The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-02
Measure Would Permit Reclaiming Of Some Of
 States Richest Land NO RAISE IN TAXES
 TO BE AUTHORIZED Good Roads And Sea Walls Districts Also
 Could Be Organized 3SO,OOO ACRES
 WOULD BENEFIT Judge James Mayfield Calls Att tention To Provisions Of
 Amendment Number Two
(State Capital Bureau)

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Oct. 31.-At- tention has been called by J. M. Moore, state commissioner of agriculture, to the importance of favorable action by the voters on proposed amendment to the state constitution number 7. to be voted on at the general election Novem-- Der 4, authorizing the formation or drainage districts.
 "Officials at the capital. at the head quarters of the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation, and the voters in general, who understand this measure, are tor it." Commissioner Moore stated. If, for a lack of understanding, 1t fail to be endorsed, drainage district work in the state may be held back for years to come.'
 Commissioner Moore has compiled list of areas in Alabama where com munity drainage, or drainage districts, have been proposed, embracing 49 prof ects in 34 counties, involving 3SO,OOO acres of the richest lands in the state. Ut may be years before some of the projects listed will move forward again for drainage, however, full authority should be available for any one or these projects to be so drained, where a majority of the landowners desire to do so," he stated. The Luxapallila Creek district in Fayette and Lamar coun- ties has already been largely drained, he stated, and the adoption of the proposed amendment is expected to as-, sist in getting the landowners involved out of all legal difficulties.
 Does Not Increase Taxes
 Proposed Amendment No. ? does not increase, nor does it authorize the legislature to increase taxes of the people," Commissioner Moore stated. "This fact should be explained to the voters. Nor does this amendment apply to any person or lands not within the drainage district. The drainage amend ment does not apply until the major ity of the property owners within the district voluntarily petition the court to establish a drainage district, and even in this application it does not inn pose any tax or burden on them or their lands, except to the extent that the value of the land is increased by reason of drainage. Furthermore, this amendment does not in itself provide for the drainage of lands. It merely provides authority which may be ex- ercised by the legislature in respect to the wishes of the people for the pre- seryation of the public health and the reclamation of their wet lands by means of drainage, where the cost is imposed against the land so reclaimed and imporved.'
 Judge James J. Mayfield, former justice of the supreme court, has stated with reference to the proposed amendment to add article 21 to the constitution State constitutions are intended to serve two main purposes! First, to declare the fundamental prin- ciple of government, and second, to impose a limitation upon the depart ments of government. The object of this amendment is to declare fundamental principle. It is not a granting of pow CT nor is it limitation. It merely de- clares the fundamental that the state government may provide for the pre- servation of public health and the re- claiming of wet lands by draining them, and impose the cost thereof against the lands so reclaimed and improved but not to exceed the betterment or in- creased value by reason of the drain age. The voters should understand that this amendment does not increase nor does it authorize the legislature to in- crease taxes of the people. It does not apply to any persons or lands not within the drainage district and does not apply to them until the majority of the property owners voluntarily peti- tion the court to establish the district, and even then it does not impose any
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