The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-07-01

pense6 OF the state government WlIuin
the limits OF the yearly income. Gov
ernor Coke strongly recommended and
promised the policy of "pay as you
co." but owing to the fact that his pre-
decessor had left large floating debt
to be provided for, and other settle
ments attaching to his administration,
it became impossible to put the policy
into practice. More time and greater
economy was required to make such q
measure practical. The free school
system was 10 some extent changed,
and was rendered somewhat less bur-
densome by looping off of expensive
machinery. The new constitution
places limitations upon the legislature
by which the people are guarded
against excessive taxation and i'm
provident expenditures. Article 3, Sec
ton 4s, provides that "the legislature
shall not have the right to levy taxes,
or impose Burdens upon the people,
except to raise revenue sufficient for
che economical administration of the
government. *t* l"
''Section 40. No debt shall be created
by or on behalf of the state, except
to supply casual deficiencies of revenue,
repel invasion, suppress insurrection,
defend the state in war, or pay exist
ing debt; and the debt created to sup
ply Deficiencies in revenue shall never
exceed in the aggregate at one time
two hundred thousand dollars" In
order to guard more fully against the
abuse of the power TO levy taxes the
following limitation was made; Article
8, section 9. 1.-THE state tax on
property, exclusive of the tax necessary
to pay the public debt, shall never ex-
coed fifty cents on the one hundred
dollars valuation, etc." These proYis-
ions are general. On the matter of
free schools, the Limitation is special:
''There shall be set apart annually not
more than one-fourth of the general
revenue of the state, and poll tax of
one dollar on all male Inhabitants in
the state between the ages of twenty
one and sixty years, for the benefit of
the public free schools" Article 2,
section s. The legislature is to be the
Judge of the sum which can be set
apart for the support of schools, and
that body has the right to appropriate
no more, and much less If it so please,
than one-fourth the general revenue
for that object. No debt can be in
Cured for educational purposes. Sec
ton 40, of Artlcled 8, already quoted,
prohibits such action. Then the lin
itation of section 4s of same article,
applies to public free schools as well as
to other matters. The conclusion Is
clear and inevitable. that in accord
ance with the provisions of the constl-
tuition an efficient system of public
free schools cannot be established and
maintained mainly by taxation; that
the effort to do 80 has been violstive of
the great principles set forth in the or
ganic law of the state; and, that at
least onefour!h of the present public
debt is attributable to the school tax.
The great crime committed by Cover
nor Roberts and his supporters consists
in their effort to put stop to viola
tions of the constitution, to run the
state government economically and
within its means; and the Radicals and
their allies have for these acts de.
nounced all connected with the
movement "enemies to free schools"
Another Important fact to be consid-
cred is that the free school system ex-
ieting when Governor Roberts went
into Office was not efficient and not
such 9 System as the constitution calls
for, aud those who pow make an uproar
about Governor Roberts snd free
schools, are defied to prove to the con-
trary, or that the system was as good
as it now is. Governor Roberts. and
those acting with him, have endeay-
ored to improve the system; to deprive
it of its worst features. They stopped
an annual leak of nearly $107, 600
by paying teachers for actual attend.
ance instead Of upon lists Of names. By
adhering to the community system, and
making it practically effective, they re-
stored to parents, to great extent,
the exercise of their rights in the edu.
cation of their children, and strength
ened and augmented the chances Of
success by scouting the co-opera'
tive action Of the people, without
which no system OF pubic free school.
can be made effective. They armed tC
call into reqnisition all the means sci
apart by the constitution for the estab'
Ishment and support Of free schools
Their failure to accomplish this enc
was owing to the opposition Of the ad
yocstes OF system of schools man
tanned principally By taxing the PEG
nile involving an addition to the pub
lie debt year by year, bankruptcy o
the state, and the eventual impoverish
mens OF the people. Governor Rob
srts and friends planted thsnselve
fairly and sauarely upon the princpl
enumerated by the last Democratic con
yention OF Texas. HWe pledge sul
selves that no money shall be borrows'
or bonds sold to meet current expense
Of the state government The rate Q
taxation shall not be increased; an
the current expenses should Be con
hnsd within the cuffent reEense.
Hence, The. Dsmocratie party
pledged to estsbiish and maintain .
eiiiciept system Of frss schools. vhic
can not Be done. mainly By taxation
without violating the constitution. 7