The Marshall republican., 1913-03-21
TAX
AMENDMENT

lHefe mas Decn so nuch SAID ABOUT
the Anti-Single Tax Amendment and
there were so many bills introduced
in the legislature covering the sub
iect that a clear explanation of the
matter Is oppotune, for every body is
asking the question what is the
Anti-Single Tax Amendment.
sewcll Mayes. the secretary OF The
rec .ganized Missouri Auti-Single
lax League. furnishes a practical re-
ply to the question by asking Sena.
'or Wm. q. Busby to explain what
the Amendment means, n having
passed the Senate by u vote OF % TO
3. the House by - to %.
He made the following concise ex.
planation of the meaning and pur-,
pose of the Am, ndmeut:---
AS result of the desire by the
CoUlc 10 put an end 10 the Single
Tax lallancy IN Missouri. a number of
BILLS were introduced at the begin- |
aing OF the i1th General Assembly
To submit either n repeal or Amend |
ment 10 the Initiative aud Roferen-
ium powers Being friend Of the 4
Initiative and Referendum. aud also ,
desiring 90 prevent few agitators
rom harassine the people every two
years with single Tax. brought the
authors tincludlng myself OF several
of the bills together IN an agreement
ON the Amendment which has now
passed the Legislature and will be-
upon the ballot for the approval OF
the people at the next election.
This proposed Amendment 10 the
Initiative Powers OF the Constitution
viii have the effect OF saving the
Initiative 10 the people. and also OF
putting AN end To Single Tax agltn-
t,on Ia Missouri.
"onr Amendment proposes only
three changes IN the Initiative Powers
Of III" Constitution, as follows: ---
First 1t provides that Single
FAX proposition can never again be-
cubmitted by Initiative petition. This
VIII prevent few agitators, with
the assistance OF the FEELS Fund. from
secretly circulating Single Tax petl.
tions and placing single Tax on the
ballot every few yenrs 10 the great
damage 10 the value of the farms
ana homes OF the state. The farmers
aud home owners OF Missouri have
acquired their property after years
OF toll and lador aud should not now
have MI taxes fastened upon them.
'sccond--lt provides that after an
Initiative or Referendum petition on
any question is circulated Ia any
county, that the petition shall then
be filed with the rounty clerk of
the county so that the county court
may det rmlnc whether the petition
Is signed 10y the genuine signatures
of voters OF the county, before the
petition Is filed With the secretary OF
state. Many signatures TO the single
tax petition last year were forged or
fraudulent this charge Is simply
for the purpose OF again preventing
such fraudulent and corrupt prac-
| tices.
"Third--rhe only other change Is
that when any proposition is submit
ted to the voters by initiative petit
tion, aud defeated by the people. then
the same proposition can not again
be submitted within five years. This
change is iniended simply 10 prevent
raid agitators from resubmitting and
harassing the people every two years
with propositions rejected by the peo-
pie. II any proposition Is submitted
by initiative petition and the vote
should be close and a general demand
should exist for another election be.
fore the eni of five years. the legisla-
ture, OF course, would resubmit the
question before the end OF five years.
Il viii be seen Ihat, while the
above changes will put AN end to
Single Tax petitions IN Missouri, they
do not impair the Initiative and Ref
erendum Powers OF the Constitution.
ln other words. this Anti-Single Tax
Amendment viii save the Initiative
and Referendum to the people, and
viii also put an end to Single Tax
which Is menace 10 the farms and
homes OF Missouri.