The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-19

radius of three or four miles" as is ad- tice and reason in the high tariff to pro | tect manufacturers (so unjust and ob- 1 noxious to an agricultural people, than can be adduced to the proposition that the legislature should be unqualihedly authorized to embark upon the system proposed.
 If there should ever come a time when there is a superabundance of money in the county treasury, the condition should call for further educational advantage or a reduction of taxes and Tightening of burdens upon property, and not to stimulate the invention of new "fads" for It's consumption by the politician or non-taxpayer whose stock In trade' is his great love for the dear people,
 Our people are just getting back to the wealth per capita we had before the civil war. We are prospering. not rapidly. but surely, and each county is thinking and moving, with ample power under the constitution as 1t is, to put out all the money the county can afford upon public roads, and we need no supervision in this matter. The provisions of the present constitution are an exact copy of the constitution framed in 1S75-the first after the days of reconstruction. Able men were members of both conven- tions and they were patriotic, and had only the good of their country at heart. We should be careful not to tear down the work of those conventions.
 If my memory serves me correctly the provision was inserted in the constitution or 1875 as a rebul<e to legislative action by the republican reconstruction party, which gave the state credit to aid In building railroads, and which involved the state so deeply in debt, and to pro vide against the possible recurrence of such action.
 The following words in the proposed amendment, viz land the legislature may also make additional appropriations to such purposes" removes all restfie- ton, and the legislature is as omnpt- tent as the English parliament so far as the matter of appropriating state funds to road purposes. It could involve the state in millions and millions of dollars of indebtedness for such purposes.
 It is no argument to say the legislature will not do it. We know it has never failed to expend all in the treasury, and more than anticipated from future col lections, and experience has taught us that our only safety is to keep limita- tion upon it's power. I am sure the peo' pie have not been informed as to the full meaning and danger of this proposed amendment We are not ready to em- DarK upon IHe eAptillilcht oi pNiN''i'o Appian highways as did ancient Rome, or to make voluntary donations for the pleasure of the automobile excursionist or to the giving of great conveniences to favored sections of the state at the ex- pense of the loss favored.
 The supreme court of the state has often declared that cities and towns were authorized to assess adjacent property owners for improving streets and side walks, upon the grounds that such inn provements enhanced the value of the adjacent property and charges could not be imposed beyond the increased value. otherwise it would be depriving one Of hsi property without due process Of law.
 Can any one draw distinction in prin- cipe between the rule applicable to cities and towns, and that which should pre- vail as to citizens living at distance from the improvements contemplated by a change of the constitution? l say let the constitution alone.
 If the foregoing propositions are not tenable let the defects be exposed. If well taken and are applicable, or either of them upon which the objections are rested, then the amendment should De rejected. Discussion is invited.