The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-16
HOW TO VOTE.

Coming Tuesday is election day.
There are four joint resolutions sub
mitted. The first applies to the in
vestment of state and county school
funds in other securities than United
States and Texas state bonds. 1t is
objected, that under incompetent or
corrupt administration the change
might open the way for dangerous in
vestments,but a change is nevertheless
necessary, and therefore propositions
contained therein may be voted for.
There are two propositions, which may
be voted for separately, the defeat of
one proposition being possible, while
the other may be carried. One is as
to the manner of carrying out invest
ments, and ballots applying thereto
should be "for," or against" "amend-
ment to section 4, article Z, of the con-
stitution. The other proposition
applies to the authorize
| ton of investment in other
securities than those now provided
for, and ballots should contain 'for,"
or against" amendment to section 6,
article of the constitution. The
second joint resolution applies to
state, county and municipal taxation
for general revenue. The manner in
which 1t is proposed to multiply taxa
ton is absurd, and if the resolution
be adopted it must necessarily create
public distress. THE STATESMAN
advice is to vote against amendment
to section 9, article 8, of the constitu-
ton" The third joint resolution pre-
scented is applicable to state and dis
trict taxation for the schools. Were
it possible to divide this proposition,
and some think it is proper to do so,
we would vote for the district system,
and against the authorization of a
state tax of twenty cents. But the
proposition is officially presented in
this form:
That those voting for the adoption
of the amendment to section 3, shall
have written or printed on their bal
lots the words "For amendment to
section 3, article Z, of the constitution,
school tax" and those voting against
the adoption of said amendment shall
have written or printed on their bal
lots the words against the amend
ment to section 3, article I, of the con-
stiJution, school tax"
Taking the record, then, it appears
the propositions contained in this reso-
luton cannot De divided. but must be
oted as a whole. To this enormous
rate of state taxation THE STATES
MAN is unalterably opposed. Were
the tax proposed confined to figure
IN reason, not one laying the way for
the accumulation of a surplus, far be-
You'd what is required for the econom-
1cal conduct of the schools, it might
do to vote for the proposition. But it
is presented as the stepping stone for
the establishment of glittering sys-
tenn, by means OF which politicians
hope to provide hundreds of places
for bare supervision. If it be i'm
proper for voters to sepa-
rate the propositions in this
resolution, then every ballot should
be cast against the amendment tC
section 3, article Z, of the constitution
school tax" The fourth resolution
applies to the terms of county courts
diminishes the sitting to four in one
year, unless under special provision
made by county commissioners; AND
once having fixed the number of terms
they cannot then be increased sapgF-tdlii
7 Unfinished for twelve months. Many
counties d9 not require more thar
. four sittings OF the court in twelve
months, while some would even bt
better off without Therefore We
would see the resolution adopted as {
constitutional amendment. Commu
mites are already taxed too much
through the constant sitting Of
courts, and any proposition dimin
ishing their terms should be adopted