Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-04-29
A WRITER WHO CAN SEE MOTH.
ING IN THE BILL BUT
MERIT.
Believes That the People Will Demand
the Passage OF the Measure by
the Next Legislature
Answer to Mr..
Bradley.
Correspondence of the Ledger.

paper discussing the plan lately
before the legislature to endow the
State University, the first article be-
ing the reasons given by Hon. James
Bradley for his oppoaitien to the bill.
Brother Bradley, in his late article,
extends an invitation to others who
are interested in the matter to join in
the discussion, and with your indulg-
ence, Mr.. Editor, I will undert axe to
contribute a few thoughts; but can
see nothing In the bill but good, and
a great blessing to the present and
coming generations of our great State.
have noticed the progress of this
proposition carefully, have studied it
rather closely and I believe it will
stand discussion. believe that the
genuine merits of the bill will shine
out more and more after it is thor
oughly discussed and understood, and
/ hope to see the discussion continued.
l believe, further, that the people will
see and realize the great blessing that
would result to our State by the en-
actment of this bill into law; that they
will demand its passage and that it
will be passed by the next legislature.
Had brother Bradley contented
himself with discussion of his con-
stitutional objections to the bill and
expressed his inability to support the
measure on that account, hardly be-
lieve any one would wish to take issue
with him concerning his own consci-
entious scruples in regard to his oath
"to support the constitution" &C.,
even should they differ with him on
the correctness of his views; but after
giving his constitutional objections he
assails the bill most vigorously and
shows his hostility to the same and its
merits and expediency.
This bill originated in the brilliant
and patriotic brain of Gov. w. j.
Stone, who knows as much about the
affairs and financial condition of our
State and takes as deep an interest in
the welfare OF our State, in my hum
Bile opinion, as any citizen within it's
boundaries. The proposition, as sug-
gested and recommended by Gov.
Stone, was introduced both I'm tho
House and Senate and was slightly
amended in both Senate and House
committees, the principal amendment
being to curtail the duration of the
certificate of Indebtedness from an
indefinite period to a period Of six
years.
First. AS to the constitutionality of
the proposition, l desire to simply
say that the bill was recommended to
the legislature by ex-Gov. Stone and
by Gov. Stephens. 1t passed the
Senate by vote of % to 9,three mem.
bers absent; it failed In the House by
a vote of SO to 81, fourteen members
being absent. Of the members vot-
ing in both bodies,79 voted favorably
to the bill and 7s in opposition to it,
but it lacked few votes only very
few votes in the House. Surely it could
not be such disastrous and danger
GUS measure, receiving all these votes
from the representatives of the peo-
pie. Surely there were some good,
honest and also conscientious men
among the 70 who voted for the bill.
In truth, many of them we're good
men, who love their State and also
know something about the constitu-
tion.
1t would take much space to discuss
the constitution, and all those who
desire to read an interesting discuss
ion of this point and very instruct
i've document, would do well to drop a
postal card to the Secretary of State
requesting Gov. Stones last message
to the legislature.
The truth is that about three -fourths
of the bills that are introduced and
passed are objected to by some MEM
Der as being unconstitutional. We
have Supreme Court to decide these
questions when they are presented.
Second. AS to the merits of the bill;
Now, Mr.. Editor, am compelled to
say that all this "blood and thunder
about plunging the State $4,000, 900 in
debt, or SO, $50 900 in debt, and about
binding and grinding down the op'
pressed tax payers, sounds mighty
noisy, to say the least of it. Had it
emanated from an old politician
would have taken it for demagogoery
but don't suppose it was intended
for such.
In regard to the alleged "S2, 900 ,00t
of debt the bill proposed to saddle
upon the people and their prosteri
lty." The certificates of Indebtedness
IN form, were to be made payable Il
, the State, made non-transferable ant
held by the State, the interest to b,
used to support one of the institution
of the State; the principal never to b.
paid. These certificates were to b.
creations of the legislature and coul;
be wiped out of existence at any tim
by an act of that body which creare'
them, no matter what duration the,
, were intended to have, no injury be
ing done to innocent third parties
The legislature can repeal any law
may make.
IL make a promissory note In favo
of myself for $1,000, non-negotiabl
and non-transferable, the interest OF
which note l agree to pay and use an
nually for the support and improve
ment of a very valuable field, which
own myself, would not consider tina
; was plunging into debt very rapidly
i I could tear up the note and stop pay
/ ing the interest when I got ready
! This is all there is to the endowmen
! proposition. 1t was presented In thi
: form for q very wise purpose, whicl
. will appear later.
, Now, In regard to the burden to tn
tax payers: Had this bill become
law, with the untold benefits and ad
I vantages that IL would have given +
l the young men and young women G
Missouri, 1t would not have increase