The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-06-03
ERRORS KAsILY FORGIVEN.


Governor Roberts messages to the leg
islatures, beginning with his inaugu-
raj, and ending with the last one to
the extra sessions, must be impressed
with and must admit his extreme solic-
itude to put the government in q sure
way of decreasing the burdens of tax
alton to be borne by the people for it's
support. Without any preliminary
heralding or skirmishing, he is found
in almost the fret lines of his lnaugu-
raj taking hold of the question. He
then says: ''The expenses of the
government should be SO reduced that
they can be paid by the taxes which
the people are reasonably able to pay,
without an increase of the public debt
annually" From that time until the
Sixteenth Legislature adjourned and
left the Capitol, the matter was per-
tinaciously presented, with means suR-
gested to accomplish the desired re-
suit, to the possible disgust of those
who sought political capital in the re-
peal of the .'smoke house" tax and
the establishment of a splendid and
complete system of public schools, open
for ten months, regardless of its effect
on the finances of the country. In this
same paper, for the declared purpose
of cutting down the rate Of taxation,
Governor Roberts advocates the more
rapid sale of the school lands and the
university and asylum lands, that an
interest bearing fund might by this
means be created for their sup
port. His advocacy of this meas
ure is earnest and vigorous, and
bespeaks dominant conviction
that it was due from the Governor and
Legislature to find some relief for an
overtaxed people. The STATESMAN
has not always agreed to the expedien-
cy of this measure, but the spirit and
purpose that prompted its advocacy
has had its unqualified approval. In
Governor Roberts seems to have sprung
the idea of paying the-debt of the state
with public domain instead of hand
ing it all over, gracious gift thank
lessly received, to railway and other
corporations. Certainly If the parent
age of the idea is not his he has assid-
uously fostered 1t, and during his ad-
ministration it has been given shape
and direction, and its blessings will
come in a lower rate of taxation and a
decreasing public debt. In fact, with
out the glittering generalities and pa
rade OF rhetoric sometimes found in
such papers, almost the whole is
devoted to the discussion of modes OF
disenthralling the state from its debt
and relieving the people from its bur-
then, without imposing in any of its
branches or departments the efficiency
of the government. In the interests
of economy we find him recommend
ing the reduction of expenses in every
branch of the service. In the from.
tier, in the penitentisries, in pensions,
the rate OF interest on the bonded debt
of the state, salaries of officers and
every service of the state. From this
sweeping recommendation the public
schools were exempt, and it was only
after curtailmenls had been made
everywhere else, and there was still 6
doubt left that the revenues
would meet all expenses as they
occurred, leaving no Deficiencies
to hamper the people and the
succeeding legislature, that he favored
an appropriation that was less than the
utmost amount. that the constitution
would allow. He determined that the
finances of the state should be admin.
istered as directed by the Democratic
platform; that the revenues should pay
the current expenses, the interest and
sinking fund of the public debt with
out hazard of deficiency.
II he has erred his errors have beer
very like virtues. They have been il
the interest of cheap government Wig
orously administered, and of low tsxei
and of a decreasing public debt. Th'
people will not find it hard to forgive
such errors.