The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-23
which will impose a lesson of economy and proportion. Not Necessary to Increase Total Tax
 Rata


 eral revenue fund can be gradually q s, | charged and the current expenses pal | by economizing and by an increase n i the general revenue rate, sun no m | crease is necessary or justitiable if a | proper readjustment of the rate is made. The University of Arkansas, the az | ricultural schools and the state normal | can be placed on a special tax rate Of | say, one mill. or nine-tenths of one | mill, the capitol rate suspended. the | general revenue rate fixed at one and l thrty-five hundredths mills all other rates continued as al present. and the total rate for all state purposes will equal that now being collected. Present rates State general revenue rate. 3-4 mills; sinking fund rate, Is mill, state school rate. 3 mills. Confed- crate pension rate, 1 1-2 mills; state capitol rate. 1-2 mill; total state rate 7-S mills.
 Proposed rates: State general reve,, nue rate, l 35-100 mills sinking fund rate. Is mill; state school rate. mills; Confederate pension rate, 1 1-2 mills; educational rate, 9-10 mill; total state rate 6 7-S 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 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- troVerses 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 whim 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 %g gr,1f Ofn ,g1x Nt-ff fnr1 1al among these various institutions. The probable increase in the assessed valua- ton 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- lished, the burdens of the General As sembly will be frightened, and the cause of educa tion 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.
 will probably result from the creation of the educational rate is the elimina- tion of politics from these great schools by removing the principal cause of it. mere WILL pc no necessity TOT tldlH- taining a 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 pOnfiDna tiOI1 of the work 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-Assessment
 Penalties.
 Many of the evils in our present rev enue system would be abolished by sim pie notifications in our laws relating to the non-assessment of property. A large per cent of personal property es- capes taxation because the owner cor ruptlY fails to assess 1t. Under the system of taxation maintained in Ar kansas, the owner of personal property subject to taxes is required to assess it. If he fails or refuses to do so or aS- sesses only small part of 1t the state IS ueprlNeQ or revenues to WnlCh IL IS entitled, and the burden is correspond ingly and unjustly increased on those who frankly submit their property to tax obligations. A 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- zen.
 Franchise Tax Laws. Our franchise tax laws can easily be made to yield more revenues by con forming to the system prevailing in neighboring states The same is true ance companies. No radical. unfair or oppressive legislation is required or jus tified in order to accomplish this end. These subjects may furnish the basis of a 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 cluslon 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 distinctly legislative to reduce appro- priations. This. however, is an imprac- ticable remedy because. in order to l limit expenditures to revenues. regard must be had at one time to the whole | subject to all the charges, and to the ] total revenues. Many appropriation | standing by themselves and considered | without regard to the financial condi- | ton of the state, would be justified l and even worthy of approval. But it iS | exactly this fact that has produced | the deficit in the general revenue fund l Symmetry and proportion should pre- | vail, and this is impossible. unless | when one appropriation Is made. regard 1 f@ af Ina af,na frFaa fr oil oil hag necessary appropriations.
 | This cannot be done under the pre- vailing system by executive veto, be 1 cause the governor usually has but i'm | perfect knowledge. when one appropria tion bill Is presented of what otheri will contain.
 Passing now from the subject of re l form in our financial condition and ta1 system. let its importance be born, | constantly in mind. These question: | will. no doubt. be frankly considered. The executive has no power othe 1 than to advise and to suggest.
 Corrupt Practices Act.
 The passage of a measure prescribini | a reasonable limit to campaign eXpendi lures and requiring full publicity of tn same is generally desired, and mad I necessary by practices in our primar elections which have become familiar { all. Anonymous political literatur should be prescribed and paid publica | tions indicated as advertisement. | Many reasons and conditions justif such legislation. Poor men who ar honest should be encouraged to see office Our civilization. and the theor of our government. give emphasis t this declaration. Wealth is not In prin ciple and it must not become in fac a qualification for public service Un til some such measure as that now pro posed is enacted. men of limited mean will be discouraged. if not debarre( from yielding the state their service:
 Nor is this all. Every considerable l of public interest requires that cand
 dates shall be nominated and electe upon their personal merits and upon tn 1 IsSIlas nrasanfad The nracfica of Snena