Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-10-07
DO WE WANT THE EXPOSITION.

1t should not be necessary to ex-
pend time seeking to induce the
people Of Louisiana to support the
two amendments, the failure to
adopt which at the polls next month
would close the incident and give
the exposition to San Francisco. 1t
is of course quite natural that States
distant from Louisiana should en-
terrain a doubtful attitude towards
the enterprise, but it seems incon-
ceivable that voter living in Louis
lana should require arguments to
convince him Of his interest and
duty in this important matter.
There are two amendments to be
voted upon in November. One OF
these amendments was submitted
by the Legislature at its regular ses-
sion last May, it provides for tax
Of three-eights of a mill on the dol
lar OF assessment in the country par
ishes, and for six-eights Of q mill
on property in the City Of New Or
leans, the tax to run until total
from both sources Of four million
dollars shall be realized. The 9TH
er amendment was submitted by the
special session in August, and 1t
provides roughly speaking for the
continuance Of the tax on property
in the City of New Orleans until a
sufficient sum shall be realized from
these sources to equal the difference
between the four million dollars pro-
vided for in the original amend
ment, and the six and a half mil.
lion dollars provided for by the Sec
ond amendment, together with the
amount necessary to pay the inter-
est on the bonds.
The first amendment was sub
nitted when it was supposed that
only five million dollars would be
required as a guarantee fund. Sub
sequently the amount was raised,
upon the suggestion Of San Fran
cisco and for the avowed purpose Of
making New Orleans quit" a.
the Governor of California expressed
it. New Orleans didn't quit, " but,
on the contrary. she met the raise
promptly, which made necessary
the raising of two and half million
dollars more than was originally
contemplated.
A special session of the General
Assembly was convened to make
provisions for the new condition
imposed, and feeling that it would
be unjust to place any additional
burden upon the country parishes
the second amendmentwas 90 framed
as to place upon New Orleans The
duty of providing the extra two anC
q half million, together with inter.
est on the bonds.
In addition to that, New Orleani
has already raised about one and {
half million dollars in subscriptions
and proposes to raise two million'
additional, making a total Of ter
millions from all sources. This mon
ey will all be expended in the pur
chase of site, and in the prepare
ton for the Exposition, in the con
struction and equipment of aplan
in which to house the greatest Elk
position the world has ever seen
The amendment provides that un
less New Orleans shall secure tn
Exposition, the tax shall not b
collected; but if any part Of the IA,
shall have been collected prior Il
the determination Of the question
Of location, and if that determine
ton shall be averse to New Orleans
then the amount 80 collected shall
be paid back to the country parish
"a in proportion to the amount con
tributed by each; the amounts o.
refunded to the parishes to be b,
them expended for the building o
good roads.
It will be seen that the tax upor
property in New Orleans will b
precisely as heavy as it is upon tn
country parishes up to the point O
four million dollars. After the Ia,
in city and country has aggregated
four million dollars it ceases entire
", in 40 far as property outside o
New Orleans is concerned, but j
continued on city property until th
additional two and q half millio,
dollars has been realized togethe
with an amount sufficient TO pa,
the interest on the bonds.
The question is now up to tn,
people OF the State Of Louisiana T.
cav by their votes at the polls, ,
month hence, whether they wan
the exposition to be held in New
Orleans or in San Francisco. Thir
ty-seven and a half cents on tn,