Arizona republican., 1910-11-27
A Criminal Betrayal.

Of all the foolish and indefensible things which have gone into the pro- posed constitution. the clause which takes away all protection of taxpayers in the matter of bond issues is prob ably entitled to first place.
 It is not only foolish; it is a crim- inal betrayal of the people of Arizona
 In the original draft of proposed qualifications for voters there was this section:
 Questions directly concerning bond issues or taxes may be submitted to the vote of the taxpayers of the state or any political subdivision thereof. and upon such questions women who are taxpayers and possessed of the qualifications for the right of suffrage required of men by this constitution shall equally with men have the right to vote.
 The convention rejected this sec ton, and adopted the section which we quoted in full the other day in commenting upon the educational qualification In order that our read CTS may be fully informed of the status of taxpayers under the clause actually adopted, we again quote the section. which states all the qualifica- tions for voting. and the only limita- tions:
 Every male person, of the age of twenty-one years or over, possessing the following qualifications. shall be entitled to vote at all general cleo tions and for all offices that are now or hereafter may be elective by the people, and upon all questions which may be submitted to the vote of the people. First, he must be a citizen of the United States. Second, he shall have resided in this state one year. immediately preceding the election at which he offers to vote. and in the town. county or precinct, such time as may be prescribed by law. Third, he shall be able to read the constitu- ton of this state in English and write his name. Provided, that the provis- ions of this section shall not apply to any person prevented by physical dis ability from complying with this re- quisition.
 Thus is disclosed the purpose to sweep away all the safeguards which the laws of the federal government and the statutes of Arizona have tried to throw around the taxpayers of this territory. Were this constitution to go into effect-which it will not. and let us be thankful therefor-the door would be opened wide for an ire sponsible majority of taxpayers to vote an unlimited bonded indebt- edness upon any community in Ari- zona.
 It would not be worth while for a clause elsewhere in the constitution to purport to give partial protection to taxpayers by fixing a debt limit, for the constitution itself is to be made a dead letter, so far as protec- ton of the minority is concerned. by the initiative and referendum provis- ion as to new laws and constitutional amendments,
 And in any case it would be poor consolation for the taxpayer to know that his only protection from an ire sponsible. non-taxpaying majority was the headline of a debt limit
 Not one-half of the voters in Ari- zona are taxpayers.
 Not one-half of the voters of Mari copa county are taxpayers.
 Not one-half of the voters of the city of Phoenix are taxpayers.
 The constitutional convention has decided to give to this majority of non- taxpayers the power to vote bonded indebtedness at will upon the men and women of Arizona who bear the burdens Of taxation.
 |; is regrettsble beyond expression that the time-serving democratic poli- ticians in control of this convention. who are obsessed of the idea that the one thing for them to do is to obey the mandates of the socialist leaders. have not the intelligence to learn any thing from experience.
 As far back in the past as the year 1886, Arizona had so disgraced herself by reckless and fraudulent bond is sues, territorial, county. and city. that