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

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ton, and much good has resulted from
it. do not believe that so great
| revOlutlan in the sentiment that de
manded this limitation has occurre,
in the short space of seven years, a
that the people are now willing t,
remove all restrictions and leav,
| legislators, county commissioner
courts, and municipal corporation.
unlimited in their power OF taxing thu
people. Nor do l think it wise, ever
if portion of the people might de
mand it, to remit the question solely
to the discretion of commissioners
courts as to how much taxes they
shall levy upon the people, although
the vote of that very people might
authorize the tax. 1t is neither wist
nor practicable to erect all the perma-
nent and costly public improvements
cOurthouses, jails, lturnpikes, bridges
and roads that are to serve
for the present as well as
for future generations, and
pay the cost of their construction at
once by taxation. This burden ought
to be apportioned between this and
succeeding generations. This i'm
provement can be constructed and
paid for by issuing the bonds
of the county and paying off
the bonds gradually. The counties
ought not to be Impoverished by an
effort to construct and pay for i'm
provements. | think the limitation
of fifteen cents upon the power of
commissioners courts to levy road
and bridge tax wise and proper, and !
10 not think it too low a limit. Sup
plemented by reasonable amount of
the labor of the citizen, it will be suf-
ticient to keep the roads in good re-
pair and to pay interest on any bonds
of the counties issued to build bridges
or construct costly roads.
Mr.. Davis moved a severance of the
propositions contained in the sub
stitute.
Mr.. Patton-I make the point of
order that as a call has been made for
Il division of the substitute, that part
which applies to the road law is prop
erly a substitute to the amendment
of the senator from Harrison, and
cannot take precedence of the princi-
pal amendment.
The Chair-The friends here ought
to protect the bill, and this is an at
tempt to perfect the bill. The point
of order is not well taken.
Mr.. GibhS-If l am in order, | move
to recOmmit the amendments and
original resolution.
Mr.. HouStOn-l make the point of
order that motion to recommit a bill
at the same stage on the same day is
out of order. A motion to recommit
has been lost.
The Chair-The point of order Is
sustained.
Mr.. Gibbs-I move that the resolu-
special order for. Tuesday after morn
il g call.
Mr.. Dayis- There is a special order
for Tuesday.
Mr.. Gibbs Wednesday, then.
Motion lOst-yeas IL, nays Is, and
amendment adopted.
First division of amendment
adopted.
Mr.. Davis-I move a reconsideration
of the vote by which the amendment
was adopted.
The Chair-The senate refuses to re-
consider.
Mr.. Davis-It looks like the friends
of the bill aredoing a good way to de-
feat it. i called for the ayes and nays
when the motion was put because
there were more noes than ayes.
The Chair am positive that the
ayes and nays were not called for
until after the decision of the chair.
Mr.. HOustOn-It is perhaps through
misrepresentation that the chair rules
rs he does. The ayes and nays werenot
called for until after the vote was an
nounced, but they were called for on
the motion to reconsider.
Motion to reconsider lost-1S nays,
Is yeas.
BY Mr.. Stratton: Amendment,
striking out Is cents and inserting 20
cents second subdivision of the
amendment Lost, 20nays, yeas.
The Chair-The question is upon
the adoption of the second division of
the amendment.
Read: Except also to aid in the
construction and repair of bridges,
roads and streets, not to exceed in any
one year 10 cents on the 500 valua-
ton.
By Mr.. Gibbs: Amendment adding
after 10 cents, provided, majority of
the owners of real estate in any coun-
ty may levy not exceeding 30 cents for
road purposes.
Mr., Terrell think the amend
ment ought to prevail. 1t takes it be-
You'd the power or discretion of any
set of imprudent county commission
ers to levy this tax, and leaves it to
those who must pay the tax. | think
it ought to be Il little more definite.
II L. al
quantity of real estate, say the owner
of real estate to the value of $3.50.
That accommodates the immense
white region in north Texas, whose
wishes, | think, should be respected.
II property holders ask for the priYil-
eye to levy tax in their own counties
/ think it ought to be granted.
Mr.. GibbS-I think the suggestion
of the senator from Travis good one,
and will incorporate it in my amend
ment.
MIR. Gooch-I have no objection to
the amendment proposed by the sena-
tor from Dallas; but it should come
in at the end of the clause. Amend
ment adopted.
BY Mr.. Davis: Amendment to strike
out fifteen cents and insert ten cents.
Lost.
Second subdivision of Mr.. Gooch's
adopted.
The Chair-The question is upon
the third subdivision OF the amend
ment.
Mr.. Davis-It strikes me that this is
the most remarkable way of perfect
ing a bill l ever heard of. Thirty
cents tax for general county purposes,
twenty-five cents for back indebted
ness, fifteen cents for furnishing tools
and building bridges, fifty cents for
turnpikes, roads, bridges, ETC., that's
$1.15, and twenty-five cents for pub
lie buildings. That strikes me as de-
parting from the way we have been
walking in. The object seems to be
to take off all restraints and turn loose
county commissioners and everybody
to heap taxes upon the people. The
state has only thirty cents on the
500. One-fourth of that
is set apart for school
purposes. Now, we propose in order
to furnish tools and build bridges, to
levy tax upon the people twice as
large as that levied for school pur-
poses. We propose to levy 30 cents
for roads and bridges, and on 80 cents
for county purpOses-an amount by
which counties are enabled to keep
out of debt. / am satisfied that the
people will never vote for such an
amendment to the constitution; be-
cause it is wrong. Fifty cents for
turnpikes and71s cents for education