The log cabin Democrat., 1916-09-18
AMENDMENT NQ,l4 .MFANSC GOOD ROADS IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION To Vexations Road Tax, in the Opinion of Leaders who Have
 Studied the Question.
By A. w. Parke.

ny hs w. | oA hNs
 Little Rock, Sept. 18.-"The sys- tenn for road building, made possible by the adoption of constitutional amendment No. IA is so simple it is mystery to me that no one ever thought of it before," states Judge J. s. Abercrombie of Saline county, president of the Arkansas Good Roads Association. q served several terms in the legislature, and worked hard on good road measures, but nothing so complete or simple as this ever occurred to me. It is the first real relief I have ever seen of- fered.
 "Give the counties the right to is- sue bonds for 30 years, or to operate under the present system, and they will build some roads. The beauti- full thing this amendment is that it does not saddle it on any county unless the people of that county deem it wise and majority of the electors vote for it. I believe it will be possible for every county in the state to build permanent roads right now under this amendment, which should make it appeal direct ly to the country people,"
 The Little Rock Motor Club at recent meeting adopted resolutions endorsing the proposed amendment No. IA, declaring it to be the solu- tion of the road building proposition in Arkansas. The fact that the amendment merely changes the methods of handling the three mill tax now voted, and gives roads without additional taxation, appeal ed most strongly to the automobile owners, and the club voted to assist in the campaign to educate the voters of the state as to the pro- visions of the amendment.
 The bankers of Arkansas also en- dorse the amendment, the doctors and the lawyers, so if the people vote in favor of the amendment there will be little doubt of it's standing the legal test.
 The proposed constitutional amendment No. IA has no objection able features, and engineers, law, yers and road builders have pro- nounced it flawless after a cerful ex- animation. They state it is panacea for road improvement ills. | This amendment merely allows the counties of the state, at special or 1 regular elections, to decide whether or not they will vote a three mill tax for period of two years, for a period of any number of years up to thirty, or no tax at all. There IS nothing compulsatory about the amendment. The voter has first and last say, and if a majority does not want it, it cannot be forced upon them.
 | Every county in the state now votes three mill tax for two years. ] This money is spent upon the roads ot the county, but with the excep- ton of two or three of the largest counties, no permanent work can be done. The amendment provides that the counties may vote the tax for a period of 30, or less years. Two year bonds could not be issued, but 3o, or even 10 or 20 year bonds, would be much in demand. This would give large sum for building permanent roads.
 The maintenance of roads thus built would be cared for by a re- serve fund, through free labor, and interest on a sinking fund, if one should be created Dirt roads, which could not be permanently improved. would be cared for as they are now, by the free labor system.
 The only change brought about by the proposed amendment, is that it would give counties of the state per- manent highways, which today have none, and never will under the pres ent plan of voting a two year tax
 Senator J. Marion Futrell. who made great reputation in Arkan- sas Tn the year he served as acting governor, and one of the closest students of road building in the state prepared the proposed consti- tutional amendment No. IA, and is active Tn the campaign being con- ducted in its behalf. The amend ment was introduced in the last leg islature by Senator Ashley of Izard.
 Senator Futrell will make a num- per Of speeches for the amendment 'h various sections of the state. | THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN