The Newark journal., 1912-08-30
MANY SAFEGUARDS ABOUT AMENDMENT Restrictions Placed About Right of Cities and Towns to
 Issue Bonds. PEOPLE VOTE ON QUESTION Each Proposed Bond Issue Must Be Submitted at Election Held for
 That Purpose.
PEOPLE VOTE ON QUESTION

So many safeguards have been plac ed about the proposed constitutional Amendment No. 15, which will give cities and incorporated towns of more than 1000 population the right to is- sue bonds for public improvements, that virtually no criticism has been made of the provisions of the measure.
 Amendment No. 15 first restricts the purposes for which bonds may be is sued. It provides that bonds can be issued to secure money only for public improvements of a general nature- improvements which will be of use and benefit to all the residents of the city or town proposing to spend the money. Bonds can be issued for the construc- tion of public highways, streets, all leys, and bouleyards; for the pur- chase and equipment of parks and playgrounds, for the construction of sanitary or drainage sewers; for the purchase and construction of city halls, prisons, libraries, hospitals, fire sta tions and equipment, viaducts and bridges, for public buildings of all kinds for the purchase or construc ton of waterworks, lighting plants and street railways. but it is specifi- cally provided that bonds shall not be issued to aid in the construction of railroads or enterprises operated by any private corporation. It is further provided that no money raised for a specific purpose shall be used for any other or different purpose.
 The most important safeguard, how ever, is that which prevents the is. suance of any bonds unless the peo- pie of the city or town order that they be issued. The adoption of Amend. ment No 15 when it is submitted to the people of the state on September 9, will not open the way to the is. suance of any bonds until the voters of q city or town decide that they wish to raise money in that way for public improvements. A bond issue can be authorized only at an election held for that specific purpose. In the first place the city council must pass an ordinance setting forth the specific purpose for which the bonds are to be issued, if approved by a majority of the voters. The ordinance must also state the sum total of the bonds to be issued, and the dates of their matur. ity, and must fix the date of the cleo. tion so that it will not occur earlier than 50 days after the adoption of the ordinance.
 The mayor is required to give notice of che election by an advertisement appearing at least four times in some newspaper published in the city. the last publication to be not less than 30 days before the election.
 Further safeguards are provided af ter the voters have cast their ballots. The amendment provides that the votes shall be eonvassed by the mayor and the Board of Public Affairs, if there be Board of Public Affairs If there is no Board of Public Affairs, the votes shall be eanyassed by the mayor and by three qualified electors of the city who are owners of property and who shall be selected by the coun- ty judge of the county in which the city or town is located.
 The amendment also provides that the election must be held at the same precincts and with judges and clerks as other city elections are held, and under the general election laws The object of those who drafted the amend ment, it is declared, was to make it not only possible but certain that the public should be thoroughly advised through all proper channels of the time of the election, the places where the polls will be located and the pur- pose to which the proceeds of the pro- posed bond issue, if voted, will be ap-