The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08

OhNOs Il eloo IL Va NOlC IL uOMll,
was no use in postponing it till Fri
day.
Mr.. Upton-I favor postponing
and printing. The bills were impor-
tant and the comptroller was not here
To give information. | believe that
the railroads have made about rs fair
rendltlons of their property as AN y
persons make. | would like to see
Mr.. Hills bill printed. / am ready to
grapple with important measures at
all times. / want Mr.. Hills printed
to see If it better bill or not.
MIR. CravenS-Some are ready and
some are not, for want of ofinformatiOn.
The original bill of the committee
might be unconstitutional. Mr.. Tay-
lor' 5 amenements have not been pre-
Sented in such manner as to be fully
understood. Hills is Il measure tend
ing in direction which is desired. So
L hope all will be printed. SO we may
have time to consider them fully.
Mr.. Ethridge-There is really but
one question before the house for i'm
perative action, whether the bill is
constitutional or not. Some seem to
think 1t Is not, Others that it is. Is not
the legislature the proper tribunel for
adjudication 1t has been well said we
are our own tribunal in these matters
All acknowledge the necessity of
legislation for the prosperity of Texas.
The constitutional one is the only
question. | for one am in favor of
submitting it to the legislature. We
have had it before us since Yesterday.
If we wait for better time, we must
sit here day after day al intinitum.
Now is thu proper time. l am us well
prepared to vote now as ever. Ali
those who believe the bill unconsti-
tutional can vote so. Those who
think otherwise, and that it is de-
manded by the people of Texas, can
show their faith by their works.
Mr.. Dennis favored poStponement.
Those who may understand should
give time to those who did not. If
the law is defective l am willing to do
anything to remedy it. If we are not
permitted to know, in justice we will
vote against it.
Mr.. Chenoweth-The gentleman
from Fannin is no bulldozer My only
object is to perform my duty, with
which | am charged as chairman of
the committee. You have had time,
it seems to me, to talk it over-;ls
much time as have had. / am pre-
pared, after two days discussion, to
vote intelligently. / hope those friend
ly to the bill will vote against post
ponement, but L shall feel no anger to
those who vote for postponement.
Mr.. Scott trust the motion to
postpone will not prevail. | am OPP
posed to the bill on constitutional
grounds and prepared to vote. j
think all understand it, and it is use
70 II 4.
opposed to railroads, although they
are regarded SO unfavorably. Don't
they pay taxes as well in proportion
as citizens OF the state who render ut
two or three dollars per acre land that
they refuse to take ten dollars forp
There are no railroads where | live,
but | don't believe in unjust or un-
equal taxation.
Mr.. White moved to lay the motion
to postpone on the table. Carried.
Ayes 80. nays AZ.
Mr.. Cochran in the chair.
MIR. Hills substitute was read.
Mr.. Chenoweth-For the reason
that the substitute is the same sub
ject matter as the bill, move to lay
it on the table.
Carried-ayes 4S, noes 43: absent II.
Mr.. Mckinney also offered substi-
tute. amending article 1857 of the
code, 50 a to require railroad officers
to make sworn statements from their
principal Office, to be submitted to the
board of county commissioners where
such Office is located; this board to
certify as to same to the comptroller,
and appOrtion the tax on railroad roll
ing stock according to the number of
miles of road bed in each county,
town. etc.
Mr.. Mckinney gave his reasons for
Offering the substitute. 1t was Just
to the railroads and to the people. 1t
was universal affirmative PROPOSE
ton that all railroad property should
be assessed in the county where the
property is located. The constitution
fixes where the assessment shall be
made. 1t provides for equalization.
But we were trying, it seemed, to find
how we could get around the plain
letter of the constitution. Why was
there any reference to such board of
assessment if that was not the plain
intention of the lawi The comptrol-
ler had no power to revise assess
ments. The article was departure
from the constitution. When we find
we have departed from it let us go
back to it. He was opposed to any
legislation that makes distinction
between the property of one class of
people and that of another. Railroads
had right to he treated no better nor
worse than others. He wanted top put
all on equal basis. The county courts
are ample.
Mr.. Chenoweth-This system was
against the plain provisions of the
constitution. Fannin county has her
right to her pro rata. L don't want it
equalized by a county board of an
other county, but by a sworn board
for all the state. This bill does pro-
vide for pro rata assessment where
the principal Office is and that the pro
rata shall be passed upon by the
comptroller. The question is, shall
there be general Office as in Austin.
Mr.. Taylor-As the matter has been
|, fully discussed, move the previous
question. Carried. Aves SO, noes 81.
The main question being on Mr.
|. McKinney's substitute it was lost.
Ayes A, noes 46.
Speaker Gibson in the chair.
Mr.. Chenoweth-The committee
will accept the amendments of the
gentleman from Red River.
Chair-It is out of the power Of the
committee to accept the amendments
in the house.
Mr.. Chenoweth-I mean to say the
committee are anxious to have them
considered.
The Taylor amendments were
adopted.
Speaker-Shall the bill be engrossed? !?
Ayes SO, noes 80, absent 13; SO the bill
was ordered to be engrossed as amend
ed, as follows:
A bill to be entitled an act to create a
board for the assessment and equali-
zation ofrailroad rolling stock and
. other movable property OF railroad
companies in this state:
; SECTION l. Be it enacted by the
legislature of the state of Texas, That
the governor, comptroller and COIN
missioner of the general land Office,
are hereby created board for the as
sessment and equalization of rolling
stock and other movable property of
railroad companies in this state.
Section 2. For the purpose of as
sessing, adjusting and equaliZing the
valuation of the rolling stock and
other movable property of the various
railroads in this state, the board of as
sessment and equalization, provided
for in this act, shall meet annually at
the capitol, in the city of Austin, on
| tho third Monday of DriI of each