The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-25

by Lieutenant-Governor Savers Hon. Robert
G. Street and Colonel George P. Finl'y.
Governor Sayer's speech was mastery ex-
pose of the "pay-as-y policy of Gov
ernor Roberts. In terse and clear language
he conclusvely proved that the credit for the
present favorable condition of the financial
affairs of the state was due to the sixteenth
legislature more than to Governor Roberts,
who by every means at his command at
temple 10 hinder and obstruct legislation
beneficial to the state, and which, if faith
fully carried out in obedience to the pledges
made by the Democracy in their platform
adopted by the state convention which as
sembled in Corsicana in 1872, and enunci4ted
in every platform adopted by the rty
since that time, the state would
now take high and commanding
rank among the most progressive and liberal
states in the union.
After rapidly and briefly reviewing the
Coke and Hubbard administrations, and ac-
counting conclusively AMI satisfactorily for
the large Indebtedness accumulated under
their respective administrations, which was
largely due to the disturbed condition Of
affairs on the frontier of Texas, and that it
was expended for the preservation of life and
property in That exposed portion of the
state he then took up the Roberts admins
tration, and in graphic language showed up its
fallacies and Inconsistencies. He refuted the
charge brought against the Coke and Hut
bard administrations by Governor Roberts,
in his Dallas speech and showed clearly that
while under the constitution of 1869 assess.
ments should be lien upon the property,
and interest was to run thereon upon each
years assessment, that no landed property
could be sold for t, xes due thereon except
under decree of some court of competent
jurisdiction. This exercise of the courts
authority never was called into question
for the collection of taxes, hence by its non
enforcement the revenues of the state were
largely decreased; that according to the
comptroller's report in 1S74-75, 25,000,000
acres Of land were not listed for taxes, and no
suits were brought because it was impossi-
BILE to ascertain who were the owners. He
went over the acts of the Legislatures of ST.
7S under which he showed that the taxes
were more promptly collected and the reve.
nues of the state thereby largely increased;
that the expenses of protecting the frontier
have been cut down to 100000, where it
had been from Sl50000 to 100000, under
the administration of his predecessors.
The acknowledgement APPLY compared
the Roberts administration to a broken mer-
chant who had failed to meet his liabilities,
and had compromised with his creditors,
who had again started him in business, Civ
ing him a full stock of goods, paying
his clerk hire, insurance and rent, and sgree-
irg to keep him fully stocked up, if he
would agree to adopt the "pay las you.go"
policy. This was what the sixteenth legisla.
ture had done for Roberts. They had pro.
vded for the deficiency debt of over 5000.
600 by the issuance of state warrants ravable
in five years. Yet, despite this provision of
the legislature, Governor Roberts, notwith-
standing the fact that there was upwards Of
100000 in the treasury, caused the bonds
OF the state to be issued TO the amount of
$1,000 with thirty years to run, to supply,
as he claimed, deficiency the legislature
had failed to provide for, and this in face of
the pledges made by the Democratic party
to the people of the state; that this issue of
bonds would cost the state before paid fully
100000. Was this economy? Was this re-
trench nent? Was this in accordance with
the pledge of the party to the people, or the
"pay -as-you-go" policy, out of which the
governor was attempting to make political
capital?
The lieutenant governor declared himself
a strong and enthusiastic friend Of free
schools; that upon the diffusion acknowledge
and intelligence among the masses the fabric
OF our government was forever secure, and
emphatically declared that he would not 70.
side In community or q commonwealth
whore churches and schools we're not sus-
taine1. lie stated that the past acts of Gov
ernor Roberts showed that he was iaimical 10
the establishment of free public schools, and
that every act demonstrated this conclu-
svely. That when the sixteenth legislature
made On appropriation of one fourth per
cent. of the general revenues Of the .tate,
Governor Roberts declared it was open re-
pudation of the state debt, while facts had
since demonstrated to the contrary, vet in
his blind obstinacy he vetoed the measure.
which caused the state an expenditure Of
$4,000 in consequence of opposition TO the
diffusion of knowledge through the medium
of free public schools. He deprecated the
governors policy, as proclaimed by him at
the time of his vcto that before the war Tex
as had splendid school system. That such
system as then prevailed would be humiliat
ing to the pride of the poorest American, bv
forcing him TO take the pauper's oath that
his children might be edu ated at the expense
of the state Governor Sayres stated that
this was contrary to the genius of our ins,i-
buttons, and a reflection upon and an ignor-
ing OF all the time-honored principles of the
Democratic party, which was party of the
people, and for the people. He showed that
this question was calmly and wisely consid-
cred by the founders of the republic in 1886.
who strongly favored liberal provisions for
public free schools. And again in 1916, it
was enacted that the provisions for schools
should not fall below one-tenth Of the
general revenue, and as much higher
as it was possible to 60, 10 secure thorough
system of free schools and the universal dis
elimination of knowledge. In 1861, on the
eve of the Dloodiest war on record, the states
men of Texas did not forget that free schools
were public necessity, and again in 1866
the constitution provided for the establish
ment OF free schools on a liberal basis and
this was further perfected by the constitution
OF 1867, regardless of the recent speeches
made by the governor. Every act Of his adj.
minlstration touching on the school question
showed his opposition to the system, and if
he was sincere now it should be treated as an
eleventh hour confession, and as such its
sincerity was open to question.
Roberts opposition to immigration and
whosesae communications had turned immi-