The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-01
WIIIth Legislature.
Thirty-Fifth Days Proceedings.
SENATE.

Lieut.-Goy. Martin presiding, and Il
quorum present.
The chaplain, Rev DIR. SmOot. of
fered PRAYER.
On motion of Mr. Perry the journal
was not read.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
Stock and stock raiSing.-Mr. Col
linS, chairman, reported faVorably
senate bill No. 2l7, to protect stock
raiSers and encourage stock raising.
Finance.-Mr. Pfeuffer, chairman,
reported back a resolution of the capi-
tol board, asking an appropriation to
protect the temporary capitol building
from fire, and recommended an apprO-
priation of $4,000 for the purpose.
Substitute for senate bill No. 279. to
fix and equalize the compensation of
assessors of taxes.
Adversely, house bill No. 2S6, to pro-
vide a clerk for the secretary of the
board of education, fix his salary. and
make an appropriation for the same.
| Constitutional Amendments. - Mr.
Davis, for committee. reported in ac-
cordance with requests of several
senate petitions, joint resolution
relating to prohibition in judicial dis.
tricts.
Mr.. Harris, chairman. reported IA
vorably house bill No. 40, to reorgan-
iZe the 25th judicial district, and fix
the time for holding courts i'll the
same.
Engrossed bills.-Mr. Martin chair
man, reported the correct engroSSment
of senate bills Nos. 217 and 1.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Patton: a bill relating to the
lease OF railroads, their stock, etc,
and providing for a record thereof.
| Referred.
Mr.. Perry: A bill to require pts
sengers to travel on freight trains on
roads where less number than two
trains daily each way are run Re
| ferred,
Mr.. Pfeuffer: \ bill to organize
and establish school districts in the
several counties in the state and pre-
scribe the duties of officers in man.
agement of schools, and to provide
| for the levy of an assessment tax in
the school districts for school pur-
poses.
On motion of Mr.. Fleming one hun
dred copies of the bill was ordered
printed.
SPECIAL ORDER.
Senate bill No. 269, relating to the
| sale and lease of public school lands.
On motion of Mr.. Jones, the bill
was postponed, in order to take up
substitute senate joint resolution No.
| 2, amendatOry of article of the con-
stitution, relating to public schools;
| the motion of Mr.. Peacock to recon-
! Silar fha uOfa Inv rt-bial, o,nnnJ
ment of Mr.. Houston, fixing the tax
was adopted, pending.
| Mr.. Peacock withdrew the motion
| to reconsider.
Mr.. Jones: Amendment to fix the
tax at twenty cents.
III support of the amendment
AIr. Jones said he would have sup
ported the amendment of Mr.. Pea
cock because it is in substance the
same as the substitute he endeavOred
to get before the senate Yesterday.
The school fund ought to be fixed and
certain. 1t will not be so long as the
occupation or any other than school
tax formed a part of it. The time
may come when occupation taxes can
be abolished and he trusted it would,
for such a tax is contrary to the
| genius OF our government. a man
has d right to pursue legitimate oc-
cupatiOn without the burden of a
tax, if revenue sufficient to run the
government can be had from other
| sources.
The fault Of our present constitu-
tiOn is that it makes the school fund
dependent on the amount of state
revenue. 1t can never be greater than
one-fOurth, and within the past few
years the state tax has dropped from
fifty to thirty cents on the one hun
dred dollars valuation.
/ want fixed and absolute school
fund, then we will know what we are
doing and will be able to meet the de-
mands of the people of this state. for
an efficient system of public free
schools.
Senators say the Democratic party
has pledged itself to an efficient sys-
tenn, and that they want to redeem
that pledge In that l agree with
them cheerfully, but l feel higher
duty in this great question than forty
pledges. We, as legislators, owe it to
the people of this state, not because a
platform says so, but because it is a
duty to every child, whether white or
black, rich or poor, Democratic or
Republican.
1t may be said the tax is too high,
but it will be found that with one
fourth the occupation tax left ont, the
tax will be but a fraction over $4,000
more than would arise from the Is
cents asked for in the original resolu-
ton. Let's see what the result would
be at 20 cents. The total taxable
values are $420OO0,OOO.
20 cents on this gives. say H.. SS4O, 600
School funds s............. 100000
Interest from permanent
school polls. s......... 365,OOO
Interest on school land notes $4,000
This, in my judgment, will be a
higher tax than can be relied on, for
the costs of collection must come out
of the state tax.
Now, according to the comptroller's
report, fraction over $4,000 sup
ported the schools for period of
about three months during last year.
Hence it will be seen that $2,OOO,OOO
will be necessary to secure to us
schools for six months, for our chill
dren are increasing in numbers and
our teachers are not properly compen-
sated. We can't expect to get men
worthy of the charge committed to
their care as moulders of the minds
of our children for the insignificant
salaries we have been paying. This
amendment invests the Legislature
with the power to reduce the tax if
the available school fund shall justify
it, and just so much is to be levied as,
added to the available school fund,
will be sufficient to maintain schools
for six months during each year. /
will vote for no proposition which
looks to support of free schools for a
less term than six months, as long as
there is any possible hope of getting
measure through that will guaran-
tee to my constituents and to all the
children of the great state of Texas
the privilege of attending school for
six months.
A senator has declared upon this
floor that certain counties in this state
will become spectators in the proper
ty and tax of the larger and more
populous and wealthy counties. In
other words, he holds that because
the people OF county labor under
the curse of poverty, or have certain
color, that they should have only just
such portion of the school fund as
they may be able to pay tax. He fur
ther states, that if the wealthy coun-
ties have to pay for the education of
n Il