The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Taxation, Railways, Civil Service Reform,
The Frontier and Other Subjects.

Mr.. ireland Foreshawdos the Conduct of
the Administration.
Following is the message of Gov. Ireland to
the State assembly,:
1t seems to be admitted by all that the con-
stitution should be SO amended rs to permit
the Legislature to levy and collect school tax
without reference to the amount of the gener-
al revenue that may be necessary.
Another amendment 10 that instrument will
be necessary with reference to the school
fund
The permanent fund belonging to the COM
mon schools can only be invested in bonds of
the Federal Agency and of the State.
The United States are refunding at so low a
rate that their bonds are not desirable for that
purpose, and very soon we hope the State will
have no bonded debt outstanding, and we
must therefore seek some other mode of invest
ing our permanent school fund.
Shall we guard, protect and increase this
fund as a sacred trust, or shall we throw it
away by paying forty per cent. premium for an
Investment?
The University was early contemplated by
those who have gone before. No one ques-
tions the usefulness or propricty of such an in
stitution, and we suppose retrogade move
ment, with reference 10 1t, is not cOntempla-
ted.
1t would seem that experience has taught us
that there are but few 'pentents" and but few
reforms accomplished in that institution, and,
therefore, that IL is probably misnamed. Ii
will be for the wisdom of the law-making power
to prescribe the proper management. | do not
doubt but there are numbers sent to that insti-
tuition for petty Offenses who should be pun
shed in some other way; and for youths u
house of correction or other place OF confine-
ment and punishment should be devised.
doubt the propriety of sending any, no matter
what the age, to the penitentiary for short
periods OF time.
THE JUDICIARY.
A little reflection will satisfy all that the evil
i'm the judiciary system is radical and we must
begin the remedy in the trial courts.
TAXATION.
The earlier idea about occupation tax was
that il should be laid on those occupations and
pursuits that were to be discouraged; but the
modern practice appears to be to raise money,
even at the expense of those most useful and
desirable As to an advalorem tax, there is no
just power to take from the citizen one mill, il
it Is not absolutely required TO carry on his
government in an economical manner. What
belongs to the citizen is his absolutely, and his
agents have no right To demand more than is
necessary.
/ know that there is a popular fallacy abroad
that finds expression in such language as
damn posterity, let i. take care of ITSELF
pity the heart can thus speak. Not so spoke
our worcestershire fathers. They saw not to-
day, but looking with an eye of faith and wis
dom away in the distance, they saw us, and
lab0red and toiled for us.
OUR COMMON HIGHWAYS.
Our laws on this subject are defective There
seems TO be no reason why all who own proper
ty or reside near the roads should not contrib
ute to support them. The youth, the aged and
the NONRESIDENT having property that is bene-
fitted by highway, should bear a proper pro-
portion of its burdens, as well as those within
certain ages.
OUR RAILWAYS.
The constitutional requirement that the leg
isature shall pass laws TO regulate and control
these institutions has been only partially per-
formed. The people demand the fuliilment of
this plain constitutional duty
PIE FRONTIER.
That the time is rapidly approaching when
we will have no frontier, in the sense of an In
dian border constantly subject to incursons of
hostile savages, is certain, and yet those famil-
lar with our borders and the enforcement of
our laws, will readily concede the fact that the
time has not arrived for the disbandonment of
EXECUTION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW.
There are three things mperatively deman-
ded to a proper execution of these laws
LIST. Wemu have a good judiciary which
cannot be had-but in exceptional cases--with-
out better salaries.
2nd. salary to the prosecuting officer that
will ensure talents and fidelity to duty, that
will be equal to our young, vigorous and SPLEEN
ulu DIT, ana
Bird. A higher sense of duty on the part OF
our juries.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In assuming the duties of this very response
BILE office, ! do, to-day, although elected as "A
partisan, declare that the oath of Office dsarms
the politician and leaves me free to deal with
all alike and whatever asperities may have
been engendered in political contests, thank
God that have moral courage enough to re-
member that am the Chief Magistrate of a
Urq naonlsa and fhof IN il fbait -
fairs, and not my own, with which have to
deal.
Fidelity TO the constitutions of our country,
state and Federal, is the true test of loyalty,
and ne who trampes upon these or does other
illegal acts in the name of law is the vilest of
law-breakers.
With regard to the management of our vari-
Gus institutions or appointments to Office
therein, wish to say that the first great con-
sderation has, and will continue to be, the
good of the public service, and when do not
think this service can be bettered, no removals
will be made.
j believe in the fullest snd freest ballot, and
do not cherish the slightest luminosity toward
those who offered manly opposition to my
election, and as the executive, | have no enc
mics TO punish
We can have but
FEW STATE SECRETS.
This government belongs TO the people; il is
republican in form and should be i'm fact the
peoples agents i'm time of peace can rightfully
have but few matters before them that should
be withheld from the people. If unjust critic
ism ensues, q discerning and just public senti-
ment will sooner or later do justice.
The true theory or republican government is
that each individual shall havean equal chance
in life, and exclusive or extraordinary priv
ilegeS should be given TO none. Let each pur-
sue the journey of life in his own way, the gov
eminent taking only that no one obstruct or
moleSts the ether, so long as each attends 10
his own affairs.