The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-22

this measure. We simply want to
give such elasticity to the constil =
ton as will allow counties. whe re
necessary, 10 levy an amount for |
county purposes not 10 exceed TWEEN
ty-five cents on the one hundred dol !
lars adj valorem, and not to exceed
| fifteen cents for roads and bri 5.
I Aside from the educational int sts
OF the state, in my opinion, if the is
any one thing which Texas needs
more than another that thing is better
/ roads and bridges. The cry comes to
us from all parts of the state. give
| us a new road law-give US some
thing by and through which we
may have better roads" Only
| a few days ago we passed
a bill reducing the number of road
working days frOrl ten to five DAYS. so
that, in my judgi ent, some system of
| taxation for res purposes becomes a
necessity. The lads of Texas ever
have been, and day still are, dis
grace to the sta, and L ask you gen
tlemen to come the rescue and let
US endeavor t. move this blot from
her otherwi t;I escutcheon.
Now, gent the committee has
spent a grea' ta of time in exam Il
lug and dscussil h this question; they
have submitted this resolution as a
compromise of the three before us on
the same subject, the minimum for
roads and bridges being ten cents and
the maximum twenty-five cents; we
agreed to adopt this substitute fixing
the maximum for road and bridge
purposes at fifteen cents, and the
maximum for county purposes at
twenty-five cents. | do hope that the
dilatory motions and the wrangling
which have characterized our proceed
lngs for several days past will cease
and this house will promptly adopt
! the substitute offered by the commit
tee.,
Mr..->NaSh hoped the Mckinney
amendment would not prevail. We
should make no amendment that will
handicap the legislature.
Mr.. Chambers, of Tarrant, said the
question was one of interest to his
county. 1t would give it $1,000
This was not enough. My PROPOSE
ton was for twenty-five cents. We
can't do on less.
Mr.. Foster, of Limestone, in the
chair.-The question is on the amend
ment of the gentleman from Walker,
Mr.. Mckinney.
The amendment was lOst-ayes Sc,
nays Al.
Mr.. Stout offered an amendment al
lowing cities and towns of less than
10000 inhabitants to tax themselves.
MIR. Wurzbach offered amendment
to strike out from lines nine and ten
the words already incurred" and in
Sert contracted prior to April Is,
1876"
Mr.. Foster, of Grayson, offered as Il
substitute to amend by adding the
word legally" between "already" and
incurred" He was in favor of Mr..
Stout's amendment.
Mr.. Taylor SAID there was one Oh
} lection. The propositions should be
distinguished, as the people might
, vote against them as whole.
Speaker Gibson in the chair
The question is on the motion to lay
on the table Lost.
Mr.. Caven moved to insert the
word public" before improvements"
The amendment was accepted.
Mr.. StOuts amendment was adopt
, ed-ayes IA, nays 80.
The house adjourned, on motion of
Mr.. Frymier, to 2:30 p. m.
RESUMED SESSION.
! House met pursuant to adjourn
ment, Speaker Gibson and a quorum
present.
The pending business being re-
sumed Mr.. Foster, without, he said,
. intending any reflection, moved that
the resolutions be committed to the
committee on constitutional amend
mentS. He wanted the questions in
vOlyed divided so they could DO voted
on separately.
Mr.. Parsons said he could see no
use in commitment, and was opposed
to dilatory action. He moved to lay
the motion on the table.
The house refused to table the mos
toe TO recOmmit.
. Mr.. Hill said the object was taxa
ton. 1t was clear to his mind that
the bill should not be recommitted.
though he didn't say how he would
) vote. He had voted no" because
the action taken was calculated to cut
off debate.
The motion TO recommit was lost.
Mr.. Foster, of Limestone, offered an
5 amendment to strike out 40 cents and
l insert 20 cents. If the opposition, he
; said, won't give us opportunity to
vote separately, he wanted it amend
:. ed so he could vote for the PROPOSE
tions as whole. If the Democratic
party was committed to anything
( more than another it was low taxes.
l Mr.. Frymier argued that future
legislatures could be trusted to reduce
taxes.
Mr.. Forster, of Limestone-Do you
: believe the Democratic party will
always be in power?
Mr.. Frymier-I believe it will.
| Mr.. WurZbach offered an amend
; ment to strike out % cents and insert
9 30 cents.
, Mr.. Scott favored the adoption OF
g the joint resolution as it came from
7 the committee.
: Mr. Taylor offered an amendment to
I cover his views, to exclude the
= taxes levied for public schools from
computation in the maximum prOVi-
r ded by the resolution.
Mr.. Pendleton offered All amend
[ ment to strike out 40 cents and insert
; 90 cents.
The Wurzbach and Pendleton
t amendments were lost, and the Tay.
t Tor and Foster amendments were
4 adopted.
a The vote on Mr.. Fosters was: ayes
g 10; nays, 36.
The resolution as amended was
:. passed to engrossment.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
On prohibition by Messrs. Matthews
! Peers, Townsend, Nash, PendletOn
= Mcdaniel, Woods of LaYaca, anC
4 Barry. Referred.
BY Mr.. Moore of McLennan: Peti
ton against the creation of RichlanC
county. Referred.
: Mr.. Robertson of Williamson: Peti
L ton of citizens to be placed under thu
! operation of the game law. Referred
y Mr.. Newton, of Cherokee: Asking
for revocation of leases of the peni
: Tertiary. Referred.
Mr.. Merriwether: Memorial of the
{ town of Goliad to have boundarie:
l. better defined. Referred.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
BY Mr.. Wurzbach: To prevent
n adulteration of food and drugs. Re
ferred.
s Mr.. Leo: For relief of DR.. Arthur
= S. Wolf, quarantine office at BraZo:
/, Santiago, for losses in August, 1880.
d Mr.. Henderson: To amend article
3l07, revised statutes. Referred.
, Mr.. Rosenthal: Resolution of in
e quiry as to the necessity of the ser
}. vices of the clerks of the committee