13,815

1

feel that even though there may be no problems with the

2

language as it now exists that we can insure ourselves

3

by not getting into questions of when a statute was passed,

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ub simply to say that we intend to keep this section exactly

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as it was in the prior Constitution, and that we pick up

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all the possibilities, so to speak, except to the extent

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that the Federal Constitution will not allow us to do so,

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particularly in view of the fact that the B&O Railroad has

9

already won one case involving the preservation of this

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exemption on the basis that an attempt by the General

11

Assembly or by the Constitution to impair its prior rights

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relating to the taxation exemption was a violation of the

13

contract clause of the Federal Constitution.

14

I think that we have at last arrived at the

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point where we have carried over the intent and meaning

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and impact of the prior section, that is Article 3, Section

17

48 of the old Constitution, and kept it as much intact as

18

possible, without on the face of the language violating the

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Federal Constitution.

20

Hopefully, therefore, I would urge the adoption.

21

I am sorry that this has been so involved, but Delegate