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farmers singly and in combination, from
the state board of agriculture, from the
Grange, from the Farm Bureau, from
farmers throughout this State, I would say
the biggest single hearing that our Com-
mittee held; I would stand corrected on
this by any members, but it is my recollec-
tion the most people we had at any one
time was the people who came from all
over the State to speak on this issue.
As a result of that it was felt by the
Committee that agriculture industry in this
State deserved a modicum of protection in
the use of the word "shall". This would
"•ive that to the bona fide farmers now
without any doubt, whereas the word
"may" might not.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Hanson, do
you have further questions?
DELEGATE HANSON: Yes, Mr. Chair-
man, but it would seem to me — Mr. Case,
I will put a question mark at the end of
this — that the clause we are discussing
here, as you suggested earlier, does not ac-
tually add any powers to the power of the
General Assembly but on the other hand,
does it not provide a limitation on the
power of the General Assembly if in its
discretion at some future time it wishes to
establish classifications, but looking at the
application of the farmland assessment act
over a period of time, perhaps finding it
unworkable or finding it impossible ulti-
mately to distinguish between bona fide
farmers and farmers not so bona fide that
such action should not stand, it would be
in a position of not being able to establish
taxable application on property.
Would that not be the case?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Case.
DELEGATE CASE: I thought you were
going to put that question mark in sooner
or later. No, I do not think it would be the
case. The General Assembly is given clear
power to classify and the use of the word
or use of the class relating to agriculture
is so worded, at least I hope it is so worded,
I believe it is, and members of the Com-
mittee believe so — it is not written in
such a way as to limit or in any way ham-
string the classification or sub-classification
of land for other purposes.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Hanson.
DELEGATE HANSON: The clause as I
read it says that the classes shall include
agricultural property. Would this mean
then that a classification system could be
established which did not include agricul-
tural property?
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THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Case.
DELEGATE CASE: The way I read it
it means there may be classifications of
land in any numbers of categories you care
to assume, but one classification that has to
be made is classification of farms.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Hanson.
DELEGATE HANSON: I have a num-
ber of questions, but I do not want to wear
out the indulgence of the Committee.
THE CHAIRMAN: If you have pro-
tracted questions, I suggest we resume to-
morrow.
DELEGATE HANSON: I would like to
discuss this with Mr. Case privately, but I
also want to discuss it with him publicly.
THE CHAIRMAN: Before we leave this,
the Chair would ask Delegate Case and also
Delegate Moser before we resume tomor-
row to consider section S.Olb in conjunction
with section 7.05.
It seems to the Chair that S.Olb goes fur-
ther than 7.05. It says the same thing as
7.05 as to counties as to which 7.05 is
limited but S.Olb says political sub-
divisions.
I would like to know whether the Com-
mittee on Finance is recommending that
this be extended to municipal corporations.
The Chair recognizes Delegate Powers.
DELEGATE POWERS: Mr. Chairman,
I move the Committee of the Whole rise
and report it has not yet completed con-
sideration of Committee Recommendation
SF-3.
THE CHAIRMAN: Is there a second?
(The motion, was seconded.)
THE CHAIRMAN: All in favor signify
by saying Aye; contrary, No. The Ayes
have it. It is so ordered.
(Whereupon, at 10:25 P.M., the Com-mit-
tee of the Whole arose, and the Convention
reconvened.)
(The mace was replaced by the Sergeant-
at-Arms.)
PLENARY SESSION
DECEMBER 4, 1967—10:25 P.M.
PRESIDENT H. VERNON ENEY,
PRESIDING
THE PRESIDENT: The Convention will
please come to order.
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