The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-10-29
TIE MILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL
BONDS.

In the past week or so a vigor-
Gus campaign has begun IN the
State in support Of the constitu-
tionaI amendment providing Tor
the issuance of a million dollars
worth of State bonds with which
to build public school house
throughout the State.
The BANNER favor- the million
dollar school bond issue because
it feels il will be the means OF fur
nishing new and comfortable
school houses to many communi-
ties in the State which would never
| secure them otherwise.
BY the method Of distribution
every parish in the State will get
it's pro rata of the bond issue
according to its census of educable
children which will be used for the
purpose Of building and equip
ping school houses, and for no
other use.
We clip the following article
from the Jeanerette Herald, and it
is worthy of the careful considera-
ton Of every voter:
1T is to be hoped that the people
will consider carefully the proposed
amendments to the constitution and
not be influenced by number of bla-
tant newspapers that are willing to
defeat some of the best amendments to
crafty miserable spite against Gov
ernor Blanchard.
"There may be questions OF eXpe
dicncy in regard to some of the amend
inents but there is not one that could
prove harmful or vicious. 1t should
be ,eny iuEe.ed that. the proposed
amendments were submitted by the
state Legislature. the honest and ac-
credited representatives Of the people.
who carefully considered and en-
Gorsed each proposition. and their
Judgment should be relied on to some
extent.
There are four of the amendments
that are Of the greatest consequence
ard should he ratified by all means:
No. III, increasing pensions to Con-
federate soldiers. There is no con-
trOverSv over this one: it will carry.
No. l32, for creating new court of APP
peais; No. Ii, providing for exemp-
ton from taxation for a period of ten
years all new railroads constructed
subsequent to Jan. !, 1904. and prior
TO Jan. |, 1863; No. 33, providing for
the issuance of one million dollars OF
state bonds for building and equip
ping public school houses.
Tine court Of appeals act is en-
oorsed by our best lawyers as more
expeditions and practical than our
present system.
The railroad exemption we think
is wise and polite and calculated to
develop the latent resources of the
state.
Every objection raised by the enc
mics of the administration against the
school bond issue can be easily met
and cOnfuted. 1t will not cost the
taxpayers one cent more of taxes.
The state already levies a tax Of sly
mills and is constitutionaliy prohibit
Cd from collecting a dollar more.
The interest of the bonds will be paid
out OF the interest fund, which last
year carried over Il surplus Of 500
600. In thirty years, when the bonds
mature, the resources of the state will
have more than doubled by develop
ment, ard their payment will bea mere
Dagatel,e. and viii be 50 considered
nv the generation that Will have to A.,
pay them-the boys Of to-day. who !
will reap TIE benefit of the bond issue
when the bonds are sold, the |
money will be pro rated to each par
lsh according TO the number of edu-
cable children, and the local school |
boards VIII eXpend the money. If the |
bonds sell for no more than par value. |
lbeyia rari III will rat 3d., 600 which |
viii build all the school houses We |
need. We cannot afford to cast orr ;
vote against the education of the !
children OF this state, which leads in |
the roll of illiteracy.''