The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-21


l,op:ion OF this amendment. and fof tire cree
ti1n OF public buildings, streets. sewers and
other permanent imp ovemcuts. not 10 exceed
twenty-five cen ch t!ic "!ls -1uicTttt JuiiaTs
valuation IN any Oile var. Cts- THIS i3.at RS
OlutiOn. il Will De Observed progresses 2 T. dI;,'-
ton OF the maximum state I'D vaiOTsIn ;s'<
+ ON fifty to thirty-fiye cents on the one hIIG-
dred dollars valuation, and also to settle the
dithculty OF the maximum limits OF county,
city and town taxation. There is such ambIg-
uity III section q rs it now reads. that there
is great diversity OF OpinOin as to the maximum
rate OF taxation permitted TO counties. cities
and town, which question Will be definitely
settled by the adoption Of the propose.i
amendment. 1t also authorizes the levy by
the county commissioners court OF a tax not
TO exceed fifteen cents on one hundred dollars
valuation, for roads and bridges, a power
which the legislature thought might well be
lodged with the court for thai purpose.
Third: Section 3, article I. Of the present
constitution, reads as follows: There shall
be set apart annually no more than one quar-
ter OF the general revenue OF the stated
and poll tax OF one dol
lar on all male Inhabitants
of the state between the ages of q and so
years for. the benefit OF public free schools.
section so as To hereafter read as follows
Section 3-"One-fourth of the revenues de
rived from the states occupation taXe and y
poll tax of one dollar on every male inhabi-
tant of this state between the ages of 81 and GO
years shall be set apart for the benefit OF the
public schools of the state, and III addition
valorem state tax of such an amount not to eX-
coed twenty cents on the one hundred dollars
valuation, as with the available school fund
arising from all other sources viii be sufficient
to maintain and support the public free schools
of the state not less than six mouths in each
year, and the legislature may provide for the
formation of school districts In all or any of
the counties of this state by general or special
law without local notice, and may authorize
an additional ad valorem tax to be levied tuld
collected within such school districts for the
maiutainance Of public free schools and the
erection of school buildings therein, provided
that twO-thirds OF the qualified property tax
paying voters OF the state voting 1T an election
TO be held for that purpose shall vote for
such tax, not to exceed IL any one year
twenty cents on the hundred dollars valuation
OF the property SUBJECTED TO taXation IT such
district. The limitation upon the amount of
the district tax herein authorized shall not ap-
ply TO Incorporated cities or towns, constiiut-
Ing separate and independent school districts
There were in the opinion of the legislature,
no one question Of public policy upon which
the people OF Texas; without regard to aftilia-
tons, were more tremendously united than
that OF the great wisdom OF the establishment
and maintenance by the state OF an efficient
system Of public free schools. The attainment
under our present organic law, has been dem
onStrated by experience of years to be impOS-
sible, except by the keeping OF the state ad
valorem tax at such figures as will draw from
the pockets of tax payers largely in excess Of
the amount Necessary To carry on the expenses
OF the state government, economically admin
it impossible is reduce the State I'D yaIorem
tax to the nAli9iuRf nee cSSary for the support
OF the government, without at the same time
mourning the modification Of having to starve
the schools. Remembering the FACT that the
people Oh Texas, OF all parties, with remark
able unanimity during the last political can
yass IN the state, demanded of their candi,-
dates for legislative favors that they should
so amend the constitution Is G 10 enable the
legislature in the future to separate the school
tax from that land for the support OF the gov
ernmeGt to The end that the state tax might be
reduced to the proper igUr, S, without detri-
ment OF schools and TO the elininati0n, for the
question rom the field of pniitics: in response
TO which demand, the legislature submitted
the foregoing amendment. Tie legislature
was OF the opinion that the maximum allowed
10 be levied by the proposed amount would be
suHiclent, with the addition of the revenues
from other sources TO which schools are en-
titled, to give the very best of school facilities
for at least six months III the year, Whirh, III
the opinion OF a majority Of them, was as long
a time as free schools should be now supported
BY general state taxation, from the fact that
The agricultural classes, who pay the bulk OF
taxes, ill consequence of being compelled TO
utilize the labor Of the children of scholastic
ages i'll the entity tion and harvesting Of their
crops, cannot as general rule, avail themselves
OF the benefit Of longer term OF school than
SIX months in the year This joint resolution
was passed by an almost unanimous vote
through both branches of the legislature, I'M
der the firm conviction that it was demanded,
not only by all political parties, but by the
very best and highest interests of the state.
Fourth: Joint resolution No. proposes an |
amendment to article 3, of the constitution, |
adding section s, which simply has the effect
of authorizing the county commissioners
courts OF the several counties to reduce the |
number OF terms of county courts to not less
than iour terms i'll any one year for both civil |
and criminal business, instead of at least six
terms Tor civil and twelve terms for criminal |
business, as the constitution now requires, |
which amendment, il was thought. would re- |
duce the expense OF the courts. without preju- |
dice to the efficiency of the judicial system. |
The legislature, realizing the difficulty of |
having the. changes which are sought to |
be effected IN the present constitution, and |
the reasons therefor sufficiently advertised to |
give the people fair understanding of their |
Importance and purpose, and knowing that |
the people OF Texas, in consequence OF their |
for which they are so much dis |
tinguished, are disposed to vote against any |
change in their organic law which they do not |
fully and clearly unperstand, adopted the fol- |
lowing concurrent resolution:
Resolved, That committee of three men, |
oers from the senate and three from the house |
be appointed to prepare an address to the |
people, touching the constitutional amend |
ments adopted BY the eighteenth legislature, |
giving reasons for changes therein proposed in |
the organic law, and the explanation OF their |
people may be fully informed with reference |
thereto, and better able to vote understand |
ngly upon the question Of their adoption or |
rejection"
The undersigned were appointed such COM
mittee in compliance with the foregoing reso-
luton, and in performance of the duty i'm |
posed, they present the foregoing explanation |
Of the joint resolution by which the proposed |
amendments are offered for your adoption or |
rejection, and some of the reasons which in |
tuenced the legislature in submitting the same |
for your ratification. Respectfully
VIM. r. Shannon, chairman; j. X. Fleming, |
Asa Z. StrattOn, of the Senate. w. T. Arm |
stead, A. G.. Foster, A. j. Rosenthal, of the |
house committee.
About ten o'clock tonight fire destroyed !
the foundry of W. Duffy & Sons, corner of |
the foundry and machinery is estimated at |
from 5000 to $4,000, with no insurance |
There were $4,000 worth of contract work In |
the establishment, which was badly damaged, |
but to what extent cannot be learned tonight |