The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-04-22

SUBJECTS o. taxation. In one OF the oOuth-
ern States that levies only fifty cents on the
hundred dollars, there is printed Inquisi-
torisl form of questionings to which the
taxpayer is subjected. So full and com
plete is it that when the schedule is filed
up the citizen finds that he must be watch
full or he viii necessarily pay twice on the
sare property. Nothing is too minute to
be taxed, and fifty cents on the 500 in that
State means more than 100 cents as taxes
are levied and collected here in Texas.
Here only land is reached, and vast areas
are still untaxed, and really only thirty
cents on the 500 is exacted by Texas, since
the remaining twenty cents Is wasted on an
impossible system of public schools. The
next Legislature and coming constitutional
convention will lessen present extravagant
rates of taxation certainly one.half. Ten
cents on the 500 is quite enough to main
tain schools richly endowed with land in
every county of Texas, and twenty cents
should pay all costs of regular government.
After losing half their wealth, the people
emerge from war, and there is such
savage lust for Office, and SO many
have been created, that the cost
of governing Southern States is tenfold
greater than when eur wealth was doubly
greater than to-day. The highest rate erer
paid, by the State to which we have re-
ferred, til armies gave US armies of place
holders, was ten cents for each 800, and
then there was no schedule of interrogato
ries, that originated with some thieving
bureau, designed to reach and tax every
thing except the tempests and the light
nings The less the people have, and the
more ihtolerable and ruinous the exactions
of Federal power, the more grievous are
burdens imposed by States and counties
and cities. 1t is time the people had thrown
off the yoke. The lesson must be incul-
Gated that offices were not created for indi-
Viduals, but for public good. If the peo-
pie must honor and reward private virtues
or personal worth, the question of fitness
still arises, and no honest man will aid in
comforting offices upon the incapable. Po-
litical adventures of all grades of capae-
ity except the highest, even now are trav-
ersing the State seeking seats in the coming
constitutional convention. If the people
would find worthy trainers of Constitution
worth the having, they will appeal to men
who will not deign to seek the Office. If
the people would have cheap and honest
government, they will send statesmen and
not demagogues to Austin. If we would
have half the burdens that rest upon coun-
ties and towns removed, and the country
thus made more attractive than any in Amer
lea, they will force each member of the con-
vention to pledge himself to rescue cities
tory whites or blacks, and suffer only those
to levy who also pay taxes. The honest
and industrious poor will approve this
above all men. They intend to own prop
erty, and therefore toll, and would not be
robbed by desperate, wandering thieves.
II rates of taxation be reduced in cities and
counties, inducements held out to thieves
to seek offices are lessened, and cheapness
of government begun in one direction re-
produces itself in another. Let it begin by
sending statesmen rather than demagogues
and pett1foggers to the constitutional con-
cation. They uiii----.Le- at the root IT
the greatest. calamity that is now fastened
upon the States and people of the South,
and give US cheap local governments, and
this can only be done by suffering only
those to impose who pay taxes in munich
palities. Then we will never more see it
stated in newspapers abroad that Texas is
grievously burdened by taxation, and the
industrious poor will never more fear to
come hither because of costly local and
State governments.