Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-01
Too Much Strict COnstrnotion.u

i legislature TO have Texas represented
I at the New Orleans exposition, quote.
/; a constitutional provision, as follows
i "The legislature shall not have The
l right to levy taxes or impose burdens
= upon The people, except to raise rcye
, nue. sufficient for the economical adj
ministration Of the state government. y
And then the Age proceeds to say.
The Age isnot, neitbcris Governor ireland
= the keeper OF the conscience of any member
OF the legislature, But each member swears
20 support the constitution, and It requires
no very strict construction OF that lnstrl.
ment TO see that n vote tonpprOpriate money
. collected from hopctplc 10y the tax.gather-
crs, TO pny for the exhibit OF Texas products
at New orleans, is n vote against conscience.
Will the Age kindly explain how it
is that legislature, subsequent to the
adoption of the constitution of which
the above is part, established high
court (the commission of appeals not
provided for in the judiciary article?
That court was declared by many per-
sons to be unconstitutional, but the
supreme court decided that it was not.
But perhaps this additional tribunal
was essential To the economic admin.
/ istration of the state government. 1t
was certainly needed in the admins
/ tration of justice and law, and we will
! let it pass. There are other fea-
| lures of expense, however, now al
lowed by litigations every year (and
not incident to the administration of
the state government that should not
pass muster with the strict construc-
tionists. How about the money. small
amount ~ ii is, appropriated for the
fish commissioner, the gentleman who
looks after the distribution of the Ger
man carp? And how, above all things
else. about that $1,000, appropriated at
the last session, to purchase those sets
of works published by the Southern
historical society? and the $50, 600 for |
the purchase of the Alamo? These |
are not large matters, we grant, and |
one and all they are worthy measures,
especially the Alamo purchase. But
they certainly go to show that the
rutabaga constitution, iron-clad and |
wonderful instrument that it is. has
yet at times been found elastic and
malleable enough to be stretched or
welded to meet the views of Legislators
who may be fairly presumed to have
had mt least some degree of conscience.
moral and political. Did the Age
and the strict constructionists pro.
test when these measures we
nave cited were inauguratedp
And has the supreme court
ever declared these extra appropria,
tons, in no wise connected or even
sermane to "the economic administro-
lion OF the state government" uncor-
Common sense. the needs
Of the time and II spirit of progress all
endorsed them, The most eminent
nNpounderS of constitutional law have
i'll declared that constitutions are not I
Intended to hamper the progress o. a
itate or people in the path that leeds
o advanced civilization or enlighten
nent-always provided that the tax
payers are not subjected Ia unnecessary
N severe burdens in institutinp essen ,
lally progressive measures. Ii is civ Il
il%ntlon, and of the most advanced j
md benelicent type, that impcls peo. u
'le to set on foot these great industrial
nd scientific exhibitions and DISPLAYS, f
uch as we have witnessed at Philadel- h
'hia, Atlanta, Denver and Louisville
within less than decade. and such ms 4,
he exposition at New Orleans will I'M h
Ionbtedly be. The GAZETTE confesseg II
o an earnest desire to see Texas ex-
libit, of tirst.class merit and extent At u
>ew Orleans next year. And we hold
hat it is the right and the duty of the ;,
legislature to provide, by an adequate 4,
but not eNtravagantJ appropriation b
Dr such an exhibit. The amount i'
eeded will bc but II bagatelle comps -
eel with the resultant returns of the p
Expenditure. The governor is credited p
nth having some conception of the OF
eal spirit and Limitations of the con- "
He desired an appropria- r.
on for the Louisville exposition, and te
e Will urge the propriety orrepresent- as
non, ut the cost of the state. AT New ~
rieans. 1t is our belief and hope thar m
VIII have the cooperation of all
zen who have the progress and de.
eIopment of Texas at heart. The -
AZErrE will certainly take care that 80
re subject is not permitted to lam y,
ll"h, and hopes that the Age, too co
III see It's way clear to II more liberal OF
of an instrument that has -,
% often been an obstacles Ia the hest m
'erests of Texas and Texans. sh
BILLY JONES of Thompson's CORPS. Ill
Entered through the barroom dorps lei
Drank until he could drink no morps. to
fril down upon the barroom loorps IN