Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-19


the belief that that was the sense de-
| In the convention frequently throw
| light upon the sense in which the
words used, were considered and un-
| derstood. James r. Wilson Of Fairfield
| a member of the convention, and att
| erwards eminent in both houses OF
/ Congress was the chairman Of the
| special committee on state debts, and
he drafted, and under instructions OF
this committee recommended to the
convention for Its adoption provisions,
which were. without modification OF
meaning and practically without
change Of word or phrase, adopted by
the convention and made sections l, q.
I and of article seven in question. In
what Is section 2, Mr.. Wilson and his
committee had flNed the limitation at
100000. In the committee Of the whole,
a motion was made to strike out the
100000. and the motion prevailed;
then followed expressions showing
much difference of opinion as to the
amount that should be inserted in
place Of the 100000 stricken out but
finally $2I0.00J was agreed upon and
inserted. Mr.. Wilson on presenting the
unanimous report Of the committee,
would he better to increase this sum,
say to five undred thousand dollars,
for the purpose Of enabling the state to
erect her capitol building at the seat
OF government. In relation to this,
Lave simply this remark to make. I am
opposed to leaving this matter In the
hands of the legislature. believe the
better plan for this state to adopt-and
the experience Of other states will bear
me out In this-is to determine what
her buildings and their probable cost
will be. and ther. submit the plan to-
gether with the cost to the people, for
them to adopt or reject.
Il am opposed to the principle of
state indebtedness in toto. believe
that some Of the best things that this
convention can do, will be to prevent
tn state from mourning any debts at
all. There can not be any difference, in
getting any amount Of money that is
required to carry on the improvements
which she may desire to make. The
people who pay the taxes ought to say
whether money shall be borrowed, and
what amount Of Indebtedness the state
shall incur. Under the provision re-
ported here, the state is not confined to
an Indebtedness Of one hundred thou
sand dollars, Tut she may incur great
or debt, only the people must sanction
it. Unless it is referred to the people,
the legislature can only incur an In
debtedness, on the part Of the state,
Of one hundred thousand dollars. and
that sum I believe to be sufficient.
believe that beyond that amount, the
legislature should leave it to the people
to determine, whether state debt shall
be contracted or not: hope this
amount Of 100000 will be voted down.
And precieve there is misapprehen-
sion in the minds Of some members
have conversed with, in relation to my
position upon this matter. I will state
that my position Is this; the state can
issue her warrants to the full extent Of
thu probable amount of her revenue for
the coming year, whether two, five or
even ten million dollars, without COM
ing within the operation of this article
OF the constitution. But should she
exceed that revenue, then she is Great
ing debt within the contemplation OF
this article.
And Mr.. Pervin said: II consider
that the clause In the present consti-
tuition, upon this subject, has been the
salvation Of our state. am satisfied
that the mania for building railroads
has prevailed so extensively In this
state. within the last five or six years,
that without such clause IN our con-
stitution, we would have been In debt,
at least million dollars"
And Judge ]. G. Hall Of Burlington
said: 80 far as am concerned per-
sonally, / am not particular whether
this sum is put at 100000 or S2o0,000
or 100000. provided the section con-
tains the principle l stand upon, TO
have the interest upon the Indebtedness
upon the people. ! believe 1t would be
better to have the amount increased
beyond $1,000 II for no other purpose
than to get rid Of these very questions
upon which gentlemen here and else
where disagree. 1t is fact that this
state has gone into debt more than the
constitution directs and authorizes.
Gentlemen upon the one side say that
it means bound debt, while gentlemen
stiution did not distinguish between
the two kinds Of debt, but that OF the
money Is owed II Is a debt. Now DO
not believe that the constitution REFERS
particularly to bonded debt; belleVe
it means any debt that draws interest
This provision was intended to prevent
an additional burden being put upon
the people In the shape of interest, by
way Of bond or anything else. Now II
makes no difference whether you draw
warrant upon the treasury to pear
interest after certain date, or iwheth-
er you give bond bearing Interest
The two things are the same In prln-
ciple. A simple warrant not drawing
interest would not be a debt within the
meaning Of the constitution; II II
draws interest it would be constitu-
tional debt, whether it is bonded DEBT
or not Now Jur state has been In this
condition, and>'I would be willing ia
give 1t little more latitude In this
matter. There is now permanent debt
against the state Of 100000, and there
are other liabilities which I suppose
this provision of the constitution may
| be construed to embrace. do not think
, there can be any harm or danger re-
! sulting from extending this limit, and
| I shall therefore vote to extend the
| limit to 100000 as about what is called
| for by the necessities Of the state al
this time.
| Judge johnson Of Keokuk. Mr.. Hrr.
| ris OF Centervilie and Mr.. Scott and
other members Of that convention, :
pressed themselves in accord with
those above set out. These views are
taken from Vol. ! Of the constitutions
debates and the courts attention has
! not been called to any remarks made
by members thereon, placing limita.
ton upon the word debt as claimed
for by the defendants in this action
And all of the debates clearly indicate
| that interest bearing obligations, ne
/ mo \ <ar bok "a ho ovCoa6 |.