The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-09-21
CIV Tax Ring.

iNtiOu. LUIS CudilST Has never DeCu
revised in any manner concerning
taxes, and hence the opinion of the
Attorney General, some time since, in
regard to the collection of tax of one
half of one per cent, first imposed by
General Candy. He held, that the
limitation of this tax extended only to
the expiration of the provisional gov
ernment, or until the admission of
Texas into the Union under the recon
struction regulations.
The Mayor had proceeded to the levy
of fax for this year, amounting to
one half of one per cent, and the
assessments had been made under his
order when the Attorney General gave
the opinion. Mr.. Glenn refused to
accept the legal tax, as established by
the above opinion, and declared his
intention to appeal to the Legislature
for the right to collect the maximum
tax.
1t is established in law that a charter
is simply contract That the Legis-
laturc has no right 10 "pass any law
impairing the obligation of contracts"
which is one of the primitive rules of
our organic law, is legally established;
and one who talks o. appealing to a
legislature TO infringe upon such rights,
is simply backed by the absurdity and
impudence of his malice.
In The Statute law-PaschaPs Di-
gest, Art. 5264-we find, "The board
of Aldermen shall have power to levy
taxes upon persons and property, real
and personal, within the town, subject
to taxation by the laws of the State;
but the tax on persons or property
shall not, in any one year, exceed the
rate of fifty cents on the one hundred
dollars"
The State Journal Of the 10th inst.
publishes a correspondence between
Mayor Glenn and Senator Bowers. The
Mayor, it seemed, desired the assistance
of Mr.. Bowers, who refused in manly
terms to act in the manner desired,
''unless requested to do SO by a major.
ity, or at least respectable number of
the property holders and taxpayers of
the CITY," Mr.. Bowers is on intimate
terms with the taxpayers of Austin,
and is no more affected by the infamous
falsehood produced in an editorial of
the above paper on the same day than
before.
However, let US look into the studied
cunning of this tax ring. On Friday,
the day before this correspondence was
made public, bill was presented to the
Senate by W. A. SAVIOR, which read
as follows
SIC. /. Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Texas, That all provisions of
special laws incorporated cities or towns, in
conflict with general statutes governing such
subjects, be and are declared migratory; and
that all such special laws shall hereafter be
held subordinate to and in compliance with
the general laws of the State.
Sec. 2. That this act take effect and be in
force from and after its passage.
Let those who are interested, and such
as desire TO follow the Mornings of in
famous devices, investigate the trick
cry of Mr.. Glenn and his ring. He
knew perfectly we'll that Senator Bow
ers would not become instrumental in
saddling the people with heavier taxes.
Mr.. Bowers, though lie might think
heavier tax should be collected to carry
on the city government, certainly would
not be, in any manner, instrumental
in such measure until the people de-
sire it, or until they have Mayor of
their own choice, whom they can trust.
But w. A. Saylor; who is he ?
where is he from &? who does he repre-
sent and where is his city and town
property? What town or city in his
district requires, or has asked for, such
law as the bill he presented, con-
tains ? Where is his petition of citi-
zens? and how much property does
his immediate supporting constituency
hold in incorporated towns and cities
What Mayor is in trouble with the
taxpayers in his district?
Such questions suggest themselves
to our mind when we think of the sub
ject under discussion, and we won
der if Mr.. Saylor is not doing for our
worthy Mayor what Mr.. Bowers openly
and fatty refused to do. Mr.. Bowers
is one from among US, identified with
us, ready to do what his constituents
desire, and acting as he thinks they
wish him to act-not with the Mayer,
but with the people; and when Mr..
Saylor becomes tool for Glenn, to
push measure through the Legisla
ture, simply to crafty private spite,
such scheme should be held up before
the public, that its perpetrators may
become subject to scorn.
Let the pending act become law,
and no matter how gross the legal in
fringement, it will at once be made to
prevail.
Oh! Radicalism, thou art a persona
fication of the terrible car of Jugger-
naut, sacrificing a multitude in thy
counsel
Progress and Moral Ideas.
The Hon. Senator Fountain fails to