Imperial Valley press., 1924-10-22
REPUBLICAN, TICKET
TIE WAFER AND POWER AMENDMENT

AS most Press readers are aware the old water
power amendment to the constitution is to be voted
upon again at the election November 4.
This proposition will be recalled provides that
the state lend its credit to bond schemes for the de-
velopment OF water power and irrigation. The limit
to which such credit Will be loaned IS 500 million dol
lars. 1t is contrary to the principle of individual inta-
tive to make investments in this and for that
if for other the Press is not in favor of the
amendment. 1t is fundamentally wrong to engage in
public ownership, except in the rarest instances 1t
leads to socialism and therefore destroys incentive
private action individual progress and public advance
ment Public progress is tn esum OF individual pro-
gress and if you take away spur and nucement the
latter you forestal public progress This sort of pro-
cedure weakens the social fabric reduces industrial eff
ficiency and results IN state and national decay.
This amendment provides that in interest and
principal Of obligations issued under it not paid by
the political subdivision issuing them then the state
shall foot the bill 1t is to let down the bars riot
of expenditure. In this effort to enlarge public
ship is inevitable and certain that great additional
tax burden will be thrown upon the state Il is for
tunate coincidence, perhaps, that taxes just
due IN California and the property owner who is raw
from the heavy burden he is already bearing may well
ask himself if he wishes to have thrust upon him the
possibility of another round half billion of dollars OF
taxes, any part thereof.
It is to be noted that those who advocate this
method of development for the most part the ones
who have least faith in the ability of their public Off
Gals to perform their work in satisfactory way
They are the who most often denounce the govern
ment and complain of its inefficency and downright
skulduggery. How, then, can they consistently ad-
vCcae extension OF the thlng IN Whch they nave SO
little confidence?
Private ownership with public eonrtol is mani
festv the more feasible and economical plan OF opera
ton In this manner there is better service The lndl
,dua is left to extend himself the full limit Of his
powers He has greater reason to acquire efficiency
for it leads to personal profit, for which public ap-
proyal can never be substituted.
The amendment puts undue power IN the hands OF
few without proper restrictions and accountlngs:
This defect was urged strenuousy when the proposal
was before the people two years ago and had much IN
in dofpa
into account ~ g. >
The chief exponent of this additional burden for
the people is Claus Spreckes, the mutimillionalre
parlor socialist His present pet hoopy Wouo carry Us
f into +he realm of socialism He is able to afford
such situation and endure the additional burden, but
not so the average taxpayer.
Two years ago the people OF TINS county declared
AGAINST this proposition and the voters of the whole
state rejected it overwhelmingly. They should go TO
the polls next month with determination to SO thor
oughly scotch the snake it will remain dead