The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-07
HENS AND TAXPA AYRRS-CONYO-
CATION OF THE LEG ISLATURk.

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CATION OF THE LEG ISLATURk.
Hens flourish mo3t and produce most
it seems in limestone counties. In Aus.
tin the "fruit" of these birds is sold at
only six and a half to ten cents per
dozen, and the choicest tenderloin and
porterhouse steaks at six to eight cents
per pound, the best flour at nine to
eleven dollars per barrel, and corn at
twenty-five and thirty cents per bushel.
Very certainly it costs little enough to
live in the capital of Texas. There is
much reform needed, however, in rates
of taxation. Fifty cents on each 800
for the State, fifty cents for the county
and one dollar for the city, constitute
burdens wholly intolerable and the iD-
tervention of the Legislature becomes
patent necessity. At rates to which
rents are reduced, without correspond
ing diminution of tax rates, taxstion as
practiced is absolute confiscstlon.
When two per cent. is wrenched from
property paying only three and four
per cent, the holder can pay no debts.
He can build no houses. Carpenters
nd brickmasons starve and progress
and improvement are at an end. The
volume of currency affects these every
day questions here in Austin and while
this is restricted to the greatest posi-
BILE extent, until money has
,he greatest possible purchasing
power and houses and lots the least
'slable value, these onerous rates OF
saxStion, fixed before Sherman's thumb
screw OF contraction had squeezed all
and lots, become simply intolerable,
and the chamber of commerce should
inquire whether there be not some ac-
cessible and immediate remedy. AS
SCISSORS with solemn aspects are now
pereg-inating the country in all direc-
nons fastening supposititious and alb
surd values on houses and lots and
farms. These assessors have an honest
duty to discharge, which they feel and
confess. But they represent the State
and county or town, and not the tax
payer. They see facts with an eye
single to the collection of the greatest
possible sums for placeholders like
themselves. They will not believe
that the value Of an acre OF ground is
the sum it will command in cash in the
open market, and there is not a land or
lot owner, who measures values Of prop
erty by profits it produces, who will not
take one-half less for his property
than one or two years ago. But he
does not wish to lose one-hslf of all
he has, and holds it with the hope
chat when the silver bill is enacted
prices will advance. But assessments
of property made by the people, and
not by officeholders for officeholders,
will be reduced as never before in
Texas. The prices of land and houses
must be made to correspond, for pur-
poses of taxation, with the prices of
eggs, beef and corn, the products of
this land, and with rates paid by ten
ants to lot and house owners. No
other basis of adjustment can be
just.
The great crime committed by Con.
gress and Sherman consists in the de-
struction of the property of debtors, and
yet in lesseniny in nothing amounts
they must pay. The means of pay
ment are suddenly reduced onc-half,
and yet the sum TO be paid is left un-
changed. The money in which we pay
is lessened one-half in quantity and
doubled in purchasing power, and
thus IN actual value, and yet we must
still pay dollar for dollar. Thus the
conduct OF States that scale their debts
one-half is justified. Paying one-half
they really pay more than if they had
paid dollar for dollar four years sgo.
The creditors and oficeholders call
this reputation, while in point OF
fact and justice they have repudiated
their contracts by law, who make
debtors pay really twice as much in
labor ana property to extinguish q
fixed debt, as could have been ex..
acted twelve or eighteen months ago.
There are two solts of reputation.
One is effected bY debtors; the other,
by creditors. The last is real; the
first, when debts are properly scaled
and thus paid, is only nominal, and is
unreal. Ia this case the payee gets as
much value as if he had been paid dol
lar for dollar tive years ago. The
value paid, and not the dollar paid, is
the measure of honest payment. II
the country derive no adequate relief
from the silver bill the people, ruined
everywhere 10y the policy of the bond
holders as approved by Congress,
must compel State legislatures to enact
laws suspending processes for the COM
pulsory collection of debts, and at the
same time, whatever the fortunes of |
courts and clerks and governments and |
bondholders. rates of tsxstion must be |
reduced. We can neither tolerate as
sessments fastened on property which |
do not have reference to present rates |
of rents nor to present salable values |
of property, nor can the people pay
percentages of two years ago. II bond |
holders and public creditors must lose |
even so do the people lose by laws
made at Washington and neither
Washington nor Austin has the right |
to enact codes of france which ruin |
the taxpayer and aggrandize the place
man and bondholder. Tue governed
have rights aud necessities as we'll as
those who govern, and at this juncture,
when eggs are worth only six and
half cents, aud sll products Of popu-
lar industry relatively the same, the
Legislature should be convened to be-
get relief and an equality between him
who pays and him who receives and
expends county. city and State taxes.