The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-11-04
The amendments as We See Them
Boiled Down.

ments that are to be voted upon at
the coming election, that we herewith
give the gist of them as we see them,
and in the order in which they Will
appear on the official ballot on election
day.
|. Exposition: Levyiug tax mill
in country ,6-S in city, beginning 1911,
to cease when s4,000,e zoe paid, Esti-
mated country will yield 81, 200, 900,
citys3, 800, 600. Tax to cease If 6lst or
62nd Congress fails to authorize Expo
sition at or near New Orleans. Latter
Congress expires March 3, 1913. limo
exposition, tax collector to be returned
to respective parishes for good roads.
2. Exposition: Authorizing Pana-
ma Exposition Company t" issue not
exceed ing $4,000, 900 bonds. interest 5
per cent, to be sold at par, due in fifty
wears or less. Commission or broker
age to be paid by Exposition Com
pany out OF its own funds; $4,000, GOO
Welded under previous amendment to
be used " paying interest and princi-
pal. After first tax ceases tax not ex-
ceeding II mills to be LEVIED exclusive
ly in New Orleans to pay principal and
interest of bonds.
These are both amendments levying
a tax in the interest of the Panama
Exposition, a worthy cause If handled
in worthy manner.
3, Good Roads, levying tmill tax
on the taxable property Of the state,
for q Good Road Fund, and to be
considered a part Of the six mill limit
as fixed by the constitution.
This Act authorizes the STATE
HIGHWAY ENGINEER at salary OF
not exceeding $4,000, and provides
that each parish or municipality must
pay half the cost of any road or high.
way approved by said engineer, In I'd
dition to its share of the tax. This
takes the money out of the localities
where it is collected, and savors too
much of another commission like the
Game Commission, sundry offices and
high salaries, We believe it ought to
be DEFEATED.
1. Warehouses: Authorizes Dock
Board, Port Of New Orleans, to erect
and operate warehouses, appropriate
property, issue mortgages or bonds
for same, payable out of receipts OF
said warehouses, fix charges on stor-
age of goods or merchandise, and is
sue warehouse receipts.
This amendment appears to us to
provide for an undue Capitalization of
power in the hands Of Dock Board.
1t also savors Of more commission
and more opportunities for CRATER. 1t
is nowlse apparent that its passage
will be beneficial to the people of the
state, and we see no reason for voting
for it.
5. School Tax, an amendment re-
luirlng police jury and municipalities
New Orleans excepted) to set apart
three mills of the constitutional limit
Of six mills for school purposes.
While we are heartily in accord with
avery legitimate effort being made TO"
he advancement of the public schools,
'et we look upon this az usurpation of
he rights of the people to govern them
elves il the most vital of all their af-
airs, their educational system. We !
'elieve that the matter of the school, |
ak should be determined by the peo-
lie of the district affected. One local
ty may need and be able to afford q
chool tax of five mills, while another
nay not need more, nor be able to
'ay more than two mills. To force
'lanket tax of this sort an the whole
eople, possibly being carried in part
II in entirely by the 100000 votes of
Tew Orleans, who are in no wise af-
ected by it. That city being exempt
rom it's action, is manifestly unjust
nd undemocratic. We believe that
MS amendment should by all means
e DEFEATED.
6. Provided for the refunding of
1e state debt, by issuing bonds for
Ii, 300 to run for fifty years with
1terest at 4 per cent, and to be sold ;
tpar Orabove. |!
This involves public obligation
nd should pass. I
7. Attorney General: Authorizing
ppointment of two assistants to the t
ttorney General, removable by him: l.
alaries $4,000 and $500. r
Although Louisiana has one of the g
ost expensive judicial systems of any
ate in the union vet by this amend
emit it appears that an effort is being :,
ade to foist upon the state two more {
fjcials carrying two more fat salaries, 8
I'D adding two more appointments to
e political patronage of an already t.
70 powerful executive position. This t
nendment should be DEFEATED