The Monticellonian., 1904-08-04
AMENDMENT NO. Q.
Reasons Why the Country Voters Should Vote For IL in September.

Reasons Why the Country Voters
 Should Vote For IL in September.
 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. g, a proposed amendment to the state constitution, 10 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, and every possible safeguard is thrown around the proposition. After the amend ment is adopted no indebtedness can be made unless ordered by city coun- cils, 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 eyi- 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- terest 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 weekly paper of general circulation in the county in which the city or town is situated. Said ordl- nance shall then be submitted to the inhabitants at the next regular or special city election, for ratifica- tion or rejection; and if majority of all the electors voting on such ques- ton 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.
 EirSt-Ihe country receives the 1ulI pro rata of the increase in taxable values, arising from improvements in it's 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-It 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 iniquitous city warrant, so often discounted, and so frequently assuming the shape of the dangerous reef that wrecks the muni- cipal ship-the judgmera 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-It 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-It 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-a better citizenship.