The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-10-28
GOVERNOR ROBERTS on TAXATION
AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GOVERNOR ROBERTS on TAXATION
AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In his San Antonio speech. touch
ing taxation, free schools and the
sale of school lands. Governor Rob
erts said:
We have now in Texas about $780,
100000 worth of taxable property.
1t yields, as heretofore estimated, at
fifty cents on the one hundred dol
lars, a net revenue, which, with the
poll tax added, amounts to 81 $780,
600. That amount serves now to
furnish government, with its pres
ent state of efficiency, for about l.
100000 inhabitants of Texas. We
may calculate on a continued flow of
immigration, increasing from year
to year for many years to come.
That population, spreading itself
over sparsely settled country, and
filling up our vacant territory, will
increase the expenses more than the
increase of the revenue, so long as
the process Of filing up Is regularly
and continuously carried on. This
result would follow from two causes
if no other. First, the fresh immi-
grants would mot have, when they
settled, an amount of property to
be taxed equal to the average prop
erty of those who preceded themt
nor would they likely have so much
for ten years or more; and, second,
the actual government would have
to be continually extended over
greater territory from time to time
as the settlements are extended.
The same rule might well be ap-
piled, though not, perhaps, to the
same extent, to a country that re-
tanned its own natural increase of
population, which depended on its
own internal resources alone for the
production Of taxable wealth within
it. This may be seen in the IN
creased and increasing expenses of
our courts, as is indicated bv the
annual appropriations for current
expenses and deficiencies. as we'll as
for various other branches of the
government. 1t is, however, far
more conspicuous in
THE OPERATIONS OF OUR PUBLIC
FREE SCHOOLS.
They are supported on the interest
on about $3,0O0,0 900 of state and rail- |
road bonds, on one dollar poll tax.
and one-sixth of the revenue. max
ing last year, and then estimated,
$4,000. This maintained the school |
four months in the year. The scho-
lastic population has been, and is in
creasing over twenty thousand per
year, as here shown.
The scholastic population in the
scholastic years in 1877-78 was 168,- |
294; in l878-79 was 208, 1924, in 1890. |
was 230,527; in 1901, was 252.O77. |
That is an increase each year of !
about ten per cent. on the number |
of the preceding year. which was
two or three times greater than the
per cent. increase Of the available |
school fund derived from the sour
ces that have been mentioned. |
Hence, In short time, one-fourth |
Of the revenue (the constitutional
limit) added to the other sources,
will not run the schools four months |
in the year.
The expenses Of the asylum must
increase with the increase of the |
irrespective of the in
crease of taxable wealth. In view
Of these considerations, and others
that might be added, 1 urged the
Legislature in my inaugural and mes
sages, to set apart and sell public
lands to pay the public debt, and
thereby relieve the people from
beng taxed TO pay the interest; to
sell the school lands more rapidly,
invest the proceeds in interest-bear-
ing bonds, and thereafter tax
the lands, thereby increasing the
sources from which the schools are
which will be found an
absolute necessity unless we resort
10 an additional taxation; to sell
more rapidly the asylum lands for
he same purpose; to set aside the
auds as prescribed by the constitu-
ion for Q new capitol and O state
university, which would have 10 be-
provided in future by taxes on the
people, If we neglected to secure
ands for these objects while we
,ould. recommended, also, that
he policy of selling only to settlers
N small quantities (as 1907 should be
and that provisions
hould be made TO put the lands on
he market at q fair valuation in any
Quantities to suit purchasers with
'ut requiring O settlement by them.
These recommendation were adopt
d only in limited degree by laws
,assed by the legislature. The cap
tol and university lands have been
ocated and surveyed. A law was
'assed authorizing the sale of one
ection of arabic and three sections
f pasture lands belonging 10 the
'ublic free school fund within the
rganized counties 20 one person.
nder the law there has been more
md sold and q greater increase in
he school fund since the law went
nto effect on the 7th day Of October.
s79, up 10 the present time, being
bout one year. than for five and one ,
alf years previously rs here shown.
chool lands applied for from April,
S74. to October 9TH, 1879. 5S.sO6
cres, and from October 9TH, 1879. to
be 18th OF October, 1880. 100000 8
cres, being five times as many acres
D one year as had been disposed of .
i five and one-half wears. If there
ad been no limit as to amount I ]
ave reason TO believe that
HE SCHOOL FUND MIGHT HAVE BEEN
~ INCREASED =
ne million Of dollars by sellinQI
lnds in large quantities in conjunc- :
on with sales made by rail-
pad companies owning the alter c
ate sections. Over eleven millions /,
acres Of land have been reserved,
ne-half Of the proceeds of which
re to be applied to the payment Of
ne public debt. Q small portion OIL q
'hich has already been sold One \
.sding reason, not 20 mention !.
thers, why there must be q change
{ policy In the selling Of our public .
Inds Is, that most of them are locat- 9
a in . region where The single eel. =