The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-02
Tho special sohoo, Tax Again


Tho special School Tax Again
To the Editor of the Herald,
II anything were wanting to prove The
common sense and wisdom of my communi
cation ia the HERALD of Thursday, it L
found 10 the two replies TO il in the HKGALr
of Friday. My warnings, however, were
not intended to cast reflections on tho hon
esty of the council, but on lie failure 10 pro-
vide these restrictive safeguards against fu'
turo wrongs, which arc demanded by the
sore experience of other towns and people.
I.was not ever aware, or, II ever aware, bad
certainly forgotten that j. s. w., for whom
l have great respect, had anything, what
ever, to do with the question; and he ia
not member Of the council whose
duty 1t was rightly, to submit the
question to the people. But j. s. W. admits
that the tax rs proposed will take from the
people $4,000 TO $S5, 900 TO build the three
proposed school houses. As this years val.
uation Ia understood to be nearly nmlllion
dollars over last, the amount will probably
reach $4,000. Compromise on $50, 900, aud
then you ask the people, already taxed about
three per cent. for state, county and mum
cipal purposes, TO take from their pockets
ST. 1000 each for three sci 90 houses
When the subject was discussed two or
u re months ago, in the HERALD editorially,
and by several correspondents, not one placed
tho necessary cost Of three proper building,
at over $4,000 and such was the apparent
general opinion. Win j. s. w.
or your other correspondents say that
it would not have been
eminently wise and safe guard duo the
people. to have published tho character and
cost Of the proposed buildings Why was
Mnot done? Attention was repeatedly and
respectfully called to It, and, as 1t was not
done under such circumstances, the positions
taken in my communication of Thursday are
as clearly justified rs that the people have n
right TO know what they orc doing when they
vote to lay upon themselves extra taxes. IL
state, county and city taxes, including inter
est on the court house bonds, and $4,000
interest annually on Texas & Pacific and
Dallas u Wichita railroads, meant TO contri.
butte $3.50 QUO to build three school houses
when half the amount will buy the grounds
and erect capscious edilces, they have
perfect right to do so. There are wild and
self-inilated men in this town, though few in
number, who would rather vote for a $780,
600 than $4,000 levy, and who have the
cheek and imperlinence TO atigmatiso rs an
enemy OF FREQ schools every one VINO Is not
as crazy and reckless ~ themselves. IL not,
why docs your correspondent Dominic de-
clare this proposed 879 cents 10 DO piliiul
taxf Our state government, for years bo-
fore tho war and under Governor Pease,
after the war, was run on one-third OF thi,
amount. One SGT of mon demand more taxes
for street improvements, another
for sewers, another for n hospital,
everybody admits tho necessity Of n new Jail,
many would like for The city TO have an sr-
tesian well on the highest grounds in the
limits, decoEt city hall 10 demanded by
some, besides many other things very pleas
ant and desirable 70 have. Your correspon.
dent, who considers 81 IL centsa piliIul tax,
would doubtless vote for all these; but men
who have ordinary judgment and q personal
interest In the welfare of Dalla would pro.
for to wear old clothes till they are abb. to
buy new.
Dominic thinks II m insult 10 comment on
tho omission to present n fair and distinct
proposition, and rs the $36,000 will be 90
pitiful an amount, cannot imsgine
any possible future wrong
In It's appropriation. Fortunately he /,
neither the sense nor conscience keeper of
this people, who have known Of too macy
defacations aud NAL administrations some
near homo, others elsewhere--to follow his
prsgmalic ispse dixit. This people know of
nearly million Of dollars wrung from tho
people OF Texas to build school houses, not
one.tenth OF which ever went into school
house. They know of market house in
Houston costing the people SiS0,000, which,
after berg burnt down. wss replaced by q
better one for u little less than eighty thou
sand. Thoy have been reading of jobs,
swindles and robbery of the people in towns
and cities for u number of years
past, and thoy cannot soc why
citizen before voting an extra tax II 1856, |
900 en- himself aud neighbors, should desire
that tho plans, specifications and cost Of the
desired should DO so specifically
enacted into law, ordinance or resolution AS
10 guarantee the completion Of tho work by
Tho amount OF tax proposed TO DO raised |
They canuo! SEQ why such common pru.
ience, pracliced by every success full business
man in his private affairs, should DO
denounced by every clsbber- headed propo-
gandist rs luminosity TO education and free
schools. As TO the mayor and council, no
man has higher opinion Of the integrity OF
another than have Of Mayor Good, and tho
aldermen, 50 far as know Thorn are mon
Of honor, but they may DO superseded in a
low days, and II they arc as pure as tho
driven snow, so much greater Is the reason
why they should have submitted this question
with such safe guards as TO prevent It's abuse
BY our succeeding board. And despite the
squirmiog and writhing Of vislonists ever
seeking high taxes and wasteful expenditures.
such, spprehend, will continue TO be tho
view Of nearly every
WInp AwAwu Crrryuu