The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-08-21
CONCERNING CONSTITU-
TIONAL AMENDMENTS

Jefferson City, August i5.-The
second Of the series of arguments on
the measures to be submitted to vote
at the coming election was issued to
way by Secretary of State Cornelius
Roach. Those wishing to vote intel
llgrutly on Number Two should pre-.
serve this article The sole purpose
IN giving these arguments is to fur
ul.H information to the voter, and the
Secretary of State is in no way re-
puu.iuc for assertions made on
either subject discussed.
The reasons given why Amendment
No. should be adopted are as fol-
lows:
This amendment affects Kansas
City alone. The constitutional limit
alton ON dcbt-making power Of the
city to five per cent of the value Of
taNabIc property therein has always
uccu barely sufficient to enable the
Guy, rapidly developing, to pay for
| necessary public work By amend
ment, in 1902, Of the constitution.
waterworks bonds of St. Louis and of
Kansas City nrc excluded from such
| limitation.
This Amendment (No. y author
ICES the city to acquire, by condcm-
nation or purchase, such public util-
tiles as the gas plant, electric light
plant and the street railway property,
If the owner is not complying with its
obligations, and issue bonds, not to
exceed twenty per cent of the value
of the taxable property in the city in
payment thereof Such bonds will
not be payable out of taxes collected,
but will bc liens only against the
utility on account of which they are
! issued, and will be paid out of the
warnings. or by sale, of such utility.
Such bonds cannot be issued without
the assent of two-thirds Of the voters
! of the city voting at an election TO
be held for that purpose. The pos
session of this power will enable Kan
sas City not only to acquire public
| utilities, if it elects to do so, but will
! also operate as Il powerful protection
against abuses and violations by pri
vate corporations of their obligations
to the public.
Those opposed to the measure set
forth the following reasons why
Amendment No. should be voted
down:
% The proposed amendment is
too broad in its scope as to the char
acter and kinds Of business in which
Kansas City or any other city ought
to be permitted to engage.
(2) Excessive bonded indebted
ness (as would undoubtedly result if
alh the powers be exercised by the
city permitted under the proposed
amendmcnt). is saddling debt on
future generations that ought to be
borne by this one.
CD 1t is likely to put into politics
matter that ought to be kept seq
regated therefrom if the good Of the
public is sought.
(4) 1t will greatly increase the
tax rate Of the city if it should own
all the public utilities, and the public
generally would receive no greater
benefits than it might already be get
ting.
90 If the purpose of the amend
ment is to create club to regulate
privately owned public service insti-
tutions (as might possibly be implied
by the last two sentences Of the reso-
lution), then it is useless, as our Pub
lie Service Commission is fully and
rightfully authorized and empowered
to regulate all such utilities. And on
the other hand if the purpose be TO
enable parties who may own public
utilities, which are not profitable, tc
unload the same upon the public by
means of artifcially created popular
clamor, then the public needs the pro
lection of the Constitution az it is
written.
(6) II there be sufficient reasons
for the adoption Of such re solution,
this one ought to be defeated, because
it is local in character If the owner
ship of all public utilities is adyanta-
gcous to Kansas City, it is equally
true ms to all cities, and all should
have such rights. ut.
FOR TRADE OR SALE-Lcad Belt