The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-13

ment. bankrupt treasury, prostrated credit, and an immense public debt, the result of the waste, extravaganza and misgovernment which characterized the era of reconstruction, induced the consti- tutional convention of 1875 to incorporate in our constitution a provision which by express terms prohibited the state from engaging in any work of internal im- provement; and hence until the adoption of the recent amendmet the state was absolutely prohibited by the orgaic law from building one mile of pike road, or from making one cent of appropriation for the construction of our public roads and highways. Even now, under the operation of the amendment, it only has power to use the net proceeds arising from the hire of convicts and other available funds in the treasury for the construction and improvement of the pub lie roads It is a matter of extreme doubt whether under the operation of the amendment the state could now use it's convicts for such a purpose. The adoption then of this amendment was clear, plain and manifest declaration by the people of Alabama that the policy which had heretofore prevailed of placing all the burden of the cost of the con- struction of our highways upon the rural communities of the different counties in
 
 state should, in justice, bear it's just proportion of the cost.
 Practically All Built By Farmers Practically all the roads of the state have been built by farmers and by our rural population and the bur den has been too heavy for them to bear, with the necessary result that our highways have not kept pace with our industrial development, increasing traf- fic and population. The injustice Of this policy is made manifest when We consider the concentration of popula- ton and wealth In the great cities of the country. It was stated few years ago by an eminent authority that fin all the cities east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio a majority Of the people are living in the cities and much more than half of the wealth is centered there The proportion of the wealth and population In the cities or this state to our rural communities Is constantly increasing and the time Is not far distant when one-half or more of our population and taxable values will be found in the cities and larger towns of Alabama Hence 1t Is man. ifest that if the policy which has here tofore prevailed of resting the burden of the cost of constructing and inn proving our highways upon our agrl- cultural class sh hould continue one-half and in my opinion three-fourths of the wealth and population of the state would escape the burden. The legisla- ture now has power to devote the net proceeds of the hire of convicts, as we'll as other available funds in the state treasury, toward the improvement and construction of our public roads, but what proportion of the cost should be borne by the state and counties
 tO nna WI TanIltra the careful consideration and earnest thought of our Legislative department. Yet we must not overlook the fact that the limit of state taxation Is fixed by the constitution and that 30 cents on each S100 of taxable property In this state, or practically one-half of our revenues arising from state taxation, must be devoted to public education. It is man.
 fest that the remainder must first be appropriated to the payment of the interest on the public debt and the support of the state government, in cluding appropriations which in jus tice and In honor we owe to the con federate veteran. The deficit which 1t Is now conceded the state faced at the end of this fiscal year, it is hoped will be soon overcome. We should not, how ever. exceed our income but should use every possible effort to avoid in- creasing the burdens of taxation. We should, in my opinion, pursue such policy as will attract outside capital and convert idle property into pro- ductive property, the immediate result of which would be larger popula
 tion, more employment for labor and a natural increase In taxable values which would wipe out the deficit in a few years and permit such appropri- ations to the construction and improve ment of our public roads as the growth of our population and the material de- yelopment of our state now so us- gently demands. I sincerely trust that the day is not far distant when the funds contributed by state and local taxation will be supplemented by ap- organizations by the general govern ment in the exercise of It's constitution al powers. Even so strict construc- tionist of the constitution as John C.. Calhoun declared in speaking of roads and canals that it was the duty of Congress to bind the republic together with a perfect system of roads and canals, and that no object Is more inn portant They must, bet declared, be perfected by the general government or not perfected at all. An eminent au- thority on this subject has stated: It is a remarkable fact that no country in the world ever has succeeded in constructing a permanent system or we'll improved roads and highways without the assistance of the general government No. industrial progress is possible without cheap and easy meth