The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-10-28
RATIFICATION
or Proposed Amendments 10
Constitution Means Increase
ofTaxation aud Other Ills.

The committee appointed 20 investi-
pate the advisability of adopting the
nronosed amendments TO tennessee
Constitution, gives the following
reasons why the people should vote
against the amendments:
THE proposed amendments TO the
Constitution, 10 be voted on at the
ensuing November election, should be
given careful consideration by the
voters Of the State. The best interest
of all classes demands that there should
he no tampeIing with the state
organic law and that the SAID amend
ments be defeated by the people.
.'These amendments. If ratlned, Will
be iniurious to our State In no small
degree in many ways.
II Since Tennessee was admitted as
n State into the Union we have elected
our county and State officials every
two years. During this time we had
Constitutional Convention to frame
Constitution, and that body, composer
as 1T was of the ablest men In Inc
State. saw no Iesona for change IN
elections OF the term of any ONCE.
And there is no reason for any change
now. 1t is a well-known fact That Ioi
MANY wears in every State In the
Union, corporations and trusts ana So
called Captains of industry have In,
terested themselves in the election OF
officials. They have their PAID repre-.
sentatives to attend each meeting Oh
the State Legislatures for some pur-
nose. This being true, is 1t not I'M
inrtant that our public servants Iender
an account of their official acts every
two wears? The State cannot afford II
| for the further reason that cnange
would cost fifty thousand dollars an
nually in unpaid poll taxes. all OF
which would come out of the scnool
tund. 1t is admitted that the adop-
| ton of the foregoing Will not MAKE
| fewer elections.
Unjust and Needless Dissemination
2. There is no reason OF justice In tine
proposed amendment which extends
the tenn of office of the State T1easur'
ar and Comptroller and allows them 10
succeed themselves, and at. the same
time deprives the County Register
of the State of the right to succeed
1 themselves. Why should State officers,
who handle millions of collars OF pun
liz funds. ne allowed to hold Office
indefinitely, and the County heglsIel'
OF the State, who handle no pupi.'
money, be deprived OF the Ilgnl =
succeed themselves in office! why III ~!
discrimination in favor OF STATE ON
GERS and against county of1lcers!
! Means Inc rease in Taxation.
r. The sixth amendment seeks tt
eynmnt manufacturers from taxation
for a period of years. During th'
mast ten years the records show re
InarIxabIe increase in manufacturing
Our State does not levy an Oppressive
tax on corporations. Taxation is uni
form throughout the State. Why dis
Icriminate in favor of one class OF cltl
] zeps and against another? Ii tnl
amendment is ratified. there will e.
reat Incl ease in taxation on all per
sons not engaged in manufacturing
Every industry heretofore chaItere'
will re-incoIporate and claim exemp
tion from taxation, and the farmer
and merchants of the State (alread
taxed to the limit will have to maxi
nm the deficit. There is no occasion
for such hurtful legislation.
Destroys Local Government.
The seventh amendment is &c
sio ned for the sole purpose OF destroy
ing municipal ownership in tennessee
II seeks to limit county and munlclps
Indebtedness in order to prevent Cite
thouphout the State from lssuln
honds to buy, own, and control thel
own water and light plants and con-
pete with private corporations.
.doptlon of this amendment WI
= enable private corporations TO goppi
nm valuable franchises in every city
the State. The people of the warrior
cities are capable OF managing the
4 avn financial affairs and there Is !
necessity for this amendment, whlcl
d if adopted, would hamper every GU
and county in Tennessee and subJe'
;ts people to unjust and serious o.
I preston. If the people OF the sever
4 cities of the State want to own the
lighting and water plants. why deprl'
! than Nv constitutional amendment
. They are as capable of passing upon q
I question of locality issuing bonds Il
I public purposes as they are Oh Vo'ii
for or against this amendmenI.
1t is significant that the author
this particular amendment mas new
! opened his mouth in support OF IL al
{ vet the people are asked to ratlfy
amendment which does not coin"a'
5 the support Of its own author.
5 II is the duty Of citizens to vo
Z against these amendments by strikir
them out as they would an obJectio
able candidate If they 40 not. the
vote will be counted in favor OF thef
A. Z. NEIL,
Chairman;
{ BANCROFT MURRAY.
Vice Chairman;
JAMES g. BROWN,