The age-herald., 1901-05-26

T recognized even by the inspired Apostle, for you remember that Paul, in his epls- tie to young Timothy who he was pre- pairing to preach the glorious gospel, refers to 1t even in the matter of faith for he says: I am persuaded that the unfeigned faith which dwelt in thy grand mother Lois and in thy mother Eunice dwells also in thee.
 The great work before this convention will be to study and carefully consider this question. It is for this purpose that so many of the wise and conservative men of the State, including many of the ablest representatives of the bar, have been asked, for the time, to lay aside their business and the duties of an ex- acting profession, and consecrate to the service of the State all the talent, expe- rience and ability they possess. l am not prepared to say whether or not this convention will approve the form of re- lief which has been adopted in our sis ter States, but feel confident that there is intelligence and ability enough here to settle this question to the satisfaction of our people. We have inaugurated the movement and we must succeed, and I confidently believe we will succeed. It is not to be expected that a reform movement like this will meet with uni versal approval. but when you finished work is submitted. and you present. as I believe you will. a practical solution of the evil conditions under which we now live, it will be appreciated and ac- cepted by our people.
 Authority to Fund State Debt.
 Thre are other questions which might be considered, but to which I shall be able to give only passing notice. In view of the fact that a large part of the States bonded indebtedness will soon mature, 1t Is important and nec- essary that some provision should be made for funding the indebtedness of the State. Nery able lawyers have doubted if there be any authority in the State. un- der the present Constitution. to fund the States indebtedness. At the time of the adoption of the present Constitution, the creation of debt on the part of the State, county and municipal authorities had been abused to such an extent as to cause great alarm, and so the framers of the present Constitution, in their anx- iety to curtail this evil, seem not to have considered the question of the pay ment or the funding of the States in debtedness by the issuance of new bonds or obligations. The provision of the present Constitution on this subject is as follows:
 After the ratification of this Consti- tutiOn no debt shall be created against, or incurred by this State or its author ity, except to repel invasion or suppress insurrection, and then only by a con currence of two-thirds of the members of each house of the General Assembly, and the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered on the journals; and any act creating or incurring any Dyw debt against this State except as here in provided for, shall be absolutely void; provided, the Governor may be author ized to negotiate temporary loans never to exceed one hundred thousand dollars, to meet deficiencies in the treasury; and until the same Is paid no new loan shall be negotiated; provided further. that this sction shall not be construed as to prevent the issuance of bonds in adjustment. of existing State indebted ness"
 The power to settle the States then existing indebtedness has been exercised under the debt settlement acts, and it may be doubted whether, under the re- strictive terms of the present Constitu- tion, there be any power to issue new bonds to pay or fund the debt at it's maturity.
 There can be no doubt but that the State debt under present conditions, can be funded at a greatly reduced rate of interest and at such a rate as will save the State largely more than the cost of the holding of this convention Municipal and County Indebtedness.
 Then again, there is the question of authority of county and municipal gov- ernments to create debts totally beyond the resources which must be looked to to provide payment. The framers of the present Constitution carefully stipulated a maximum rate of taxation, but made no provision against the creation of debt over and beyond the resources of the county municipality. Consequently, improvident and interruptions officers have been able to impair the credit and fasten a load of debt upon cities and counties In different portions of the State, which has involved many of them In litigation and bankruptcy. Some just provision should be incorporated. linn iting the power to create debt beyond the reasonable ability of the county or municipality to pay.
 Education.
 Then again, there is the great question of education which so vitally touches the interests of our people. I believe we should keep faithfully the pledges we have given not to increase taxation, but this should not deter us from making every effort to rid our State of the dis