The Harrison times., 1912-09-07
MANY SAFEGUARDS
ABOUT AMENDMENT
Restrictions Placed About Right
of Cities and Towns 10
-. 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. l5, 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, 10 first restricts the
purposes for which bonds may be is
sued. 1t provides that bonds can bo
issued 20 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, al
leys, and bouleyards for the pur-
chase and equipment OF parks and
Fairgrounds, for the construction OF
sanitary or drainage sewers; for the
purchase and construction of city halls,
prisons, libraries, hospitals, fire sta.
tions and equiDilent, yiaducts and
bridges, for public building. OF all
kinds for the purchase or construc-
tion OF w0terworks, lighting plants
and street railways, but It Is speclii-
cally provided that bonds shall not De
tggt,nI IN a! tn hn O. ttDn nf
railroads or enterprises operated by
any private corporation, It is further
provided that no money raised for
specific purpose shall he used FOR any
other or different rnrpose
The most imoortant 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, II when II Is submitted to
the people Of tho state on September
3, viii not open the way TO the Is.
suancc Of any bonds until ,hc voters
OF city or toWu decide that they
wish to raise moUey in that way for
public improvements, A boad Issue
can be authorized only At an election
held for that specific nurpose, II ,hn
first place ne city council muat pass
an ordinance Gettng forth the spo'iiie
purpose for which tho bonds are TO be
issued, II approved by a majority OF
the voters, Tue ordinance must also
state the sum tolul Of the bonds 90 be
issued, and the dates Of their matur'
ity, and must fix The date Of the cleo
tion so thai Il win not occur enrllnr
than 60 days ai,cr the adoption Of the
ordinance,
The mayor Ia required 10 give notice '
OF the election by an advertisement /
appearing at 'caat four times In some .
newspaper DubiIaned In the city the .
last publication 10 he not less than 20
days before tho election,
Further safeguards are provided at,
ter the yotcW have cast their ballots
The amendment provides tia, the
votes shall lp uuuNossed by the mayor
and the Board o, Public Affairs, II
there be- Il .potl of Public Affairs II
there is 70 Ooorl OF Public Affairs,
the yotog gball ho ooOyas5ol by tho .
mayor ana by ,I0ee qualified electors
Df the city Nho are owners OF property
md who shall he Bolected by tho rouD
.y judge OF thc county IN which the
'ity or town rs located
The amendment aIBO provides that
he election must he held NJ tho same
precincts aud win Judges and clerks
NJ other city elections are held, and
inder The general election laws, The
object OF those who drafted the amend
nont u l8 declared, was 20 make It
loi only p0sjblr but certain that the
public bhould he thoroughly advised :
through al proper channels Of the
imc Of the election, the places whore
he polls viii be- located and the pur.
,ose to which thc prucoeda Of the pro.
,oaed bond l0aJc, II voted, viii bo ap,
,lied,