The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-03-15
THE TAXATION PUZZLE.

1t will be remembered that one of the
reasons assigned by the Governor for
convening the Legislature in extra ses-
sion is "tc reduce the taxes, both sd
"valorem and occupation. so far as it
may be found consistent with the sup
port of an efficient state government" "
As was predicted by the Examiner, in
an article published last week, this sug-
gestion of the Governors is already be-
ginning to create apprehension in those
counties where, owing to various causes,
the rate Of county taxation is already as
/ low as is consistent with the support of
an efficient county government. Every
body admits, readily enough, that the
state is accumulating revenues far in
/ excess OF its needs. But how to decrease
the state rate, without seriously Grip
ping a majority of the counties, is the
puzzle. With counties like McLennan,
Fannin, Williamson and perhaps d dozen
the county rate is very low, reduction
of the state rate would make no differ
ence. But these counties are the eXcep-
ton and not the rule. Here, for exam
pie, is Ellis county, OF the Governors
suggestion the Waxahachie Enterprise
says:
As the county tax cannot exceed half the
state tax, the question now occurs, how shall
gI.Gray
duction is madeT We learn from our county
commissioners that it even now requires the
greatest economy in the management of county
affairs to prevent running in debt and nothing /
IS left to be appropriated for the benefit of |
bridges, roads and other public mprOve ments |
This Is a serious question and is well worthy !
oflegisatlve consideration.
The state ad valerem rate is now for Y |
cents We venture the assertion that
in three-fourths of the counties the our
rent al valorem rate County is not a
cent less then twenty cents. They can
no, at present, get along Oh less. Time
and &c nomy will bring easier condi-
tons, but the emergency is of the
present. The Governor has undoubtedly
given all these considerations due
weight, and if he is prepared to present /
an available plan that will JUS ify state
reduction without starving out the !
he will do himself great d
credit and win deserved prestige. We t
mean, of course, a plan that will be
AVAILABLE at an early day, without wait
ng for the slow process of chang ng the
and making state and
Ounty rates independent each of the t.
ther. If he is not prepared to do this g
will be unfortunate for him, for by IA
the subject in his proclama- n
ion he has excited hopes of reduction. Il
those hopes are not to be realized it u
ould have been better that he had never ~ ~
,uched the subject of taxat on, but left f.
to the eighteenth legislature, which >
Ddy could have submitted a constitu- W
Dnal amendment remedying the W w.
oubIe. This extra session will be be- Ii1
eentwo fires, so to say. There is steady nc
owl over the immense and useless eX
ash balance" but when the legislature
.empts to stop the growth of the cash
lance by reduc ng the state rate, il
Il find sitseIf confronted by pro a
ITS from seven out of every ten coun- he
= in the state, who will avow, and SCI
Ithfully, that they cannot carry on E1t ;nf
eir local governments at less rate sill
N they are now allowed to levy. 1t sol
Il be a wonder if the extra session u
es not shirk the issue aud remand pni p,t
to the legislature to be elected this bu
l. fai