The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-27
STATE TO BUILD
WAGON ROADS
u the Voters Ratlty the LampsOn
Bond Amendment
SLOGAN, "GET OUT OF The MUD"

Proposition Leaves Local Funds for
Use by Counties and Townships.
Former Senator Alsdorf Says Bond
Plan VIII Preserve Popular Low
Tax Rato-People Should Get Bet
ter Roads at Once.
Columbus, o., Feb. 23.--In an In.
terview given out here today, Super
intendent w. A. Alsdorf Of the Ohio
Good Roads Federation explains the
terms Of the Lampson proposal adopt
ed BY the constitutional convention.
The proposal modifies the section
which limits the states debt contra Ct
Ing power to $750,O00 by authorizing
the general assembly to contract
cebts and issue bonds for construo-
ton OF a state system of good roads.
The bond limit is fixed at $50, 900, 900.
The specific language OF the proposal
IA adopted is:
Provided, however, that the general
assembly may contract debts and au-
thorize issue Of bonds to an amount
which in the aggregate shall not ex-
ceed $50,0O0,O00, for the purpose Of
construction, improving, maintaining,
repairing and rebuilding system Of
intercounty wagon roads throughout
the state, not to exceed $4,000, 900 in
such bonds shall be issued in any one
year; and there shall be levied and
collected annually, by taxation, an
amount sufficient to pay the interest on
said bonds and provide sinking fund
Tor their redemption at maturity.
such wagon roads shall be deter
mined under general laws, and the
cost thereof shall be paid by the state.
The provisions of this section shall
not be limited or controlled by Sec.
tion Of Article 49,"
Commenting on the action OF the
constitutional convention, Mr.. Alsdorf.
thorough student OF the highway
problem, says:
"The passage OF the Lampson pro-
posal by. the constitutional convention
marks the beginning Of an epoch of
progress and prosperity in Ohio. /
believe that the people of the state
are alive to the fact that the building
OF good roads In a systematic manner
at their command.
We are all progressive these days,
but to me progress and good roads
are inseparahle, for the reason that
good roads touch every phase OF
life; they are the cords that bind
the city and the country together in
thrift and industry, intelligence and
Ing the proposal In it's present form,
demonstrated to the people of the
state that they are capable OF care
ful and mature judgment upon the
great problems before them In au-
thorizing the submission to the peo-
pie OF the proposition TO raise the
debt limit Of the state in this one
particular, the convention takes the
position that 1t Is wise for the people
to take advantage of their form Of
government, called the state, and
through 1t borrow money at low
rate OF interest. than to make direct
levy for this purpose.
The Idea Of maintaining low tax
rate OF approximately / per cent
seems to have been tentatively adopt
ed by the people Of the state. Both
political parties in 1910 declared for
the enactment of low rate law;
both general assemblies Of 1901 en-
acted such a law, so that any attempt
to make a large levy for road pur-
poses would be regarded as an attempt
| TO destroy the | per cent idea in the
state. For this reason it was deemed
advisable for those Interested in the
| good roads propaganda to devise
| ways and means to obtain the neces-
sary funds by method that woald
| not necessitate interference with the
| low rate program; the only solution
| to that problem appeared to be by
| proposing a bond issue for long
! term OF years, at low interest rate.
| The incorporation of the sinking fund
| plan into the proposal was com
mendable act, as 1t fixes definite
method for the, retirement of the
bonds. Under the provisions of the
| Lampson amendment. il adopted by
| the people, the general assembly
would begin the issue of state bonds
In a sum of not In excess of $10,OO0,-
| 600, and probably not more than
$6,0O0,000, with which to begin the
work. They would fix the amount of
levy to cover both the sinking fund
and the interest charges, which levy
for the first five years would not be
Thus the rate Of levy to carry on this
! gigantic improvement would not af.
feet the present rate limitation laws
now on the statute books. The pro
posal states that the designation OF
the wagon roads and also the distri.
hutton OF their cost, shall be left to
the general assembly. This provision
|
vention. as the requirements OF the
counties will be different not only
next year, but In the years to come
and II is not the province OF the con.
stitutional convention to enter the
domain OF legislation. II is clear that
the proposal provides for a definite
sum of $50, 900 900 that shall be def.
nitely exrended In the Improvement
Of q wagon road system throughout
the state. No general assembly elect
cd In the state OF Ohio would con.
strue this provision In any other man,
ner than one of perfect fairness to
all counties In the construction OF
such q system. The unit of this sys
tenn is the state, and not the separate
counties. The system is to reach all
OF the counties OF the state and con.
meet each and every one so as to
form continuous roads throughout the
state. beleieve that the people OF
the state realize that the Investment
OF $50,000,000 during the next 10
years will be the greatest asset ever
added to the state by internal i'm,
provement: no one denies that 1t will
Increase farm values, give employ
ment to men, stimulate many kinds
OF Industry and begin an era OF nros
| parity thrn,.CbCut tho