Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-01-02
CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS
s,egr WILL re VOTED IN no
VENEER 1908.
Radical Change ID Proposed in Our
systsm Of Taxation.

AnIAS ~ 1850 ~ II
ments which are to be voted upon by
the people OF Missouri at the general
election In 1905. Discussion Of these
amendments has already begun
throuuhout the state. The iirst
amendment provides for the estab-
lishment OF the initiative and refer
endum in Missouri. The campaign Is
In progress TO bring about the adop-
tion OF this amendment A somewhat
similar amendment was voted down
in 1904. The present amenament,
however, is more carefully drawn
and Ia regarded by the friends Of the
proposition as more satisfactory than
the amendment which was defeaatd.
The second amendment relates TO
the limit OF Indebtedness in cities OF
100. 900 or more, and, II adopted, will
allow such cities TO become Indebted
TO a larger amount than now specified
by the present constitution, not ex-
ceeding an additional 5 per centum
OF assessed valuation.
The third amendment also affects
the limit OF Indebtedness in cities
Of not more than $4,000 and not less
than 2,Oco. These are cities Of tho
third class, and the amendment
seeks to permit them to create an
additional Indebtedness beyond the
present constitutional limit for the
purpose Of building waterworks and
electric light plants TO be owned ex.
clusivelY by the cities. Cities Of the
second class now have this privilege
and the amendment seeks to extend
it TO cities Of smaller population.
Should the fourth amendment be
adopted there would be an increase
In the compensation Of state senators
and representatives. They are paid
now IS a day aud mileage This
applies both to regular and special.
The regular session is limited in
length by the constitution and the
special session is practically limited
by the pressure Of public opinion. II
the amendment is adopted the none
tary compensation of the members OF
the Missouri house and senate will be
s750a year.
The fifth amendment provides for
q permanent road fund in each coun-
ty by . levy Of . tar Of 10 cents on
the 500 valuation for road and bridge
purposes.
The sixth amendment provides that
county courts may, In their discretion,
levy and assess In the same manner as
state and county taxes are now col
.lected, q special tax not exceeding 25
cents on each 500 valuation, to be
used or road and bridge purposes,
but for no other purposes whatever.
The fifth and sixth amendments were
proposed by the state good roads con-
ventlons held In various places in
Missouri.
The seventh amendment provides
for nine judges Of the supreme court
instean Of seven as at present, and
for three divisions with three judges
In each division and relates to the
procedure Of the court The increase
OF business before the court is the
argument for the adoption Of this
amendment.
The eighth amendment creates q
radical change 10 the taxing system
In Missouri. II adopted, there will be
q separation Of the state and local
THAT Is, county, school and munich
pall revenue, and local option will be
given the counties and municipalities
OF the state in the selection OF the
subjects OF taxation. Under its pro
vision the state will discontinue to
tax real and personal property for
state purposes after January l, 1911,
and the revenue for state purposes
will be obtained from objects subject
10 taxation other than BY the general
levy upon real and personol property
within their jurisdiction. Objection
has been raised TO the form OF the
amendment, and to some possible ex.
emptions from its provisions. There
is general agreement, however, among
the tax reformers IS 70 the desira-
bilisy Of the adoption Of some pro
vision for the separation OF state and
LEGAL sources Of taxation. Such an
amendment was suggested BY the
State Tax Commission, appointed
BY Gov. Folk, as well as by a previous
Tax Commission appointed BY Gov.
Dockery. Upon these commissions
served Attorney General Hadley,
Judge w. NJ. Williams, former At
torney General E @. Grow, DR.. Isador
Loeb, i. II. Jndson, Preyton A. Parks
and John n. Bothwell.-Walter VIII
liams 10 Globe Democrat.
Blizzard Killed Him.