The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-21

ic law has been demonstrated by the expe-
rience of years to be utterly impossible, ex,
cept by the keeping of the state al
valorem tax at such figures as Will draw
from the pockets of the taxpayers largely
in excess of the amount necessary to carry
on the expenses of the state government
economically administered. In other
words, your legislature found 1t
impossible to reduce the state al
vsi0rem tax 10 the minimum neces
sary tor the support OF government,
without at the same time mourning
the modification tot having to starve the
schools. Remembering the fact that the
people of Texas, of all parties. with remark
able unanimity during the last political
canvass in the state demanded OF their can
didates for legislative honors that they
should submit to them proposition to so
amend the constitution as TO enable the
legislature in the future to separate the
school tax from that levied
for the support of government,
to the end that the state tax might be re-
duced to the proper figures without d.tri-
ment TO the schools, and to the elimination
for the future to a very great extent of the
school question from the field OF politics, in
response to which demand the legislature
submitted the foregoing amendment. The
NtItOl tut bDlillOL tldt tllt illuA-
imum allowed to be levied by this pro-
posed amendment would be amply sufli-
| cient with the addition of the revenues
from other sources to which the schools
are entitled to give the very best of school
facilities Tor at least six months In the
year, which in the opinion OF a majority
OF them was as long time as free
schools should now be sup
ported by general state taxation,
| from the fact that the agricultural classes,
who pay the bulk OF the taxes, in conse-
Quence of being compelled to utilize the
labor Of their children OF scholastic age
in the cultivation and harvesting of their
crops, cannot as a general rule avail them
selves Of the benefit of longer term of
school than six months in the year.
This joint resolution was passed by an al
most Unanimous vote through both
branches of the legislature, under the firm
conviction that it was demanded, not only
by all political parties, but by the very best
and highest interests of the state.
Fouth-Joint resolution No. 6 proposes
an amendment to article of the COnstitu-
ton by adding section 2S, which simply
has the effect of authorizing the county
commissioners courts of the several com
ties to reduce the number of terms OF the
county courts to not less than four terms
in any one year Tor both civil and criminal
business, instead of at least six terms for
civil and twelve terms for criminal business
as the constitution now requires
which amendment, it was thought
would materially reduce the ey.
pense of the courts without prejudice 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 import
ana purpose, and knowing that
the people of Texas in con
sequence of the conservatism for which
they are so much distinguished, are dis
posed to vote against any change in theil
organic law which they Go not fully and
clearly understand, adopted the following
concurrent resolution:
Resolved, That u committee of three
members from the senate and three from
the house be appointed to prepare an ad
dress to the people touching
the constitutional amendments adopt.
ed by the Eighteenth legislature
giving the reasons for the changes therein
proposed in the organic law and the ex.
PLANTATION OF their purposes, to the end that
the great body of the people may be fully
informed with reference thereto, and the
better enabled to vote understandingly
upon the question of their adoption or re.
lection"
The undersigned were appointed such
committee in compliance with the fore.
going resolution and in performance OF the
duty thereby imposed, they resent the
foregoing explanation OF the joint resolu
tons by which the proposed amendments
are offered for your adoption or rejection
and some of the reasons which influenced
the legislature in submitting the same fol
your ratification.
Respectfully [Signedl,
| WILLIAM Il. SHANNON.
Chairman,
ASA e. SrRArroN
W. I. AgMI,TEAD,
| J. Il. FLEMING.
| Of the Senate.
II @. FOSTER.
A. j. RosENTHAL,
Secretary.
| OF the House.