The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-04

shoula 20 back to the county which created 1t and be. applied to road con-
 In further expisnation of the amend. ment. the words 'ssnd the legislature may also make additional appropria- 'ti6ns for this purpose" were Inserted as a matter of prAcaution and to meet the contingency that might arise. Sup. pose the Legislature should abolish the lease system or should authorize the working of the conwicts on the roads: or should determine to build and equip large and expensive prisons and work the convicts on State sc. count in order to move them from competition of the free industries or with free labor. under either of these conditions, there would be no reve- nues. The net revenues from convict labor might be entirely eliminated and still by Increased wealth of the State produced by the development of our wonderful resources, there might be a surplus in the treasury so as to ap- propriate liberally for good improve- ment. It was to meet a situation like this. that the words were inserted and for none other
 The question has been asked. where will the authorities be invested with the right to determins In what part of the State the work on the roads will first begin7 Every county which de- sires to take advantage of the appro- priations and is ready to contribute it's share. will nle an application with the constituted authorities expressing the desire to receive it's portion of the States appropriation. Each county will share alike exclusive of incorpor- ated cities and towns.
 Tf fnnnoaafhlk fn w0rk init the details in the constitutional amend ment. That must be left to the Legis- iature to pass appropriate laws for carrying out the general plans. The patriotism and intelligence of the members of the Legislature who are the servants of the people, Is full and complete answer to the insinua- SO obtained will be used to construct a great boulevard across the State or to be used on the streets. The amend ment and the laws provide that it's ex. ecution is specially designed to bene. it the agricultural counties. and the interest of the smaller counties will be protected by provisions giving to each county It's full share. Thus the benefits will accrue to every section of the State, to all the people: the country sch ools will be more largely benefited than any other effort in their behalf.
 The churches will also be largely benefited and the cause of religion spread. will advance civilxAtion; the in- terest in free delivery will be extended to all of the people of the rural com munities. It seems unnecessary to an- swer the suggestion, that under the provision of the overton amendment, the Legislature could involve the State in millions. Every intelligent man should know that the Legislature can- not appropriate and make available money not in the treasury at the time the appropriation is made. All appro- priAtions are made out of the money not otherwise appropriated. It is per. fectly clear that money appropriated for road construction could not be paid unless the cash was on hand when the warrant was presented It is also true that such appropriations are not creating debt against the State. An act appropriating money is not effect. | ual and is not operative SO long as | there is no cash in the treasury. ii the money appropriated was not in the | treasury. it could not be used on road construction, and therefore no debt would be created.
 By the very terms of the amendment
 submitted, the State could not be in.
 volved in debt. It is expressly stated l therein that the State shall not lent 1 it's credit in aId of internal improve | nents. the only power given Is to ap | propriate money. and if it has not thu
 money, 1t will not be appropriated oi | the appropriation cannot be used if no
 in the treasury. because the. amend 1 ment prevents the work being done or <, the credit of the state.
 The present plan of improvement ant maintsnanc0 of the public roads hal | been tried for the last twenty-nv' I years. Results show that the presen | laws of maintaining the public road
 is 6 complete failure and miserable
 make-shift. This waste of money ant labor was due to the results of thu
 lack of system of intelligent roaG | building methods.
 l With the amendment adopted ant l appropriate laws passed by the Legis lature to put It's provisions in opera ton, . system of roads would be con structed that will save this waste, anC | In years every county in the State vii | have good roads. It should be bornI in mind that the amendment does no contemplate raising additional revenues 1 or increase the taxation. This could not be done as the Constitution liIntta that
 The amendment does not appropriate one dollar. No appropriations can bt made effective under it, unless there ia surplus in the treasury above the regular and necessary expense of the State. A reduction of appropriations for education or for the old soldier or the insane or any other such lnstitu' ton is not contemplated or desired.
 It is reasonable to suppose that our States great resources and its abun- dance of natural advantages will be fully developed in all kinds of agricul- tural and manufacturing possibilities, that the State revenues from funds will be increased and not decreased.
 It has been suggested that to ap- propriate the net revenue of the con- vict fund or any other amount. would necessarily result in reducing the ap- propriations Of the old soldier and of the schools. If thfs were true, the con- troversy would end here.
 Economy in Good ROaas.
 Alabama is one of the States rich enough to indulge in the extravagance of poor roads, but how long will 1t be