The log cabin Democrat., 1911-04-28
LFDBFTTFR CITES
 ANCIENT ROMANS
TAXES MADE THEM SERBS
FAVORS PIKE ROAD, BUT SAYS TAXATION LIMIT HAS BEEN
 REACHED.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:

WiIIISil III OppoSIliOu u the Ll-ttC Rock and Fort Smith pike bill. Now, if friend Francis will examine the ar ticle l wrote he will find nothing in 1t that indicates that l am opposed to "a measure which would add so ma terially to the beauty and attractive ness of the state" Good roads are worth a great deal to any country. l took the grounds that we were al ready taxed to the limit
 Now, as to the small cost of build ing this pike, fear Francis is some what off the pike. In the first place, it will cost twice as much as Francis figures it will. By the time his bond issue runs 30 years the interest will amount to more than twice the prin- cipal, which Francis estimates to be something like $850, 1000.
 Francis says this would be one step in the right direction. When are you going to take another one, Francis? Are you going to stand there all spraddled out for 30 years? No, we must be progressive. We must take the bits in our mouth, run over the constitution of our state and the will of the poor man, who already owes more than he can say grace over in graceful way, and build another road, and another, and another, until we have a regular network of roads. That sounds good, but where are you going to get your dough, Francis? You say that 'but once the advant- ages of good roads are seen, within five years, so convinced will our peo- pie have become of the utility of good roads that the improvement will have extended throughout the state.'
 Francis, while you were over in En- gland, did you go down to Italy and inspect the roads and the beautiful buildings, which the Romans taxed the people to build before the days of Christ? That gang of high-rollers did the very thing our present legis- lature is doing. It got bigger and wiser than the people and taxed them whether they were able to pay the tax or not. The result was, the com mon people who, by the way, were forced to go out and fight the battles of Rome, and at the same time pay these heavy taxes, were forced to give up their little farms and become serfs. l suppose it would be all right with Francis, for the same thing to hap pen here, if it would bring good roads. Another thing about this measure which is akin to Roman legislation, IS that it makes the soil bear all the taxes. Why not make the banks, the bonds and the other personal proper ty help build these roads? The class of men who own the dough are i'm mune. 1t is the man with the hoe who must bear the brunt of battle always This system of government is vicious. In fact, men who advocate legislation of this kind are a set of outlaws Now Francis, I know you are ready to say that I sinned against the Holy Ghost when I say this, but that is only an opinion of man of your ideas. Noth- ing must get in the way of progress and you reserve the right to say what progress is.
 Section 25, article 5, of the consti- tuition of the state of Arkansas, says: In all cases where a general law can be made applicable no special law shall be enacted.' Now, if this law is a good law for people occupying a strip of land six miles wide and 165 miles long, would it not also be good for the whole state? Are we a bet ter or worse class of citizens than those living in the rest of the state? Answer me, Francis.
 Section 26 of that same article says: No local or special bill shall be passed unless notice of the inten- tion to apply shall have been publish ed in the locality where the matter or the thing to be affected may be situat- ed, which notice shall be, at least, 30 days prior to the introduction into the general assembly of such bill, and in the manner provided by law The evidence of such notice having been published shall be exhibited in the general assembly before such act shall be passed" Was this done, Francis? Not much, Sallie-Ann. Our legisla- ture is bigger than our constitution. This is a progressive age and little thing like our constitution must not get in the way of that august body.