The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-06-05
SHALL THE STATE PAY FOR "A
PART FOR DES MONIES:

The more the recent act of our last
legislature, pertaining to the pur-
chase of a large tract of ground in
Des Moines, with the possibilities OF
committing the state to the expendl-
ture of millions of dollars, is looked
into, the more obnoxious to the peo-
pie of the state it becomes. AS a
huge real estate deal and speculation
for the benefit of the owners of the
property to be bought, and inclden-
tally for the benefit of our capitol
city, it certainly caps the climax. II
the constituency of the members OF
the legislature, outside of POLK
county, who voted for this measure,
when they come to understand it and
it's consequence upon them as tax
payers, and upon their posterity, will
approve of what has been done by
their representatives, and return
them for the purpose of supporting
still further and similar schemes,
they are more indulgent in support
ing measures to impose tax burdens
upon themselves than we had hltn-
erto supposed they were.
The measure is dangerous one;
it sets very bad precedent, and it's
ultimate result and consequences can
hardly be, at present estimated. 1t
should be defeated, and, in our judg-
ment, can be defeated upon constitu-
tional grounds, and prompt steps
should be taken to enjoin the execu-
tive council from attempting to put
this measure and scheme into opera
ton.
A brief analysis of the bill may
hi ;r$ ~ thQ
public.
The first section provides for the
levying of a tax upon the people OF
the state annually for ten years, one
half mill for 1913 and 1914, and
then enough for eight years follow
ing to yield $4,000 annually.
These amounts for the purchase of
the grounds figures about $780,
900, and this will only be the enter
ing wedge. The next scheme, we
presume, will be to tear down our
beautiful capitol building and con-
struct new and "up-to-date' build
ing. Then there remains all the pos
sibilities of other buildings, and to
use the words of the act, of drives,
streets, avenues, malls, walks,
bridges, terraces and heaven knows
what else, and the end is not yet.
Certainly the genius which evolved
this bill and succeeded in getting it
through the legislature without the
people apparently getting on to it, or
considering it's consequences, was
worthy of better things.
The measure was uncalled for,
and unjust to the people Of the state
at lai ge, and ought to have been
thoroughly canvassed, and in some
way or other should have had the
sanction of the people at large be-
fore it became law.
We presume the claim will be
made that this enormous tax to be
gathered from the people for ten
years, and no one knows how much
longer, since it is only the opening
wedge, will not constitute debt, be-
cause some day it is hoped and ex-
pet,ed that the money to pay for this
purchase, and all that it implies,
can be extracted from the pockets
of the people by taxation. We do
not believe that this is the legal and
constitutional view to take Of it. In
fact, the bill provides, in section
nine, that the "executive council
may ANTICIPATE the collection of
the tax here authorized to be levied
for the extension and Improvement
of the capitol grounds, and FOR
THAT PURPOSE MAI ISSUE IN
TEREST BEARING WARRANTS OR
CERTIFICATES CARRYING A
RATE OF INTEREST NOT TO EX-
CEED FIVE PER CENT PER AN
NUM-
Here, then, the executive council
is authorized at ANY TIME to issue
the obligations of the state for the
purchase of this ground, and for
making and improving the drives,
streets, avenues, malls, walks,
bridges, terraces and all the other
fine things for Des Moines, to be
paid for by the people, in an amount,
perhaps, reaching up into the mil
lions. Whether they will do so or
not. and take their chances of be-
ing returned to office, is not the ques-
ton. The real question is, that they
have the POWER to do so under the
bill.
Now, is the measure constitution
al, and is there not good ground TOR
restraining the executive council
from exercising the powers attempt
ed to be conferred by this bill?
Article VII of the state constltu-
ton relates to the matter of state
debts Section provides:
"The state may contract debts to
supply casual deficits or failures IN
revenue; or to meet expenses not
otherwise provided for; but the ag-
gregate amount Of such debt, direct
and contingent whether contracted
by virtue of one or more acts OF the
general assembly, or at different per
iods of time, shall never exceed the
sum of two hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars
Sections and have no bearing
and that portion of Section which
has a bearing, is as follows
Except the debts hereinbetore
specified in this article, no debt snail
be hereafter contracted by, or on be-
half of this state, unless such DEBT
shall be authorized by some law for
some single work or object, to be dis
tinctly specified therein; and such
law shall impose and provide for the
,o11oot;on. IF a direct annual tax, sui