Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-04
||l|EBIbASUIlN
BEFORE VOTERS
nendments to Constitu.
l0n Extend Borrowing
Power
$50, 100000 ROAD LOAN
Election Tomorrow to Decide
on Increase of Philadel-
phia's Indebtedness

Two proposed amendments tn the state
snnstltution will be submitted to the
veters tomorrow for their consideration.
ss One provides for $50 .o0e, 900 bond is
ysSue by the state for the Improvement ot
public highways. The other proposes
TO Increase the borrowing capacity ~
tthe city of Philadelphia for general pur-
poses from TO 10 per cent of the
Asressed value of it's taxable property.
The amendment which would provide
for the bond issue to Improve public
highways appears on the bottom Of the
ballot as Amendment No /.
1T was passed as a war measure by
y the last Legislature. one of tho argu-
Il ments used in it's behalf was that W.tn
an adequate system Of public highways
troops could be mobilized quickly il, ihr
1 event Of war.
I A similar amendment passed by the
f1st5 Legislature was defeated at The
g polls. Now there is i widespread de.
!. ,mand from al quarters for the passage
b bf the present amendment.
IN The proposed Amendment reads as fol-
lows; no debt shall BE- created by or
on behalf of the state, except to supply
casual deficiencies of revenue rcpel in
E yasion, suppress insurrection, defend
tho State in war. or 20 pay existing
debt: and the debt created To supply
deficiencies in revenue shall never OK
reed in the aggregate. at any one time
4 SL.o00.0o0: Provided. however. that the
Genetal Assembly. irrespective of any
debt. may authorize the State to issue
H.. !, ( I.tA nm
\ the purpose of improving and rebuilding
the highways OF the Commonwealth.
City Loan Amendment Opposed
CONSIDERABLE opposition has developed
Y 10 the amendment which proposes to
increase the city'S borrowing capacity
\ from to 10 per cent of the assessed
'ealuation for general purposes This
amendment appears on the ballot as
3 Amendment No. ,,
In 1915 the voters rat.lied an amend
!. nient which permitted the city TO in
crease its indebtedness equal to 10 per
cent OF it's assessed value. but specified
hat the extra per cent above the
normal per cent limit should be in
y turred only for improving and providing
transit facilities for improving port
facilities and for retaining land ror
wharyes and docks owned or to bc
owned by the city.
y Before the voters had ratified this
amendment the 1915 Assembly was
asked by Interested parties to take ont
2pf the amendment he clause which re
,stricted the use of tile extra 3 per cent
n 70 the purposes specified in the amend
enent
The 1915 and 1917 Legislatures passed
sspe necessary resolutions and IT will he
Tor the voters to decide tomorrow
.sshether they will reject OF ratify the
< 3foviso which would make the entire
'sie per gent available for general pur-
Mses,j ff- Hr
Fear Diversion From Intended Ise
S.s Opposition has developed 10 The pro-
\ ypsed amendment not on the grounds
hat the proposed Ia per cent is too
pig debt limit for the city, but be-
Il snuee it is feared that the entire re-
Z }purces of the city may he mortga=ed
;or other works to such an extent that
no moneys would be left to carry out.
q sort and transit plans,
Work on the great trausit projects
pf the city. which has been suspended
4 during the war, is expected to be re-
sunned soon after the country settles
= uown to normal basis following the
signing of peace.
9 Also the prospects for a greater port
y We're never better. because of the tre-
4 mendous congestion of New York har-
r Dor Twenty-fiye steamship companies
only recently threatened TO transfer
d their business from New York to Phila-
y dsfphia because of the better facilities
Dffered by the port here
TEXT Of Municipal Debt Amendment
The amendment which proposes to in
crease the city's borrowing capacity for
8eneral purposes reads as follows on
the ballot:
The debt OF amy county. city. borough.
f}ny or incorporated district. except as pro
'.aed .3; herein, and in section irteen Of this
Kfuppn the assessed value of tho taxabI.
L properly therein, hli the debt Of the city
onnf that % the T Total Il dty h'e debt sf m ~ sfS snS
95Ylss 935Y,ls.s snaii not exceed ten per centum upon
Z ane assessed value OF the taxable property
;hcrein. nor shall any such municipality or
a tHtrict incur any new debt or increase it-
4 per eentum upon such assessed valuation Of
* nfopsr,y without the consent Of the electors
NJ Rinefeo1 az "A public election in such manner
~ shall be provided by law In ascertain
q ~ fhiladeipllia AT any time. thera shall be
Il txciuded from The calculation aud deducted
n tson sh, :, sncn ~ n, aent SO much OF the debt of
q 80 the proceeds thereof invested In any
= surrent net revenue.
'rhe amount of such deduction shah bo
sF3venue from suh Improvement diiing IN,
xeny immediately preceding the time OF such
n and such Capitalization shall
y t e.,matsd by aiseertainine the principnl
( nj wnlsn a,,' mould Sle,d such annual cur,
ssseftt It, ana s,sSins fund ehsrees sysbe
< yttertainment
Terms Of Issue Defined
rhs method q aetermining such amount
Y ~ Gensrai Assembly Ia incurring indebt ed