The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-23
VOL. XII.
LET THE ISSUE BE MET.

favor of reasonably decreased taxa
tion, but no sooner does the gov
ernor present the issue, than objec-
tlon is raised in many of the coun-
ties, because, as it is claimed, the
revenues are already insufficient for
the maintenance of efficient local
governments. Among those urging
the point that taxes, therefore, prob
ably cannot be decreased Is the
Waco Examiner, which not long
ago found very many reasons
to condemn the governor, be-
cause of the accumulating cash bal
ance. The constitution says taxa
ton shall be equal and uniform
therefore the same rate must pre-
vail in all the counties, and the con.
stitution having fixed the rate OF
taxation for counties at one-half
what it is for the state, every county
must conduct its government pro-
portionably on the same revenue.
The state ad yalorem tax is
now forty cents on the hun
dred dollars; hence the tax for
counties is twenty cents. But the
Examiner even now refers to the
aimmense and useless cash balance" ,"
but in the same paragraph it insists
that "seven out of every ten counties
in the state" will demand that taxes
be not reduced. The Examiner
takes hold of the wrong horn of the
dilemma. 1t should preach econ
omy, for therein lies the secret
of conducting state and local
governments on revenue derived
from less taxation. These counties
that may protest against decreased
taxation are simply running at too
great an expense. Their public ad-
ministrators have not learned the
principle underlying the possibili-
ties arising from low taxation, aid
il appears from the Examiner that
they must be treated to some stern
lessons in that direction. The federal
government has been living too fast
states have been squandering money
and counties have been throwing 1t
away on much unnecessary expense
and employment. The Examiner
drifts into great error when ii
says truthully" the counties
cannot carry on their local gov
ernments at a less rate than
they are now allowed to levy"
and 1t thinks it would have been
wise in the governor not to have
presented the tax question in his
cell for an extra session of the legis-
lature; that the time has not arrived
for the reduction of taxes that such
legislation should be postponed fol
the consideration of the eighteenth
legislature, when a constitutional
amendment may be submit
ted. This would be post
poning relief two or three
years, and besides, the very propo'
sition to submit a constitutional
amendment means subversion of all
the constitutional methods through
Which tax matters have been regu'
lated. 1t means that the people
shall ratify a proposition
giving county authorities the right
to impose a tax greater even than
the state tax 1T means, instead OF
retrenchment, extravaganza, bond
cd debt, and the mortgaging Of
homes and real estate and persona
property. 1t means all this
and it means, besides, that cor
rupt rings may be organized
to ruin communities and rob ta1
payers. 1t means revolution against
a time-honored law, which was anC
is good, and which ought to remain
in force. No, let the tax question
be considered, and if the leg
islature bow before the demand
for extravaganza, let the RESPONSE
bility be hastily assumed so tina
next fall it may be known who arr
worthy of places as law-givers. TIL,
presentation of this question at this
time is highly proper, and but ont
thing can defeat Its passage-th'
fact that our Legislators woult
aid and encourage extravaganza
There was time when the stat,
government was conducted on tal
of one-twelfth of one per cent. Thel
it was raised to one-eighth of on'
per cent, and out of such revenu
there was even a small cash balance
The counties were satisfied then, ant
why is it they could not be satisfied
now with q tax of fifteen cents Of
the hundred dollars? AS taxes ar
decreased, so will an increasing rati
of population and wealth flow int
Texas, and the sooner such law i
passed the better for genei al ant
local public good.
/ --@-es------