The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-31

read, on account of the number Of
persons present, many were at such
a distance from the stand that they
could not hear distinctly, who called
for second reading, whereupon the
chairman of the committee, Mr.. M.
G. Hamilton, rose and read the reso-
lutions one by one, commenting as he
read and explaining the views of the
committee.
The speaker went carefully through
statistics, in contrasting the present
with former administrations of the
State Government, showing to the
satisfaction OF all present that the
enormous levies made for the current
year are not necessary, even upon
the basis estimated by the Governor
in his message to the legislature.
He only asked for 5000, 900, exclu-
sive of public schools, whereas the
levies amount to more than double
that sum; while the provision for
the public schools is upwards of So
100000. The speaker showed by
figures the receipts into the Treasury
under the levies for the support of
the State Government for former
years at the rate of Is cents on the
800 of property to be generally
little less than half million upon a
total valuation of 100000 of
property including the occupation tax,
which was ample for the wants of the
Government; and that the same rate
of taxation on 800, 100000 of prop
erty, which the returns thus indicate,
with the occupation and income tax
would bring into the Treasury $780,,
900, and one fourth of which goes
to the school fund, leaving $500, 900
for the support of the Government
exclusive of schools.
The speaker inquired into the le-
Ultimate wants of the Government
now and then, and stated the increase
of expenditures of the present ad-
ministration over our former ones,
made necessary by the Constitution,
to be about fifty per cent; to meet
the provision for public schools of
twenty-five per cent. of the annual
revenue instead of ten per cent. as
under the old constitution; and the
increase in the number of district
Judges and district attorneys. This
would increase the rate of taxation
to something less than one fourth of
one per cent. But that the provision
may be ample let the rate be fully
one quarter of one per cent, we
should then have the following result:
From the ad valorem tax on 300,-
100000 of property, $75O,OOO; Oc-
cupation and income tax 100000
81, 050,000, of which one fourth
goes to the support of public schools,
leaving, to meet the other expenses
of the Government, $787, 500; We
are then within nearly one hundred
thousand dollars of the sum stipula.
ted for by his Excellency. While
under this rate the provisions fol
schools would be as follows:
One fourth the State revenue. 1892 ,5OC
Poll taX......... "....... ............ 10000
Income from invested capital, and
from sales of public lands......... 10000
Special tax of l29 cents on the $500
of property......... ......... 375,O0(
1897 500
The speaker deemed this quite
enough to commence operations on
No one expected or desired that the
system should be completed in all it,
parts in a single year. We dom
know anything of the men who have
the matter in charge, but from what
we have all seen the few past weeks
of the chief officers perambulatine
over congressional districts, one after
another, manipulating county meet
ings and controlling conventions; the
summary dismissal of school directors
who refuse to levy the full tax au'
thorized under the law, whether need
ed or not in their districts; and thu
! systematic effort to break up all thu
private schools in the country, no on
can feel much confidence in the eff
cheney of the public schools under
the administration of the presen
Superintendent. The thirty-fve Of
thirty-six district supervisors APP,
} pointed with large salaries and mile
! age, were wholly unnecessary as they
were unauthorized.
The speaker then pointed out som
of the enormities which swelled III
3 the annual budget, among which tn
rates and extraordinary amount 0
printing authorized more than quad
rupled that allowed at any forme
E period. The printing bill is simpl,
! shameful; then the horde of officer
required to register the voters an
e to revise the lists and hold elections
all under pay, not less than six to
+ county at SIS per day, with rooms
e fuel, stationery, blanks provided a
the seat of Government and trans
d mitted by mail, will cost the Stat
!. every general election from $3.50, 90
to 100000.
: !; The Senator then animadverte
= with some severity upon the employ
ment of the police force and Stat
+ guard, in recent county meetings an
conventions, and especially allude
to the recent election order of Gov
Z, ernor Davis as threatening misclie
He inquired whether it was the inter
:, ton of the Governor to put the coul
= try under martial law during tt
d time of the election. He suppose
y not, as the election would in that cai
!. !. be farce, besides being a most pa
!. pable violation Of the Constitution
W and yet how else could the Govern,
|, undertake to drive peaceable citizel
| L -.