The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-25

date the alleged unconstitntion.
Ialiiy OF the school certificates.
Such n claim Is false aud wholly at
'arianre with the facts. Even il
the Legislature thought Mt the timr
tins amendment was submitted II
was necessary 10 validate" the
uucliallcuged action of MI the leg.
islntures daring the last three de.
rudcs, It would be unnecessary
bcrnnsc the Republican party has
nominated Judges Whybark aud
Higbrc, who declare that the
school certificates are cOnstitu-
tinnal. The attitude OF Messrs.
Whybark and lligbec is not the
occnsi0u Of surprise, inasmuch a.
these gentlemen could not in honor
hold otherwise, because. while
members OF the Legislature. they
voted Tor the issue of school certi
iicrtcs.
The School Fund amendment
ls submitted solely because Of the
fact that, with the extlnguishment
Of the less. than half million of
dollars Of outstanding bonds at the
beginning Of the romlug year, the
CONSTITUTION viii then require the
NHte 10 pay the school certificates
The school certificates. as hereto.
fore stated, are q part Of the pub
llc bonded debit and the Cnustitu-
ton SAYS that there shall be- levied
mud collected an aauual tax suili-
cIrnt to pay the accruing interest
upon the bonded debt OF the State
and tu reduce the principal thereof
cach year by sum Of not less
than $3.50 600, etc.
Nearly $500 600 0f school cert
hcates mature the coming year.
The state must either pas or re
new them There Is no escape.
under the present Constitution,
unless amended hy the pending
amendment, from the payment Of
at least $3.50, 600 of these certif
Gates yearly The Legislature has
therefore wisely submitted TO the
people an amendment providing
Tor the investment Of school mon.
eys which may hereafter come into
the Treasury in registered county,
municipal or school district bonds
of this State OF not less than par
value " Tie amendment also
provides for the renewal of the
existing certificates and the rednc.
ton ut the State interest tax from
10 cenis ou the hundred dollars
valuation, now provided for by the
statutes, 10 an annual tax lot to
exceed 3 cents on the hundred dol
lars valuation, 4 Scent levy
wlll not he necessary, as levy of
23 cents Oh tue hundred dollar
valuation will he ample, under the
present assessment, to meet the
annual interest on the school GER
ttticates.
NOT a PERPETUAL DEBT.
II is not true, as alleged BY reck.
less Republican partisan newspa
pers aud speakers, that this amend
ment will create perpetual
debit Z most earnestly favor the
adoption of the School Fund
but il by any reason
able construction it could be held
to authorize perpetual debt"
should oppose 1t, This debt.
sacred though it IL. should be re-
newcd in such form that the peo
pie may have the opportunity 90
pay It at aay time they so desire.
The amendment. 10 quote its exact
language. simply provides that the
Legislature may renew the certi-
Iicaies of Indebtedness as they
nature, fer such period OF time
aud AT such rates Of interest a.
may be provided by law"
X follows. therefore. that the
school Fnnd amendment does not
create a perpetual debt, = and il
ia not submitted to validate auy
alleged unconstitutional action ;n-
golyed IN the Issue of school certi.
ieaiss. Il aoas. however. con
Time IN ths discretion OF the peo
I,ie aud Of the Legislature the en-.
Isting investment 0f schools mon
~ III our own securities, thus
operating 70 rsxinee at once State
Iaxatiou from rs cents on the Si0OI
valuation 10 not more than I'M
sents on sha slfsn vnination.
j The consideration of this gnes 1
ion should be freed from partisan,
ship. The educational interests
II the stats are ioo ioffy end too
ssrrrd 10 I,e involved IN The nesIlas
Il naere tarxisau controversy | !
+ -, 1 - So Il ~ 8 <