Newport daily independent., 1914-08-25
ARKANSAS NEEDS
 BOND AMENDMENT
PROPOSED MEASURE WILL BEN EFT NOT ONLY PRESENT BUT
 FUTURE GENERATIONS.
(Fayetteyille Daily.l

under the caption "AmendmenL NO. 14" the people of Arkansas will vote on the so-caIled bond amendment at the General Election in September. The bond amendment was passed by choice of the people two years ago, but was knocked out in the Supreme Court because of provisions which were deemed unconstitutional
 Arkansas needs the bond amend ment. While it's adoption or rejec- tion is subject to the vote of the en- tire people it effects only the cities. The people of Arkansas are unfortun- ately prejudiced against the issue of bonds due to wholesale graft incident to the floating of bonds during recon struction days. But reconstruction days are over and it is now generally understood that the fault then was not with the underlying principle on which bonds were issued but with the manner in which the finances were then handled. The fact is that the issuance of bonds during that period should not initiate against the bond amendment now under consideration any more, than the fact that the state government, then headed by chief executive known as the Governor, should preclude operation under the same form at present. The defect was in the manipulations not in the principle.
 Bonds for public improvements simply mean that method is per mitted of obtaining cash for improve. ments to be paid in regular install ments-that posterity shall help meet the obligations incurred by reason of improvements which it enjoys equally with the present generation.
 A public improvement that is de- signed to benefit not only the present generation but future generations should receive support from all it's beneficiaries-fu as we'll as pres ent This is the principle on which the bond amendment is founded and it has proved to be most essential principle for practically all large busi- nesses of the present day. City gov ernments are, in the final analysis, business corporations and should be so conducted.
 The bond amendment which is to shortly come before the people for consideration is so constructed as to place all necessary restrictions on the issuance of bonds. It prohibits an illegitimate and reckless expenditure of public moneys, and should be adopted Amendment No. t4 will fill a long felt need in Arkansas legisla- tion and, if adopted, will put Arkan- sas in a class with the progressive states of the Union.
 "'The Greater Arkansas is a or ganization that has for it's chief end to further the cause of Amendment No. IA. Mayor Chas. K. Taylor, of Little Rock, chairman of the Execu- tive Committee of the Association, re- gently addressed Mayor Tom Taylor, of this city, calling for financial aid for the amendment. In part his let ter follows:
 "The committee thinks that fair division of the burden justifies us in calling on Fay yetteville for $200. When the amendment is passed, and your city. makes improvements under the terms of the amendment, the saving in the difference fin the rate of inter est alone. to the people of Fayette- vile, due to the passage of the amend ment, will be $200 or more in very short time. Therefore the members of the committee feel that it is only a fair request to make of your city that you make contribution of that amount
 May we request that you consult the others, and advise the writer in the next few days definitely in the matter It is desirable that the funds be raised and remitted to this office without delay. If your remittance could be made to us prior to the first of August so much the better"
 The expense of the campaign two years ago was borne by five cities. as follows: Little Rock $1,500, Fort Smith $500. Pine Bluff $500, Hot Springs $500 and Texarkana $500. These cities have agreed to expend an equal amount this year, but the expenses will be about twice as much so it is necessary that other cities contribute.
 An apportionment of $2o0 for Fay etteville is not excessive and the ben efits accruing from the passage of the bond amendment will more than repay any patriotic citizens who are sufficiently interested to take an ac- tive part in the campaign. ~
 But whether or not the amendment receives the financial support that it expects from Fayetteville, every ~citi- zen should talk for the bond amend ment and thereby work for the best interest of the city.