San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-09
Vote for the Amendments.

The election on constitutional amend
mcnts comes of on Tuesday, August l+th.
On that day every voter should 60 to the
polls aud vote according to the best OF his
Judgment. The substance OF the amend
ments has been recently published and we
suppose they are understood by all who
take any interest in the prosperity OF Texas.
Those who oppose the third "mendmend-
ment should remember that it does not I'M
pose tax of 20 cents for school purposes
but makes that the maximum, leaving the
amount ut the discretion Of the Legislature,
with the provision, however that the tax
must be sufficient. with the fund arising
from other sources, to maintain the public
schools for period of not less than Six
months. We compile from our exchanges
the following good reasons for supporting
the amendments:
Vote forsothe constitutional amendments.
Unless the first one is adopted the $4,000.
600 school money now in the treasury can
not be invested 80 rs to draw more than two
or three per cent per annum. 1t the money
is invefted in state bonds as required by the
present constitution the SO, 600, 600 will only
buy 81. 800, 600, making clear loss OF 81.
200 600 to the permanent school fund. If
this loss is to be made up by the interest on
the lands purchased it will take little over
eleven years to make up the loss and for
that time the schools will not draw one cent
interest from the $3,0O0,O0O now In the
treasury. U. 8. three per cents are three
per cent premium and liable to be redeemed
at any time With these facts before him
can anyone vote against the amendment for
investing the school fund?
The next amendment reduces the maxi
mum state tax from so to 80 cents on the
500, limits the maximum county and city
tax to IS cents as under the existing instru-
ment and reduces tax for municipal ilnprov-
ment from 80 to rs cents on the hundred
dollars and further allows road tax OF 10
cents. The only change from the old con-
stitution is the Ii cents bridge tax, the 10
cents reduction on the general state revenue
and the reduction of the maximum for III
ternal improvement from 80 to 20 cents on
the 500. There is however, left out of
this amendment 129 cents maximum school
tax. Taken altogether this amendment re-
duces general taxation and should be adopt
ed.
The third amendment allows maximum
of 20 cents on the 800 for school purposes
and provides for local districts. This was
the leading democratic issue of the last
campaign, and is necessary to make the pub
lie schools efficient. 1t will not increase
taxation perceptibly as the general tax will
be reduced as much as the school tax may
be increased the amendment ought to be
adopted.
The fourth amendment proposed. giving
counties the right to fix the number of
terms the county courts shall hold is another
move in the right direction. For many
years the cry has gone up that the people
were burdened with too many courts, and
the sessions were too frequent AT county
seats some court is almost constantly in ses-
sion, and the expense necessary to keep
them running is enormous. The amend
ment provides that private business may be
out of session, SO that no delay
may occur in the matter of winding up es-
tates and business appertaining thereto.
The different amendments will be submit
ted at the same time (the second Tuesday in
August but the voter may cast his ballot
for those he favors and against those he
doesn't like. It is necessary for each ballot
to have written or printed upon it, 'for or
against" the four amendments, (naming
each one according to the sections and arti
Gle of the constitution proposed to be amend
ed and in the matter of tickets it is neces-
sary that great care should be used, in order
that the sentiment of each voter may be Sc
cured. 1t being an election in which there
will be no local contests, many will remain
at home and take no stock in it. This, how
ever. should not deter the true patriot from
performing his duty to his country. These
amendments are of more Importance than
the officers of the government, because they
are to become part of our organic law.
They ere not partisan measures, but are
such that all parties can unite upon; they
are of vital importance to the whole people,
and az such should demand that considera-
ton at orr hands which their merits deserve.
Remember. then, the second Tuesday in
August, turn out and vote for one and all of
them.
1000 yards of Calico. from ~ to 20 yards
ID e.