The Green Forest tribune., 1913-01-24

capitol rate, 1-2 mill; total state rate 7-8 mills.
 nue rate, 1 S5-100 mills; sinking fund rate. IS mill; state school rate, millsi Confederate pension rate, 1 1-2 mills; educational rate, 9-10 mill; total state rate, 6 78 mills.
 If the loan herein suggested for the benefit of the general revenue fund be authorized, the state general revenue rate may be reduced by one-tenth mill. and that fixed as a sinking fund to dis charge the loan.
 Educational Rate.
 Controversies relative to the control and maintenance of the university, the state normal and the agricultural schools have been frequent. These con- troversies have impaired the usefulness and retarded the development of the institutions The scramble for main tenance has encouraged log-rolling and lobbying and left these schools to the mercy or the whin and caprice of those who have fostered questionable schemes and championed objectionable legisla- tion. The proposed educational rate may consist of one mill. or nine-tenths of one mill judiciously apportioned amoag these various institutions. The probable increase in the assessed Valua- tion of property throughout the state will, under normal conditions. provide for necessary increased expenditures oc- casioned by growth. If a fair division can be agreed upon, and this rate estab-
 
 sembly will be frightened, and the cause of education advanced. If the General Assembly approves the suggestion to create the educational rate. it will make such division of the revenues of the same as may be deemed fair and ad- visable. The folloing division is wpre- sented for your consideration; University of Arkansas, 40 per cent; state normal, 10 per cent; agricultural schools, 10 cent.
 One of the chief advantages which will probably result from the creation of the educational rate is the elirnina-
 tion of politics from these great schools by removing the principal cause of it.
 There will be no necessity for main
 taining lobby for the benefit of these schools. At the same time the Legisla-
 ture will have control of the fund and see that it is not wasted.
 Suspension of Capitol Rate. No detriment can result to the state from the suspension of the capitol rate. The fund available from taxes which
 will be levied and collected before the proposed legislation suspending the rate becomes effective will be ample to pro- vide for a continuation of the work on the building, the furnishing of the same the preparation of plans and the
 beginning of necessary improvements for the grounds
 How More Revenues May Be Fairly Obtained.
 If 1t be deemed necessary to Increase the revenues, this can be fairly accom- plished without injustice and with no increase in the rates of taxation. Better Enforcement of Non-Assessmenf Penalties.
 Many of the evils in our present rev enue system would be abolished by sim ple notifications in our laws relating to the on-assessment of property. A | large per cent of personal property es- capeS taxation because the owner cor ruptly fails to assess it. Under the system of taxation maintained in Ar kansas the of nprSOn9l nrOneTtV | subject to taxes is required to assess it. | If he fails or refuses to do so, or as | sesses only small part of it, the state | is deprived Of revenues to which it is entitled, and @he burden is correspond | ingly and unjustly increased on those who frankly submit their property to tax obligations. reasonable penalty | for non-assessment with more practical | means of enforcement will tend to greatly increase revenues, and at the same time work no injustice to any citi- Franchise Tax Laws. | Our franchise tax laws can easily be made to yield more revenues by con forming to the system prevailing in of laws relating to taxes paid by insur- ance companies. No radical, unfair or | oppressive legislation is required or jus | tifed in order to accomplish this end | These subjects may furnish the basis of further communication hereafter | It is not deemed advisable to present them in detail now
 The Legislature alone has the power to raise revenues and to make appro- priations. Whatever may be your con clusion as to the merit of the revenue | measures herein proposed, it is clear that the present system of making ap- propriationS with only an indirect re- gard to the means of paying them is vicious in both theory and practice. The veto power enables the executive in the exercise of a function which is fJ Jicfi 10tI To c q fn priations. This, however, is an imprac- ticable remedy because, in order to limit expenditures to revenues, regard
 must be had at one time to the whole total revenues. Many approximations standing by themselves and considered
 without regard to the financial condi- tion of the state, would be justified
 and even worthy of approval But it is exactly this fact that has produced
 the deficit in the general revenue fund Symmetry and proportion should pre- vail, and this is impossible. unless | when one appropriation is made, regard
 Is had at the same time to all other | necessary appropriations.
 This cannot be done under the pre- vailing system by executive veto. be- cause the governor usually has but i'm perfect knowledge, when one appropria-
 tion bill is presented, of what others will contain.
 Passing now from the subject of re- form in our financial condition and tax system, let it's importance be borne constantly in mind. These questions will. no doubt be frankly considered. The executive has no power other ! than to advise and to suggest. Corrupt Practices Act The passage of a measure prescribing reasonable limit to campaign expendi-
 lures and requiring full publicity of the
 same is generally desired, and made
 necessary by practices in our primary elections which have become familiar to all Anonymous political literature should be prescribed and paid publica-
 tions indicated as advertisement. Many reasons and conditions justify such legislation. Poor men who are honest should be encouraged to seek office. Our civilization, and the theory of our government, give emphasis to this declaration. Wealth is not in prin- ciple and it must not become in fact. a qualification for public service. Un- til some such measure as that now pro posed is enacted. men of limited means will be discouraged, if not debarred, from yielding the state their services. Nor is this all. Every consideration of public interest requires that candi- dates shall be nominated and elected upon their personal merits and upon the issues presented. The practice of spend ing money corruptly in elections is, in every sense. detrimental to the public
 interest and at all times to be con demned by those who favor honest gov ernment
 The General Assembly should consid- board for the control of the peniten- tiary. The creation of a commission l----->--~----