The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-11-04
) FoRTY-EIaarH DAY.


M AUSTIN, Oetoleer 80. 1875.
Inc Convention ulet at a. NJ; quorum
Mf' Hs.-,yss e5.l1lrn VI rS 4c sr,, 1o, Ger,
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Mr.. Cline was excused for three daysass !.
On motion of Mr.. Flournoy, Mr.9 W. H.
Stuart, delegate elect from Galveston, came
forward, presented his credentials and took
the oath of officei1 ~ 1gQ ~ ~
Mr. West reported unfavorably on the
memorial of Hon. -Gustave Cook of Hous-
ton, In regard to placing certain provisions
In the Constitution.
Mr. Stuart was added to the Committees
on General Proyisions,P Suffrage, and Style
and Arrangement. dcno4@s ,-l.-t5- - ~,
Unfinished business resumed, being con-
sideration of free schools.
Mr.. Scott moved the previous question
Carried -at1lz
The question being on the engrossment of
eheirepert, it was ordered engrossed. ~
s Mr.. Whtfield desired to explain the vote
he should give on the engrossment of THE
article on free schools. He said it was
known to the Committee on Education. of
which he had the honor of being chairman.
that when he signed the majority report IL
was understood by the Committee that he
was opposed to establishing as a rule that
this Convention should restrict the Legisla-
ture in question; that the people have the
right to change alter or amend tbronf,h
their Legislature; i that if the people desired
to tax themselves for school purposes thev
certainly should not be denied that riaht.
that the article now proposed to be en-
crossed is the old system established bv the
Constitution of 1869, that proved to be a
total failuremso ,much so that a majority of
the people have become perfectly disguised
with such a system, and that he was un-
willing to return to his constituents with
the same system we had when he left home;
that the present. fund, paid the teachers one
month out of four, and he was not willing
to prevent the people by a positive consti-
tutiOnal provision from changing the free
school system, and he, therefore, voted
..ao.ph ses f1izoisT D'2 'uflSI
Mr.. Graves moved to reconsider the vote
just taken, and to lay the motion to recon-
slider on the table. Carried by vote of AZ
to SO. i-.' D-i.i'9 l'' -'a'
Article on revenues and taxation and pend
ing amendments, was the next business in
ORDER ~ sso;7,,rs. 4 ss., 10 95iff,
On motion of Mr.. Murphy, the article was
considered section by section.
Mr.. Ramey moved to amend section one nlee
by adding, after the word s.furnhufe.ip the
words Belonging to each family in this.p
Adopted. - s.,...... IN. n.
Mr.. Russell of Harrison offered the fol-
lowing amendment Strike out ali after
the word ''dollars, ''tin section one, line
out reading as follows: ssThe LerisIat,ire
may also, in its discretion, provide for lew
ingia tax on the gross earnings ana fran
chises, or either, of all corporations, or of
anV class of cOrDOrafiOns ,,
Mr.. Russell of Harrison contended that
this would be class legislation. leveled dil
rectly at railroads, and Was contrary to all
that was right. = 5..,,e, :; -,
Mr.. FIournoy contended that the, proyi-
sion was no more than was right and
proper. When you tax a mans income. do
you mean SIMPLY to tax what he had left
after paying all his expenses No, sir, it
is on his actual income. So of railroads.
Mr.. Reagan followed in an address in fa-
vor. Of the amendment. He asked the
members not to allow their prejudices to do
a wrong to railroads or any other class of
corporations. De right by all classes, and
do not let prsjudice get the bettsr of our
judgments.
Mr.. Ballinger followed ia support Of strik
ing out, and made an able and eloquent ad-
dress. 81 -5as3 fgsal 30 usi d7ia7. -baaC
Mr.. DeMorsei also favored the. amend
ment.
Mr.. Mccormick offered the following sub
stitdte for the entire section. Taxation
shall be equal and uniform throughout the
State, and all property subject to taxation
in this State shatt- -be-taxed- in proper
tion to its value, to- be, ascertained
as shall be-, provided By !, law !;
prooided, there shall be forever exempt from
all taxation, household and kitchen fufni-
ture, the property of citizens of this State,
not to exceed in value the sum Of two hum
dred and fifty dollars. The Legislature may
also impose occupation and income taxes
upon such occupations and pursuits that it
NAV deem to the interest Of the stare to tax !;
provided, that the counties, cities and towns
or other political subdivisions of the State,
nor the authorities thereof, shall in any case
impose any tax upon occupations or .pur-
suits, but the Legislature may, provide by
law that such occupation or income tax col
lected by the State, or any part thereof, may
be returned to the county for the benefit Of
the general county fund DroDided, that the
fund thus returned shall always be re-
turned to the county from which it was col
lected.
Mr.. Wright favored the amendment Of
Mr. Russell of Harrison. He told the Con-
vention he was neither an attorney Of rail-
roads nor had any stock in them ;but simply
desired to do what he believed was right
and best for the State. s4r - -
Mr.. Crawford opposed the amendment.
:. n aiAS y shs ?, asisselIssinn Is Convention
EVENING SESSION. -a
The Convention met q: 2:30, pursuant to
adjournment Roll called; quorum pres
ent. iH a6 h'l 8. Z, e