The Mena weekly star., 1908-09-03
AMENDMENT NO. 10.

which he gives Amendment No. 10,
 printed elsewhere in The Star, a
 black eye that makes all previous efforts in that direction on the part of Republicans and recreant Demo- crats look like the love taps ofa baby. That it WIS like an illuminating cleo tric bolt to the Democrat, is shown by the fact that while in paragraph in one editorial column in that paper
 'roasts" both Republicans and Democrats for opposing the amend ment, in another of the same issue it goes into detail for more than d column telling why the amendment should be defeated, from which the following is chosen:
 Senator James P. Clarke presents in The Democrat five reasons why Amendment No. 10 should not be adopted.
 His reasons are so clear-cut and cogent and so unmistakably correct, that they raise, not only doubt as to the propriety of adopting the amendment, but an actual conviction that it would be very unwise to adopt it.
 "The support of the amendment has been very sincere and praise worthy, since for the most part it has been supported because it was supposed to be for the material ad- vancement and the internal improve ment of our cities, towns and coun- ties.
 For this reason The Arkansas Democrat, in common with the pro- gressive business men of the state, has been urging the adoption of the amendment, believing that it had been drawn with such care by able attorneys that 1t was safeguarded against any possible abuses.
 But Senator Clarke throws upon it the searchlight of logical, un- prejudiced legal mind, and reveals the shortcomings, the flaws, the possibilities of maladministration in the application of the law in such a distinct and unquestionable light that it can but convince many who have been for it.
 With this new light on the subject The Democrat is convinced that Amendment No. 10 should not be adopted, but that the question should be taken up by the next legislature and resubmitted with safeguards thrown about it that will completely disarm all suspicion of it's being an unsafe proposition.
 The state will not prosper until a wise and efficient statute is adopted providing for the issuance of inter- est bearing evidences of indebted ness, but we are forced to admit a conviction that it cannot be secured under what Senator Clarke declares is miserable abortion that prom. ises only trouble and expense, while holding out promises of relief and benefit.
 Senator Clarke's most important objections, stated briefly, are as fol- lows:
 First-It is not plain but what county might issue bonds to 10 per cent of it's assessed valuation for specified public improvements. and a city of the county do the same. bonds to the extent of 20 per cent upon the city; or that the city or town should first act and is- sue bonds for 10 per cent of it's as- sessed valuation for public improve ments, when the city or town would not be subject to further taxation for maintaining public roads. thus leaving that burden entirely upon .he property in the county outside.
 Second. The amendment is math- smatleally wrong tn that it provides Tor issuance of bonds to 10 per cent if assessed valuation and for levy lf 8 per cent Co meet the annual in- .erest and pay the bonds. Example: A town assessed at s2. GOO. GOO may ssue S2o0. .O00 in bonds 6 per cent. .s low a rate as is probable: this will make the annual interest Si0.000. | md the 8 mill tax allowed would on- 2 bring S6.000. S4.000 less than the interest and providing nothing to pay of the bonds debt created l with no means Co pay it
 Third Section | article i6 of the l whi-h it is proposed to mend provides that there shall be Do bonds issued hy counties. cities. owns. or other municipalities, 'ex- 'ept such bonds as may be authoriz- 'd by law to provide for. and secure | he payment of. the present existing 
 The proposition. aa snbmitthd in amendment No. 10. omits this pro Tision. and. in the event it shall be | ldopted. thereby repeals and ahro- 1 rates it. and thus makes it necessary ! or every county. city and town ln \ he state. now in debt for bonds is- ued to secure indebtness created l 'cfore the adoption of the constitu- 1 ion of lS74. to provide for the im-