The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-04-14
Submit the Constitution

committee the other day MI justice
O'Neill stressed the solemn obligation
which would rest on the Constitution
nj Convention to submit its work IL II
were to adopt any articles running
counter to the expressed will or the
people.
He was speaking specifically con-
corning the proposed changes IN the
judiciary system. The people, he SAID
had declared for the elective system
II the convention should undertake to
provide for an appointive system It's
nature to refer the constitution to the
people would be the preaching or a
solemn covenant, and so strongly dld
lle-fecl on the subject that, at the ex-
I. piratlon Of his term, he would retire
to private life, refusing an appolntlve
commission.
There are subjects other than the
judiciary, however, on which the Will
Of the people no less decislvely mas
been expressed. There Is, dominating
the whole field, that of taxation.
II popular opinion in Louisiana TO-
day Is consolidated on any proposition
II Is that taxation has gone beyond the
margin Of reason--that, already, it is
approximating the mark Of contisca
ton
Last year, according to ex-GoVernol
\Sanders, in his powerful address o.
Tuesday, the people Of Louisiana pai(
In federal state and local taxes tn
stupendous total Of $lOOWO,oOo
whereas the total value Of the fou
man crops they raised-rice, corn
sugar and cotton-aggregatcd onl!
SOL, 100000.
COULD FIGURES BE MORT
STAGGERING!
Is there a man or woman, Whethe
or not these figures are precise, VIII
does not know that they fairly repre-
/. sent, In the whole, conditions as the
exist--0f taxation carried to the poin
Of cruel oppression?
Is there a man or woman who
not looking to the CONSTITUTIONAL Cor
vention for. relief from these conc
tons?
Six weeks Of the convention hay
gone and no one today, lacking the gil
Of secondsight, can forecast what
to be the net result Of Its considerable
Sof the tax problem. All that anyol
knows Is that there are various plal
pending which will make for increa
ed taxes and new systems OF espiol
age affecting both the individual an
the business men. In the congestio
that Is coming, as the conyentit
draws to close, anything may hal
pm.
Whether, therefore, the work Of Il
convention Is good or bad as respec
taxation, whether it means lower
higher taxation, it sohuld have
effect Of law, If good, unless it is raj
fed by the people, and, 1t 1t opens tt
possibilities Of added burdens to tho
the people are now staggering unde
1t has no place in the constitution.
OF the will Of the people in respe
to taxation there can be no two OPT
ions. The call would not have bet
ratified but the promise Of refere
dun. Since the convention has m
the sentiment for submission has bat
cred strength everywhere, as naturd
" It should, with L0uisiapians mab
to sell their chief agricultural pr
ducts, with distress all over the farl
Ing regions and with justi6able dou
III the popular mind as to what is
eyentuate in the crowded closil
y weeks Of the convention on this yit
subject Of taxation
We hope to see the sentiment OF t
country crystalize in such way
to lssre the convention In no doubt
q what the people want Every CO
stitsency ought to be at pains to