The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-12
WILL OPPOSE
 AMENDMENT Governor Against Good Roads Proposition. WILL JAR TAX SYSTEM Will Be in Opposition to Senator
 Bankhead. A Bis Fight is Shaping in Alabama on This Prcposition--Friends of Good Roads win Continue
 Movement. 4'.


 mary in May is in order 1t Is believed one can see the clouds gathering for mighty warfare about next fall when the people begin to make up their minds on good roads in Alabama The voters at the general election in Mo- vember will be called on for an expres- sion of their will on the Overton amendment.
 This proposed amendment to the Constitution has worn an innocent enough face in the past. It has precip- itated no big conflict from the time of its birth to now. But some shots are going to be fired into 1t before tho ballots are cast next November. These shots will be of no less calibre than the blunderbuss of the Governor him. self.
 Governor Conner would not, however, say that he Is going to fight the good roads amendment. He declared yester- day that 1t is too early to say that he will take the stump on the question.
 You may put me down for good roads now and all the time." said he yesterday. But I am opposed to the Constitutional amendment as it now stands. This amendment proposes to take the net proceeds of the Convict Department of the State and apportiop it among the counties for use in build ing and improving dirt roads.
 The State gets annually a net profit of about half a million dollars from the working of convicts. To divert it to good roads simply means to take tt . away from our great educa ational sys- tenn. That, 1t seems to me. would not be wise thing to do. think the people should think ofthis phase of the matter before casting their votes on such proposition.
 ITO take away from the educational fund this half million dollars would
 
 revenue or tax system of Alabama. It would mean that the tax for good roads --and after all 1t amounts to a tax would be shifted from the counties to the State government That is all there Is to 1t. It certainly looks bet ter to me to keep up the public school system and the present tax basis and let the conditions remain like they are in the counties.
 "As the taking away of half a million dollars from the educational fund of the State would, as I say. mean an ex- ltra taxation, I should think 1t were wiser to let the counties vote a specific tax according to their own wishes for the purpose of good roads"
 Ever since Senator John H. Bank head announced from Washington that he would come to Alabama soon to take the stump for the overton amend nent, there has been a rumor that he might be opposed by the Governor. It is well Known that Governor Conner has advocated good roads for a long time. Until recently. however, the friends of the proposed constitntto9al amendment have seem to have had 7no fear of opposition from the Governor. It Is true that even now he has not de- clared himself strongly enough in op. position to the measure to say he would take the stump against the doughty Senator who Is in favor of the amend ment.
 stilI it may be put down that the Governor does not like the proposition at all. He does not look at 1t as any kind of a Trojan horse affair. Frankly he declares there Is nothing delusive about it. It simply resolves itself into a question with him of sitting supinely by and seeing the tax system of the State rudely jared. Taking, a half million dollars out of the State Treas ury for good and scattering 1t plente- ously among the counties In chirt and macadam and gravel leaves a good sized hole in the strong box.
 Undoubtedly. with the States finances in everything but a plethoric condition, this hole would seem at this time extra large The unprecedented appropriations of the last Legislature were certainly founded in part on
  the working of eonvicts. If the Over ton amendment threatens to carry re- adjustment of the tax problem would be a practical certainty
 Hence, if the Governor assumes the responsibility for the policy of a liberal appropriation to the schools 1t is not such Q big surprise after all to find him arrayed against the Overton amendment.
 But lifting the veil of the future still higher. one can see strong senti- ment in favor of the amendment crys- talizing. Master hands are directing the movement to get a majority for the measure. Besides Senator Bank head, one of those hobbies for years and years has been better roads, Hon. John Craft. of Mobile, President of the Alabama Good Roads Association. is to be found actively in support of the con stitutional amendment There will be no let up of the energies of these men, according to their friends. Mir. Craft frankly says 1t Is the biggest ques- tion in the State of Alabama today, and will be for years to come. always until there is the same abiding inter est among our people in good roads as exists in England and other European countries