The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-07-17
runOCE MORTON on THE CONsTI.
TUITION.
From the Gainesville Gazcttc.l

TUITION.
From the Gainesville Gazottc.l
We are permitted to lay before ON
readers the following letter from Hon.
j. w. Thr0ckmOrion. 10 presents IN
u nutshell the views Of our ablcal
statesman upon the vital questions
which will come before tho constitll.
tional convention. With II few such
men ~ Throcknorton in the Conven.
tlOn, as leaders, II Constitution could
soon be framed under which bright
er era of legislation would dawn upon
Texas:
MciiNSEY, TEXAS, Juno 0, 1876
Hon, W. +, q. Weaver, gainesville. Texas.
Dcm SE-Yours of the ED ult.,
only found me yesterday. | have
read your circular and approve it.
In framing the new Constitution, our
judicial districts should he reduced 50
MS to allot to each judge from thirty
two to thrty-siX weeks. The juris-
dicti0n Of tho Chief Justices should In
clude aggravated assaults and the
sums of S50O.OO in civil cases. Their
jurics should he restricted to six men.
Salaries of Governor and Supreme
Court Judges reduced to $1,000 per an
mum other State Offices and Judges In
proportions. Legislature to five dol
lars per dny-mileagc should only
cover actual travelling expenses and no
more. / Ihavo mn idea tho district at
torney's office should he changed in
some way, hut am not definite as to
the proper mode. Perhaps county
,ll 4, "a L,, .I,nl.,I x,.itl,
sonable salary from the county and
certain fees from the State in felony
eases, perqulsltes, etc, Think OF this,
On school subject-firsl, to provide
TO utilize the school lands already set
apart and severed from tho public do
main, by n sale Mt Just prices on long
time, n part paid down at the time OF
sale then annual payments of princi-
pal and interest, retaining lien on the
land. The proceeds thus received to
bc in vested in United States interest,
bearing bonds and the interest arising
alone to bp used nnr the maintenance
of schools, Observe, however, that the
four leagues belonging To each county
should lie placed under the control of
the respective county authorities, to
no g0d In alternate quarter sections
from time To time, rs the 'amc he-
becomes marketable under certain leg
islative restrictions. The proceeds to
pc invested i'm United States bonds,
fle interest to belong to the counties
respectively and to be used in each
county for its own schools. This IL
just and fair to the counties that made
nn effort to avail Themselves of the old
provision.
In regard to the four hundred Sec
tiOns set aside and located In Gala
han, Eastland and other counties dedi-
Gated to the lunatic and deaf and dumb
asylums, and for university purposes,
there should be n provision made in
the Constitution directing the lcgsla-
ture to provide for their gradual gale
in like manner rs thp sohOni lands
tho praceetis to he II permanent fund
and the interest to 60 to the support OF
the respective institutions. Universi-
ty leagues the same.
There IL already twcnty-fonr millions
acres severed and set apart for these
several educational aud charitable pur-
poses, and vt least IA much more pro-
vided for on the completion of the
Texas and Pacific railroad aud other
lines pretty certain OF completion.
On the subject of the sale of the
school lands, let ils suppose One-twen-
tieth of the 2l,OOO,0W ncres was sold
annually on twenty years time ut ten
per cent, Ono-twcntiethO of the purchase
money TO be paid down, with notes for
the remainder, onc-twentietl to hc
paid annually. Suppose the land
brought 81 90 per acre as u minimum.
This would give Slip,n0p Annually of
principal. IL to be invested In United
States bonds, the notes from purchas.
ers to bear ten per cont. by making
the calculation you will sec that the
ten per cent would be 81 900 the first
year and by deducting the amount cf
principal of S60, 900, the ten per cent
Interest on the notes would decrease
So, 900 eaci, yenr, but to this would be
added the five per cent derived from
the principal invested In bonds. Also
seven per cent amount arising from
present s., 900, 900 school fund, which
is in State bonds. So that there would
he interest from these several sources
to sustain the school system. Observe
that each year, there Is suggested a
sale of one twentieth Of the 24,000, 900
acres; which would keep swelling the
principal and interest. by running
out the interest you will see that the
fund would become enormous, and ut
the end of forty years, the time for the
collection of last sales, II the land aver
aged 81 90 per acre, there would he
81, 900, 0OU added to the present school
fund. Besides the interest would have
accumulated to such m enormous
sum in u few years that 1t could not be
used and much of IL would have to be
reinvcsted and become principal.
No tax, unless n very moderate one
should I've allowed for school puposes.
If the S2,0OO,000 school fund already
provided and 10, ,0O0,OO acres of land
will not maintain the system, we have
poor set of statesmen.
Get back pretty nearly to the old
sys,om before the war; first provide for
tho INDECENT, second, dilluse any sur
plus over the indig"nt fund to those
who may desire, or among the mass of
scholars.
While the school furd IL In its infan-
cy and we are building 1t up, let the
State Treasurer (whO has nothing
much to d0) net as superintendent, OK
olliciO. let the magistrates Mt home,
or other intelligent gentlemen serve rs
county trustees gratis.
This Is sufficient In detail to give you
my views. Asa matter Of course on
ly the ground work can be laid In the
organic law. The remainder Is legis-
laiive.
The legislature should meet bienni-
ally. Terms OF Office should he reduced
(State Oilicers) To two years. Attorney
General aud all officers elective, save
the Secretary of State, who should he
appointed by the Governor and con-
tirmed by the senate. County officers
tn term of two years. Had l time, j
would make some other suggestions.
But l like much the tone OF your circu-
lar, as well as the views presented, es-
pecially rs to occupation tax AMI the
tax, as u rule for taxation.
There are some exceptions, hut am
not prepared this morning 10 go into
the subject further, Wishing you every
success, | an, dear sir, your friend,
j. W. THRoCKMORrON.
The Value OF Good Constellation.
rDz,xtar