The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1903-10-02
DEVELOP Industries.
In This Lies Future SfceSs
of the State.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTTALG
hentueky's Geographical Posifp' ana
Enormous UndeVeIOped VEIN
Should Enable the state 10
Occupy "a Place la the FroD
Ranks of Industrial
Development.


Development.
No one in kentucky has givennlore
time 10 all propositions loolSsg 10
State development than has Mr.Fey-
ton ". Clarke. OF Louisville, tht Sec
rotary OF the constitutional Anend-
ment Committee authorized al th last
State Commercial Convention. and
there is certainly no person mortable
10 review the benefits that Will pillow
the adoption OF this amendment. Al Is
a pleasure. therefore, TO give u our
readers an interview with Mr. CArke
on this very important topic:
The present Amendment SHOULD not
be confused with former AmendSeat,
somewhat along the same lines. and
which contained some obiectioiabe
features, which the present Amend
ment is entirely free from.
You viii understand. or carse
that the proposed Amendment viii not
interfere ia any manner with the
present method of assessing real IS
tate and personal property for state
and County purposes. All towns and
cities will continue. as here totore, 70
pay taxes for State and county pur-
poses under the present law. and the
proposed Amendment II adopted, VIII
make il possible for any town or city
in the State TO secure an act OF the
Legislature. providing that il raising
revenue for strictly local purposes,
towns and cities OF any class may sub
stitute for the present ad valOrem SIS
TEN, such licenses. franchises, and eN-
else laws. in subjecting personal prop
erty 10 its fair share OF the expenses
OF such towns and cities as may take
advantage OF the Amendment when
adopted.
The products of a State are It's
foundation OF wealth. bat its indus
tries are the sinews Of its financial
strength. Without industries, which
afford markets, in proximity TO the
products. the producers are badly
handicapped, and il compelled to send
their products 10 distant markets
where there is greater competition and
increased expenses. as well rs numer-
Gus losses. ii is perfectly plain that
the producer must suffer. if, on the
other hand. by reason of increased in
dusuies at home, affording a market
for our products. the conditions are
immeasurablv mnrs faVorahls-
producer.
Now, in order to secure more in
dustries, which means more employees
and more mouths 10 feed, We must en-
courage the establishment OF new en-
terprises. and at the same time. by in
creasing the capacity OF those already
established. secure an ample hom
market Ior our home products.
other States have seen the wisdom
of this policy and Kentuckians shoul'
not be allowed TO lag behind them
Our geographical position and enOrm
Gus undeveloped wealth should enabl
us to occupy place in the front rank
OF industrial development. and the ia
ture welfare and prosperity of tn
State can be settled in a great measur
by the adoption of the Constitutions
Amendment Manufacturers and Otne
industries cannot be induced TO locat
in Kentucky while our taxes on sue
industries are greater than in othe
States with which we have TO com
pete. Therefore. in order TO secur
the benefits our position and advan
tages entitle us to. We must be abb
to offer the same inducements as ar
offered by our neighbors.
while the proposed Amendmen
will not change in any manner tn
present method of assessing real es
tate for State and county taxes,
must not be concluded that IL will nc
greatly benefit the entire State.
1T is confidently believed that tn
new law will enable the assessors
disclose a vast amount OF property nC
at present in reach of the assessor
and ii this result should follow. theI
would be an opportunity for an imm'
date and radical reduction In the ia
rate for State and county purposes
which every taxpayer in the Stal
would be directly benefited. The mai
advantage would be in the inducemeI
to new industries TO locate in OF
midst. new capital to seek investmeI
| Ia our farms. mines and rich timb'
| lands, and by thus increasing OF
wealth and Importance the resu
would invariably follow of reductio
in the tax rate. 1t is very simp
| proposition that the more property
be taxed. the lower the rate necessaI
to secure the same revenue.
"A recent change in the Kentuek
incorporation law has kept vast sun
OF money in our State which. befol
the change referred to, went to 9th
States. and the numerous enterpris
now being incorporated in Kentucf
will continue TO add to its revenue 4
all time to come, and If anyone b;
been damaged in any way by q
change there has been no discovery
the fact.
IF Kentucky could gain so much !
a simple change in the statutes, wi
should she not gain great deal mo
by change in the revenue law
proposed in the Amendment TO