The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-10-05
Report Of subcommittee on
statistics to the Taxpayers
Convention.
SUB-CoMMITTEE ReoN,
Austin, Sept. %, III.


10th Hon. A. J. Hamilton, Chairman Commute Of 81
SIR The Committee on Statistics
beg leave to submit the following re-
port, as the result of their delibera>
tons:
Previous to the adoption of our
present State Constitution, the Leg
islature met biennially, and the app
preparations for State expenditures
were made for two years.
We find from an examination of
the laws, that the 7th Legislature ap-
propriated,to be paid from the State
Treasury for the ordinary expenses
of the State Government for the
years 1858 and 1859, the sum of
$545, 740. This gives one-half of
that amount, or $272,87O as the or
binary expenses for each of the years
1858 and 1859.
The entire appropriations of that
Legislature for all purposes for the
years 1858 and 1859, including the
above, also for the old debt of the
Republic, frontier defence, etc.,
amounted only to $809,592 40.
We find from the same source that
the 18th Legislature appropriated,
for the ordinary expenses of the
State Government for the years 1867
and 1868, the sum of $481, 800. This
gives one half that amount or $780,
$50 as the ordinary expenses for each
of the years 1867 and 1868.
1t will be recollected that there
was no session of the Legislature dur
ing either of these years.
Tho entire appropriations made by
the 18th Legislature, that met in
1866, for all purposes for the ex-
penses of the years 1867 and 1868,
for the Legislature of 1865 and the
expenses of the government from the
18th of August to the 31st of Dec,
1866, amounted only to the sum of
$956,850 II.
We ind from the same source that
the appropriations made by the Leg
islature of 1870, for the ordinary ex-
penses of the State Government, for
the fiscal year from the first of Sep
TENDER, 1870, to the LIST of Septem-
Der, 1871, was 1856, 1888.
The entire appropriations of that
Legislature for all purposes, except
the subsidy to the International Rail-
road, amounted to the sum of 81
1927 so.
The appropriations of the Legislature that
met ia the early part- of this year Cs7I), for
the ordinary expenses of the Government for
the fiscal year beginning on the LIST of Sep
TENDER, 1871, and ending the 3lst of August,
1871, 81 ,072, 662 90
For School for same year 604,500
For deficiencies for the fiscal
year ending 3lst August,
lS1l........".".......... ..,... 1864, 143 As
For all other purposes, except
the subsidies. to railroads. 1859 50
Making the entire appropria-
tions by that Legislature
exclusive of subsidies to
RAILROAD '.''''..' '.'........ 2,l2O,6O5 2S
1t will berecollected that the Leg
islature of 1870 also voted q subsi-
dy of $4,000 mile to the Inter-
national Railroad, which will impose
upon our people debt of at least
$4,000, 900 if the company complies
with the terms of the law, and the
Legislature of 1871 granted an adj
ditiOnal subsidy of Sc, 900, 900 to the
Transcontinental and Southern Paci-
ic Railroads.
We ind that the cost Of the Legislature of
1851 Was.... ....... ......... $l5S,760
That of 1866, was...... ............... 10000
That of 1870, was ...... ......... 3o7, 900
That OF 1871, was ............ ........: 2s5,000
While the number of members, the
per diem and mileage were the same
for that of 1866, as for the Legisla~
ture of 1870 and 1871.
We find that the ad valorem tax
upon property in the years 1888 and
1889, was for tho State one-eighth
of one per cent, for the county one
half that rate.
In 1867, the rate of taxation was
increased for the State to fifteen
cents on each hundred dollars, and
for county purposes not exceeding
half that rate.
The Legislature of 1871, increased the taxes
as follows, viz:
Ad vaiorem State tax upon property ] of one
per cent, + of which is for schools.
Ad valorsm county tax upon property, / Of
one per cent.
AID valorem road and bridge tax upon pro-
peIty, of one per cent.
AID Valorem tax for school houses upon pro-
perty, of one per cent.
Tax for building school houses and maintain
ing schools, one per cent
A poll tax of one dollar for schools.
A poll tax of one dollar for roads and bridges.
Besides, the occupation and license
taxes, and the tax for the frontier
bonds, which is understood to have
been fixed by the Comptroller at five
cents on each hundred dollars,
from which it will be seen that our
present rate of taxation for State
and county purposes is about two
dollars and seventeen and half
cents on each hundred dollars, be-
sides the poll tax and occupation and
license taxes.
The following is an estimate Of the taxes
levied from the people the present year. The
estimated value of the property subject to
tSAalon Is. -............. L,OOOIOUO
! OF one per cent on above........ l,060,o 900
I ......... $780, 900
/ ......... $4,000
! ......... 265, OO6
l-20 ......... 100000
per cent on above will produce 2,l2O, 900
Poll tax for roads and bridges,
estimate ......................... 10000
Poll tax for schools, estimated 100000
License and occupation for State,
estimated...... ......... ......... 100000
License and occupation for coun-
ty, stimated.................. 10000
Total. ...... ................. $5,36I, 600
In addition to the above, each tax.
payer had TO nav the commission for