The Van Buren press., 1904-08-06
AMENDMENT NO. 9.
Reasons Why the Country Voters
Should Support II.

Should support ".
The business men Of the state are
giving the recent mayors convention
their enthusiastic approval in the
work of informing the voters as TO
the importance of Amendment No. 8,
a proposed amendment to the state
constitution, TO be voted on at the en-
suing state election. This amend
ment gives cities of the first and sec
ond class power to issue interest-bear-
ing certificates of Indebtedness to pay
for public improvements. There will
be no increase of taxes, aud every
possible safeguard is thrown around
the proposition. After the amend
ment is adopted, no Indebtedness can
be made unless ordered by city coun-
ellis, and not then until the voters
ratify the order at the polls, The pro-
posed amendment in full Is as fol-
lows:
That cities Of the first and second
class may issue interest bearing evil
dences of Indebtedness. Provided,
however, that before this law shall be
effective, the city council of such city
or town shall pass an ordinance
specifying for what purpose and for
what amount they desire to issue in
tercst bearing evidence of indebted
ness and the rate of interest TO
be paid on the same. Said ordi-
nance shall be published for thirty
days in a daily paper, published in
such cities or towns, but If there be no
daily papers, then the same shall be
published in a weekly paper of general
circulation in the county in which the
city or town is situated Said ordi-
nance shall then be submitted to the
inhabitants at the next regular or
special city election, for ratiiica'
tion or rejection; and if majority
of all the electors voting on such ques-
tion are found to be in favor Of the
ratification, then said ordinance shall
be in full force and effect, otherwise
the same shall be null and void
The adoption of the amendment is
urged by the executive committee OF
the mayors convention, for the follow
ing reasons:
The Country:
First-The country receives the full
pro rata Of the increase in taxable
.alues, arising from Improvements in
its cities without any increase In
taxes, burdens or debt on the people in
the country, THEREBY increasing the
school facilities and providing better
roads, with the consequent increment
in all values from crops to realty.
Second-It places the city market
virtually at the door Of every farmer
without additional expense.
Third-lt does not increase the tax
able debt of the farmer either directly
or indirectly, and in fayoring it the
farmer does not increase the taxes in
the cities for the reason that dis
counted city warrants work greater
hardships than certificates Of indebted
ness at the lower interest rate.
The City
First-It will relegate forever TO
deserved oblivion the inquitous city
warrant, so often discounted and so
frequently assuming the shape OF the
dangerous reef tha. wrecks the mum.
cipal ship-the judgment Of the court
with interest covering the past and
running into the future until Shylock
carves out the pound Of flesh. The
city warrant becomes par and the lab.
orer receives 100 cents on the dollar.
Second-lt will bring about the last.
ing public improvements which In
crease the value for all time Of prop.
erty of every description, advancing
villages TO towns and towns to cities,
which while not increasing the tax,
increases beyond compare the tax
revenue,
Third--lt means health and long
life to the people living in the cities
decrease in the awful mortality
among the young-due to the lack OF
proper sanitary conditions which can
only be brought about by the building
Of modern sewer systems It means
better streets, better schols, better
buildings; better citizenship,