The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-29

mas increased 10 S0,OUU,UUU. Un1er Governors
Coke and Hubbard several reforms affecting
the revenue and finances had been inaugur.
ated, but required yet longer time
to yield the anticipated fruits
Our tax laws have been lamenta
bly, inefficient, and collections had been moi
only deficient but attended with serious loss
es. Governor Roberts took up the work
where his predecessors ler. of, and urged
measures of retrenchment and reform until
the expenses of the state, including interest
on the public debt, should be brought within
the revenues and the debt put in process Of
the earliest possible extinction without add
tional taxation on Improperly of the country,
much the larger proportion of which was
non-preductiye. Among other things, he
favored, temporarily less appropriation
for the support of free schools until this con-
summation should be reached. The result
was the appropriation Of one-sixth instead OF
ONE FOURTH OF THE GENERAL REVENUE
(The latter being the constitutional limit,
for the ensuing two years 1879 50.
This latter measure has been the basis of
seventh.tenths Of the subsequent opposition
to Governor Roberts. Despite almost life.
time of co operation in the policy of the
state (as will be seen further on) to build up
the grandest free school system known to
any state or country, he has been parsded at
home and abroad as an enemy offree schools.
Yet he is overwhelmingly indicated, not
only by bis almost unanimous denomination
on the 18th inst, by large as;emblsge Of
able representative men, but by The fruits of
his labors, assisted by the legislature, on the
snhnOl nnaetiNp Ia, rafnrpno in fha la
in the last (his first scholastic year, o..
900 more children than ever beflre have
been taught little longer time by a better av-
erage grade of teachers for one hundred and
thousand dollars less money
than ever before. For the incoming This
second) scholastic year, without any increase
in taxation, a much larger number If chill
iren will be taught an average of five months
and eleven days-an increase Of one month
and eleven days since he came into office.
But this is not all. In this estimate is in
GUIDED the founding and first years expenses
Of two state normal schools, one for white
males and females, the other for colored
males and females, botl in a most fourishing
condition. Such results, in the public mind,
lave to large extent overridden all shades
IT Democratic opposition to him. Some, as
Republican and Greenback, is ordinary par
isan clap.trap, but some, in his own party,
las doubtless been honest from q misappre,
tension of his view and the underlying facts
hereafter mentioned, while probably some
las been prompted by personal fsvoritism for
theirs, and possibly scattering guerilla at
ack by few protesting Democracy, but |
eally desiring the disruption of the party.
If this it is not my province to Judge. In
MS time, too, his administration has paid off
alf million dollars of public debt, or
richly speaking $4,000.
Governor Roberts has been most absurdly |
harged with being an enemy to immisrs-
OF into Texas-a position in acitizen of lHi'l
,ate Of immense unsettled territory unworthy
ny but an idiot, much less long .tried uN-
lot desiring its highest glory. Our consti,
ltion, (unwisely, perhaps, and against my
wn vote as member Of the constitutional
onvention) prohibits the appropriation of
ne peoples money for the purpose of main
aiming an
IMMIGRATION BUREAU
r bringing (such as paying the passage of
immigrants into this state.
This inhibition was largely induced by
tasteful expenditures by such bureau
nder the reconstructed Republican state
overnment; by the almost universal demand
t the time of the adoption of the constitu-
ion for retrenchgent and reform, and by
he potent fact that at that time and for two
ears before the state was overrun with an
lie and more or less vicious set of tramps,
elieved by many to have been induced here
y tho circulars and publications of the i'm
lIuratiOp bI1rnun Rpt ha 81, |
My allows, but expressly authorizes, the
objection and publication of such statistics
descriptive and otherwisQ) as will furnish
ersons abroad desiring to migrate to Texas
UGH reliable information as will meet their
nquiries. This will doubtless be provided
Or by the next legislature. AT any rate,
ne convection that nominated Governor
'oberts expressly declares in favor of such
n appropriation, the bureau tor which al.
eady exists.
The ridiculous--almost criminal TRADES
gainst Governor Roberts in regard to the
of punishment in few cases
rom death to life Imprisonment, are con-
emned by all who really know his character
nd by every dispassionate legal mind in the
tate or out of it, who knows the facts.
uch unseemly assaults SAVIOR too much of
be bloody communism across the water to
eceive coUutenance among law-abiding |
leu.
In regard to The question of occupation
axes, many good men object to the present
aw MS unequal aud unjust and in some re.
poets exorbitant, and TO this extent oppose |
governor Roberts. participate in the feel
ng, and, in the abstract, am oppose to tax.
ng legitimate occupations. Our constitu-
ion, prompted by motives of extreme eau
ion and desire to extricste the state from
ebt, only permits, but does not require, such |
tax. Governor Roberts signed the law,
rhen passed, 10 a temporary and permissve |
MEASURE Of relief; but is more than willing
o have it thoroughly revised, reduced and |
horn of its more Objectionable features.
The bell punch, signed in like manner is not
My universally regarded Ms a financial fail
ire. but as demoralzing in its temptations
o evasons and frauds. As such it will be |
wiped out as soon as the legislature meets
Iext winter.
EDUCATION AND IMMIGRATION.
/ now propose to show to all, at home and
broad, that for the erection and perpetual.
ion of free schools and the inducing of an
immigration into its borders, Texas long
raduced and indignantly or ignorantly Wilt,
led as she has been, has done more than any |
tate in this union, and l trust that our
native and foreign born, in the
forth, the cas-. and the great west, may read |
md Judge us by our acts, and not by the par
isan Misrepresentation of such as can see |
neither virtue, enlightenment nor patriotism |
', a ~ uthipo Of raoola aoiitharp