The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-05-04

/ ~NSN0 VI Nv n uttllrl-
tory act OF the legislature, which, and
which only, would be the effect this bill,
Ihiru-As construction 1t is a new
departure from the 1Ontemporaneous
universal and we'll we'll settled
construction of said section throughout
the state, as exhibited in the uniform ac-
ton OF every commissioners court in the
state so FAR as is known or heard from. Such
uniform construction by said commissioners
courts Is the very highest evidence that the
people OF the sta,e who voted ON and
adopted the constitution understood the
Sth section to mean exactly what said
courts by their actions have considered it
| 10 mean, viii III is that with Ger
tain exceptions the county tax could
not exceed one half of the
state tax, as said state tax might be fixed
| oy the Legislature within the constitutional
| limit OF 1O cents ON the $lO0 valuation.
Eourth-Said legislative construction is
believed TO be an improper construction of
the wording OF said section. "The said state
tax" the one-half of which the
commissioners courts shall never
exceed III makinga levy of county tax,
refers TO the amount of state tax, as 40, 50
cents or any other amount not exceeding
the constitutional limit of 80 cents on the
500 valuation, and does to refer to
N'> vi Nv NOltS, NllitI may OT
not be the said state tax, as the legislature
may determine. So believe the highest
court of the state will hold and ought to
mold whenever the question is pre-
sented, which will be very soon after such u
construction may be adopted. as is contained
IN this bill. The supreme court reports
abound with cases showing that almost
every doubtful authority under which
taxes have been imposed has been
promptly contested in the courts.
rHtn-ouch construction of
the taxing powers of the COM
missioners courts, if acted on, will
cause an immense amount of litigation,
cost and trouble, with no corresponding
benefit.
Sixth-Such construction will encourage
an extravaganza in county governments
which rings, too often formed about
county sears, foster and make profitable,
to the injury and dissatisfaction of the
great body of the people of the
county. Such counties as these
whose county governments are well and
prudently managed, which now constitute
large majority of the whole number o
counties in the state do not now and vii
not hereafter need to act upon such Il con
struction. The rest may promptly follow
thelreXample.
| Respectfully,
~ U. M. ROBERTS, Governor.
Finley gave notice that he would call ur
the veto message tomorrow.
On motion Of Merritt who implored th(
members not to forsake him, the bill re
lievlng the burned-out citizens of Plano
was passed.
Adjourned.
| CAPITAL NOTES.
Senator Homan is III recei,t of numerous
letters from independents and greenbacker
III northern Texas asking him to run fo
lieutenant-governor. He says the repor
that Hon. Wash Jones had written hin
that he would not run for governo
is incorrect. Wash Jones, the senator says
IS unquestionably candidate for that OF
flee.
Runners that the governor will vet
the congressional apportionment bill, ar
sun afloat, while 1t is also said that he will
allow the bill to become law without hi
approval. Probabilities are in Mvo
OF the latter event, althoup
nobody need feel surprised if the bill wa
vetoed Friday morning. 1t may be 81
down as an established fact that the 20,
ernor looks upon the total diwsaf
.os the constitutional reQuiremo.ts {
contiguity' in the new nppDrtior
ment Us outrageous, and with hi
known disgust at the action of tn
legislature respecting his principal mea.
: ure, including the university, strange
3 things have happened than that he shoul,
extend the extra session. 1t is not at a
Improbable that the canvass set on foo
| upon the report that he would not be
0 candidate tor third term, was q misioi
. tune to some aspirants. The Old Alcald
Is human, and cannot, without some degrc
e of irritation observe the strer
0 uous efforts of his opponent
D to resurrect their corpses over his denis,
G while his supporters are in sack cloth an
) ashes, and ii may prove that the canvasscr
: II they have not anticipated the events I
| suit their inclinatiOns, have at least devc
opcd the nomination of the governors SUI
cessor by himself