The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-01

from the fact that the best citizens il
those DAYS were disfranchised and hat
no part in the affairs of government
while now they are in the hands o.
the people. who would not squandel
the money levied for road purposes
Without taxation on real estate anC
property in the county, an equal di
vision of the burden of constructing
roads and keeping them properly re
paired could not he secured. The law
requiring persons between the ages OF
eighteen and forty-tive years
creates dissatisfaction Throughout
the state, and his constituents and the
German population generally are very
much opposed To the present road
law. But when the legislature com
menced making road laws, would be
the time TO consider the question
raised by the senator from Harrison
Mr.. Gibbs speaking in favor of the
tax said:
Mr.. President-The senator from
Harrison proposes by his amendment
to prohibit road tax 10y counties. He
says we have road law; yes, sir, we
have; and such a road law as it is
shameful to contemplate. 1t is law
unjust in its conception and inefficient
in its results. 1t is Il tax exclusively
on the labor of the country, and Is
contrary to democratic principles,
and the continuance OF such
IA policy bodies no good To the dom
The matter of repairing roads
should fall equally on labor and prop
erty and not be an exclusive tax on
either.
The present road law was unwiSe in
its inception, is insufficient in its re-
suits, and is wholly unsatisfactory to
the people.
The gentleman from Harrison rep
resents Il sand-hill country. where a
lick and a promise is sufficient to keep
their roads passable, but some OF
us represent black waXy dis
tricts, where it is very difficult to
keep the roads in repair. At no very
distant day the counties of north
Texas will have to macadamiZe their
roads, or let travel cease for three
months every year.
Bad roads are "A positive evil, not
only to the commercial interests,
but to the farmers, who will
nomical move when they COM
| So long as the roads are in their pres
ent condition the farmer will pull his
teams to death, and have large bills
for blacksmith worK, all of which
would be saved to him by keeping the
roads in good repair. Every man, II
he has no more than the shirt II his
back, owes something to the state,
but don't owe more than his more
fortunate neighbor.
Let this burden he divided equally be-
tween property and labor; let those
who want good roads have the right
to tax themselves for the purpose. \
man who has no property certainly
don't owe the state ten days labor,
when the millionaire for whom he
works owes it no more. Let the labor
continue to perform their share and
allow the different counties to tax
themselves for funds necessary to do
the heavy work that can't be done eX-
cept at great expense. The whole
road force of Dallas county is moi suf-
flcient when worked to the full limit
to keep the roads in good repair. Let
the people of each county say how
much they want to spend on roads.
Let the owners of real estate vote the
tax. Some counties will need and
levy this tax: others will not.
Leave it to their Judgment. Make
it Il matter of local option.
y state as large rs Texas, and with
as varied interests, cannot, in such
matters, be governed by infleXible
laws made by men who have no con-
ception of these varied interests, and
local knowledge. If the amount of
county tax is left to the conservative
element, and the one most interested,
the power is not apt to be abused, and
it is right the people should
have. The gentlemen manifest
very great sympathy for the
Senegam bian district; and, in order
to protect few counties from Off
cial abuses, seem disposed to hamper
the progress of the rest of the state
We want the right to tax ourselves
for road purposes, and whether we
exercise this right or not, don't con-
Germ the rest of the state.
Mr.. Jones-I think if there is any
thing needed in Texas it is roads. The
gentleman from Harris says it may
taxes to build bridges; but | own, i'll
my country bridges would not he of
any value without roads. | do not
believe in making citizens hirelings
To the counties for the purpose of
working On roads. | would be willing
To see the present road law abolished.
but | think we ought to have the
amendment stand just rs it is, SO that
the commissioners court may have
power to levy tax to construct roads;
then, it is true. the power to construct
bridges would be in them. If there is
any one thing the people of Texas
need it is roads. The gentleman from
Harrison says the amendment would
cut off the roads but would still in
clude bridges. l would like To know
of what benefit Il bridge would he
without roads? How would you get
to the bridges without roads? In my
county | am sure you could not. l
believe the present road law is not only
impracticable, but It is oppressive.
Who ever saw rich man working the
road? None of them do it; but
the poor man has it to do. The
low ought to be abolished and let the
commissioners courts levy a tax to
make roads and keep them in repair.
| am opposed to having men dragged
from their homes and their business
and made to work the roads under
master or an overseer. 1t is degrad-
ing and destroys their manhood. Let
the amendment remain as it is, then
we can have not alone bridges but
roads to get to them. ] shall oppose
the amendment of the senator from
Harrison.
Mr.. Martin said: / hope the senate
will not adopt the amendment offered
by the senator from Harrison. con-
slider the provision in the resolution
authorizing the commissioners court
to levy tax for road purposes, the
most important in the joint resolution
now under discussion. Such a pro-
vision is demanded by the people of
my district. 1t was fully discussed
in the late campaign, and with almost
one voice the people complained of the
present road system and demanded
that small ad valorem tax be levied
for road purposes. The present sys-
tenn is failure. However efficient it
might be in theory it is not executed,
and the roads remain impossible at
certain seasons of the year in certain
neighborhoods. The senator from
Harrison says he fearsIthis provision
will be construed as allowing the COM
missioners court to levy Il tax upon
property for road purposes. Twill say.
AS the author of the resolution,
that that WAS DrecisplV my object and