minnesota, now reads as follows: "Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation there for, first paid or secured." If the proposed amendment is adopted, section 13 will then read as follows: "Private property shall not be taken, de stroyed or damaged for pabllc use without just compensation therefor first paid or se cured." The amendment will consist of the inser tion into the original section of the follow ing words, viz., "destroyed or damaged for public use." VIII. "An act to amend article eight (S of the constitution of the State of Minnesota, re lating to school funds, education and science." I is proposed to amend Article 8 of the constitution of the State of Minnesota by adding thereto a section reading as follows: "Sec. 6. The permanent school and uni versity land of this state may be invested In the purchase of bonds of any county, school district, city, town or Tillage of this state, but no such investment shall be mad* until approved by the board of commis sioners designated by law to regulate tb* vi* ^kJik^ ^%%ii^^^&>^: ^j&^^&Mskk Investment of the permanent school fnird and the permanent university fund of tfil state nor shall such loan or investment be made when the issue of which the same la part would make the entire bonded in debtedness exceed 7 per cent of the as sessed valuation of the taxable real prop-. erty of the county, school district, city, town or village issuing such bonds nor shall such loan* or indebtedness be made at a lower rate of interest than 3 per cent per annum nor for a shorter period than five (5) years nor for a longer period than twenty (20) years, and no change of the town, school district, village, city or county lines shall relieve the real property in such town, school district, countv. village or city in this state at the time of the issuing of such bonds from any liability for taxa tion to pay such bonds." The proposed amendment contemplates the Investment of the permanent school and university funds of the state, for periods not less than five (5) nor more than twenty (20) years, in the bonds of counties, school districts, cities, towns and villages. Loans cannot be made to such munici palities under such amendment in amounts exceeding seven (7) per cent of the as sessed valuation of the taxable real property thereof. No loan shall bear interest at a rate less than three (3) per cent. Section 5 cf the same article of the con stitution now provides for the loaning of the permanent school funds of the state to counties and school districts, to be used in the erection of county or school buildings, and to draw interest at the rate of 5 p#r cent per annum. Such loans are now limited to amounts not exceeding three (3) per cent of the last pre ceding assessed valuation of the real es tate of the counties or school districts, re spectively. Ample provision is made for the collection of the priucippl and interest of loans made pursuant to sdfd section 5. IX. "An act proposing an amendment to the constitution of the State of Minnesota, to authorize the taxation of the property of sleeping, drawing room and parlor car, and other companies and owners, in the manner I therein provided." It is proposed to amnd Article 0 of the 2 constitution of Minnesota bv adding thereto I a section reading as follows: i "The legislature may impose, or provide I for the imposition of. upon the property 1 within this state, of any and all owners or I operators, whether corporate or individual, 1 or otherwise, of any and all sleeping, parlor I and drawing room cars, or any or either of the- same, which rin in, into or through this -i state also upon the property within this 3 state of any and all telegraph and telephone I companies, or owners, whose lines are in, or extend in, into or through this state I also upon the property within this state of i all express companies, or owners, or any 3 or either of the same, doing business in this state also upon the property within this state of all domestic Insurance companies 'f of this state of any kind also upon the property within this state of any and all 'foreign insurance companies Ccing business i In this state of any kind also upon the 1 property within this state of all owners or operators of any and all mines or of mineral i ores situated in this state also upon the property within this state of all boom com panies or owners, and of all shipbuilders or owners doin? business in this state or i having a port therein provided, that this 1 act shall not app'y to property owned by railroad companies, their lands and other property: and upon th property of eithec or any of such companies or owners a tai, 5 as nforni as reasonably may be with the taxes imposed upon similar property in saia fiiate. or upjn. the_ earnings thereof within this state bat may ne graced or progres sive, or both, and in providing for such tax, or in providing for ascertaining the just fi ana true value of such propertv. it shall be competent for the legislature, in either or all of such cases, to impose such tax, upon any or all property thereof within this state, and in cither case bv taking as the basis of such imposition the proportionate i business, earniig mileage or quantity of production or property now or hereafter existing of any such companies, persons or owners, transacted or -xistirg in this state. in relation to the eutire business, mileage or quantity of production or property of such companies, persons -or owners as aforesaid or in such other manner, or by such other method as the legislature may i determine: but the proceeds of such taxes upon m.ning property shall be distributed 1 between the state and the various political i subdiv.sions thereof wherein the same is situated in the same proportion as the pro ceeds of t.ixrs upon real property are dis tributed: provided further, 1 lat nothing in 5 this act contained shall operate to authorize the assessment or taxation of land or ordi nary business blocks or propertv owned by any such corporation, person, firm or com pany except in the manner provided by the oidmaiy metho's of taxation." This propose 1 amendment contemplates'*5 the taxation of tne property in this state of: 1. Sleeping, parlor and dining room car companies. 2. Telegraph and telephone companies. i Exp'_es- companies i 4 Foreign and domestic insurance com- -i panics. i The owners or operators of mines or 1 mineral o:e. 6 Boom companies and shipbuilders or owners doine bu^ncs* in this state or ~i having a port therein i Th.* forogo'ng provisions are modified in 3 tne followii]^- very important respects: 1. The n!..ei'dmeut will not apply "t pronerty ow I by ra'lroad companies' their"^ lands and oth-r property 2. Taxf-s may be imposed upon the prop erty of the companies above enumerated or upon the earnings thereof within this state, and may be graded or progressive, or both In providing for such taxation, or the jrst and true value ot such property, It shall be competent for the legislature to inpriso such tax upon anv and ail prooerty u-i-'of within this stale and 4. In either case by taking as the basis of suc'i taxation, the proportionate busi ness, earnings mileage or quantity of pro duction or property now or hereafter exist f.g of .my such companies, persons or own er-, trimacted or existing in this state, in relit on to the entire business, mileage or quantity cf production or property or In such other manner, or by Mich other i 'cihod. as the legislature may determine The proceeds of taxes upon mininff p-operty will be distributed between tbe .'tato and th- various political subdivision* loreof wherein the same is situated in tbeV., F-me proportion as the proceeds of taxes-**? u_on real property are distributed. The amendment contains a provision to t.u effect that it shall not operate to an-1 thor z" the assessment or taxation of land or ordinary business blocks or property owned by any such corportation, per*#a. 11 "i or company, except in the manner prd vided by the ordinary mo'-hod-s of taxatIo. H- Chlids. Ju t. 1306. Attorney General. SMAIil^EST O AM, KATIOJf S. Tavoralo, an bland Jfear Sardinia. Claims tike Distinction. Some of the encyclopedias and many newspapers have commented on the smallest independent country in the world, and have given the credit there for to either Andorra or San Marino. A late issue of the Westminster Ga-I zette takes these authorities to task, declaring that tbey are mistaken as to the government which can lay daim to being the smallest independent terri tory on the globe, and says that the po sition belongs to Tavoralo, an islet off the northwest coast of Sardinia. It& size is three miles long and three-qnar ters of a mile broad ,and its popula tion numbers exactly fifty-five souls. From 1836 to 1882 the islet was gov erned by one Paoloto, who had all thd authority of a king, but when he died! in the latter year he advised the in habitants to form a republic, whicl was done. All the adult islanders, women equally with men, have votes, and every six years a president is elected for that period. Nominally the island is claimed by Italy, but no at tempt is made to exercise any control from there or from the near Island Sardinia.Deseret News. i\ An English writer says that the Glaa gow water from Loch Katrine Is verj soft, and on that account it Is com puted that the annual saving to tht city in soap alone amounts to SOUK ?1S0,000.,