Sharp County record., 1914-08-07
To STRIKE FET1ERS
FROM THE STATE
OPINION or 4 GREAT MEMPHIS
DAILY ABOUT THE BONO
AMENDMENT.
STATE TIED TO OLD SYSTEM
Tine Has Passed When Conditions
Warrant Such Restrictions Against
issuance Of Bonds.

The Memphis News-Scimitar, dis
cussing the proposed Bond Amend
meut No. IA. now pending in Arkan-
sas, says;
The people Of Arkansas will be
called upon in the general election IN
September to vote on an amendment
TO their constitution, which may be
called 4 measure to unfetter and lib
crate the state. It has the indorse-
meut of the mayors Of the various
towns and cities Of the state, and no
doubt it will have the Endorsement
Of the people, because practically the
same amendment vas adopted at the
last regular election, when for the
first time the initiative and referen-
fum was tried The amendment was
carried by large majority, but NULL
fled by the supreme court for the rea'
son that it added one more than the
law allowed tn the number Of amend
ments voted on under the present law
The people Of Arkansas are ried hand
and foot insofar az public credit is
concerned.
After the war Arkansas. as we'll as
other Southern states. was Overrun
o. what We used to call carpet-baz,
gers, pHa loaded her down with debt
ny issuing D0Aqs t4f G4e pFrpose or
another. hawking then aDSltE 1Aa gei.
Ing them for whatever they weats
bring. and misappropriating a large
art Of the money. Things we're n
a sss4,ye rouditien. but as soon as
-> geega EaE tie control of
.,'' oe. --"-~ed IS tsAp, 5Yl4,,,
'oelr affairs rea,- -~- 90 R4t
the first thing they did ',
y beyond the power of anyone to loan
them down with unjust debts. They
we're not sure that the carpetbaggers
or others equally reckless would not
again control The state, ana In pro
vide against contingencies they put
clause In their constitution prohibit.
Ing towns cities and counties from
Issuing bonds. For this they we're NOT
n be blamed As the years rolled bv
and the fear NJ outside domination
disappeared. the people realized that
what was exceeding wisdom under
former unhappy conditions, does not
work ont 40 we'll under the control Of
the people In tving the hands Of
their possible oppressors, they also
tied their own hands, and they can
do nothing IN the wav of public i'm.
provement save by direct taxation.
which Is seldom popular or practica.
bic Towns and cities have grown ur
and the need Of modern conveniences, |
such as vsterworks, electric lighting,
streets and parks and sidewalks. is
becoming imperative, and the only
practicable way to acquire these com. |
forts and Convenieuces is by the r.
susnce NJ bonds, extending over a go
ries NJ years that can be paid with. |
ont imposing serious burden upon .
the people AZ any one time. The nro. .
posed amendment 10 the constitution,
which viii be voted on In September.
relaYes the rigor Of the present pro.
visions. 10 the extent ~ enabling com.
munites to issue bonds IN . limited
degree The flood gates have by NO
means been thrown open and the Ia
suauca ~ securities Ia wisely guard.
cd and restricted 10 the financing ~
urgent and indispensable necessities
Tho enforced economy under The pres.
ont constitution has had its value, hut
n also has had ts drawbacks In re-.
'arding progress and preventing cities
and communities from developing and
extending along safe and rational
lines. authorized hv sound business
n the people adopt ihe
pending amendment. the present bar
rior 10 progress will ba removed. and
ihe state viii 20 forward rapidly
along NO lines NJ development on
course, thera arc always = number NJ
people whose natural iimornusnesa
eauaes them 10 fear any change. and
especially ora that may involve The
expenditure NJ money, and tha con.
traction ~ obligations but an intelll
gent public will 600 that there Ia
vast difference between a vlse and
necessary Investment and nrodIgal
waste, and Tho amendment will doubt.
leas he carried by even larger ma.
Ioritv than II received before The
individual who would deliberately 40.
airov hia own rredIl and horravlng
capacity would he r0naldorad mnqt
nvIa". and Ihe mmo rnnIo4 with
o0ua force m a number NJ IndivIdm
ala aggregated politically aa a town
Nr eltr
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