The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-09
WORK FOR THE LEGISLATURE,

WOhh IOh 1hh SNh'
AS we stated in our article in yesterday
mornings issue, that We would continue the
subject began then, we submit this morning
some more remarks on matters that ought
and will probably come before the legislature
for consideration. The drummer lax has eX'
cited no little comment throughout the state.
This properly belongs to the question Of oc-
cupation taxes. Per SO, we are opposed to
occupation tax. 1t is wrong in principle,
and considered in the abstract, is an impoSi-
ton. But an imperious necessity lei to its
establishment. II is not necessary In this
article 10 discuss the why's and wherefores
which caused the levyiDg of the existing
occupation tax. Legislative wisdom
devised it as one of the means Of
raising required revenue for the state,
AMI at the time II was first determined on
there was reasonable necessity for it, and
the e1igencies of the times have kept 1t up
AS we have before had occasion to remark,
there can be no objection to the amount of
taxes paid by the citizen if value shall DO
received. When taxes are equal and uni
form, as tho constitution requires that they
shall be, the taxpayer deos not complais,
and the objection to occupation taxes is not
specially because Of the tax itself, but be-
cause it is not uniform and equal.
Let this constitutional requirement, and
it is just and reasonable one,
be complied with, and the business
public will not seriously object. In so far as
the drumners' tax is concerned We have
to say, that if our own merchants are required
to pay yearly stipend for the privilege Of
doing business, according TO the extent Of
their business, why should not merchants
from abroad be required to pay the same
If tho merchant abroad proposes TO do bus
mess in Texas and sends his representative
here 10 transact it. proating by the protection
to life and property the state affords to its
own citizens, it is reasonable that they should
pay as much for that privilege and preroga-
tive as the home merchants has 10 pay. This
10 a reasonable proposition presented in a
commonsenso manner, and we invite the at
tsntion of commercial travellers to it. 1t seems
to US that now there is such large cash bal
ance in the treasury and tho revenue for the
state 10 so adequate from other sources, that
occupation taxes might be done away with
10 so far as source of revenue is concerned
at least. The constitution requires that take,
shall be equal and uniform, and the only
purpose of taxation is to raise rev enue for
the current and necessary expenses of the
state government Occupation taxes are only
u subtsrfuge at best The people have 10
pay them because they arc added to the cost
of necessaries which the people have to buy.
Thea -
nd yalorem lakes why mako q class pay q
yearly stipend which other classes do not
have to psy2 On the subject OF immgrs'
ton we have heretofore EXPRESSED our
self SO fully and explicitly that it is
hardly necessary to say anything now. Still
we think It not amiss in this article 10 une
quivocally declare the HERALD rs in favor Of
any and all measures that will tend TO induce
immigrants to seek homes within the confines
of our state. We do not mean by this tina,
we favor uAlimited expenditures Of money
in this direction. We simply desire cons
mon sene aud reasonable action taken in THU
matter. We believe that every Immigrant
who has the means TO come TO Texas, ant
who is induced to come here BY an homes
presentation of facts, is worth Thousand
dollars to the state. If in ante. belun
times slave was worth $1,000 or $4,000
why is not an honest, Woodworking whit
man. who will till the Sol
and pay taxes, worth thousand dollars
We don't want TO pay tho passage of pau
pers to Texas, but we do want to ascertain
and publish all the facilities and advantag,
that Texas offers, that immigrants may rea
aud consider and come here, If they want Il
and take advantage of those facilities.
the matter of education we favor a liber
and proper support Of free schools tt
times demand that the youth of the lar
should be educated. Civilization stands upC
the pinnscle of human affairs. Its demap'
are imperative. To keep pace with it OF
boys and girls must DO given the advantaI
ofschool teachers and school books and 9th
adequate school facilities The boy or q
who grows up to manhood or womanhs'
without the advantages that text books Al
teachers give are not afforded an ecu
or fair showing in the race Of III
Its universally conceded now that the stat
should aid in educational advantages, ar