The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-21
TO TEXANS.
Address Of The Joint Legislative Cons
mittee rs TO
The Constitutional Amendments TO be
Submitted TO the
PEOPLE Of the New Empire State.

The ioiat committee appointed by the
senate and house OF representatives at their
late session to prepare an address to the
people of Texas ON the constitutional
amendments to be submitted to the people
on the 18th day Of August, met at
the Grand Windsor hotel yesterday,
Senator w. r. Shannon presiding, and
Representative A. J. Kosenthai acting as
secretary. The following are the members
of the committee; Hons. W. Il. Shannon. w.
T. Armistead, r. q. Foster, A. j. Rosen-
thai, A resolution was passed requesting
the executive committees OF the respective
counties of both democrats and republicans
70 have the address printed in circular form
and distributed among the people, that
they may be enabled to vote intelligently
upon the amendments.
THE ADDRESS.
To the People of the State Of Texas:
The trainers Of our present organic law,
recognizing the fact that however much 1t
might be egarded as an Improvement upon
ali preceding state constitutions, 1t like
ali other humane productions, would be
found by experience and trial to be in some
of its parts at least, imperfect,
and that amendments thereto would
in time be demanded by the
best interest of the state, provided the
mode and manner by which 1t might be
amended rs follows;
Sec. /, Art. 1.-THE Legislature at any
biennial session by a vote OF two-thlrds OF
all the members elected TO each mouse, 10
be entered by yeas and nays on the Jour
nails, may propose amendments to the con
stitution to be voted upon by the qualified
electors for members OF the legis-
lature, which proposed amendments
shall be duly published once
q week tor four weeks. commencing at
least three months before an election,
the time of which shall be specified by the
legislature in one weekly newspaper of each
county in which such newspaper is pub
lished. And it shall be the duty OF the
several returning officers OF said election to
open poll for and make return to the
secretary of state of the number of legal
votes cast at said election Tor ana against
said amendments, and IL
more than one be proposed
then the number of votes cast Tor and
against each of them; and ii it shall appear
from said returns that a majority of the
votes cast have been cast in favor OF any
amendment, the said amendment 30 re.
ceiving majority of the votes cast shall
become part of the constitution, and proc.
lamation shall be made by the governor
thereof.
In conformity thereto the Eighteenth leg
islature have submitted for your approval
or rejection the following joint resolutions,
each Of which contains a proposition to
amend the section or sections OF the Consti-
tuition therein referred to.
We will present them in their order:
First-Joint resolution No. 2 proposes
amendments to sections 4 and of article 7
of the present constitution, which require
the investment of all the proceeds of the
sales of the school lands belonging
to the state ana to the
several counties IN Texas state bonds or in
United States bonds The amendment
proposed 80 changes section rs to en-
power the comptroller under instructions
Of the board of education to invest the pro-
Texas state bonds, United States bonds,
Texas county bonds, or other securities as
may be provided by law and makes the state
responsible for all investments. And section
ESQ that the proceeds of the sale of county
school bonds may be invested in state or
United States bonds or such other securities
as may be prescri ned by law, aud makes
the counties responsible for all invest.
ments; the interest thereon and other
revenue, except the principal, shall be
available school fund. The purpose of the
legislature in proposing this amendment is
made manifest by consideration of the fact
that the premiums in both state and Fed
eral bonds is so high as compared to the low
rate of interest they bear that to continue
to invest the school funds in either would
be destructive to the prime object for
which investment is made, that Is, the Sc.
curing of an available school fund
Standardization article 8 of the present
constitution authorizes the levy of not
more than 50 cents on the 800 yalua.
ton, exclusive OF the tax necessary to pay
the public debt, and no county, city or
town shall levy more than one-half of said
state tax except for payment of debts al.
ready incurred and for the erection of pub.
lie buildings, not to exceed so cents on
the 800 valuation in any one year, and OK.
cept us In this constitution is otherwise
provided. The amendment proposed 10
the foregoing by joint resolut on No. 4,
Is in substance as follows: 1.-THE tax on
property, exclusive of the tax necessary to
nav the pubic debt and for the taxes bro.
vided for the benefit of the public free
schools, shall never exceed IS cents on the
800 valuation, and no county, CITY or
town shall levy more than 25 cents on the
800 valuation for city or county purposes
and not exceeding Is cents on the 500 yalu.
alton for roads and bridges, except for the
payment OF ueDtS incurred prior to the
adoption of this amendment and for thu
erection of public buildings, street sewers
and other permanent Improvements, not to
exceed 20 cents on the 500 valuation, in
any one year" etc., etc.
This joint resolution, it will be observed,
proposes reduction of the maximum state
ad valorem tax, from,5O to 50 cents on the
500 valuation, and also to settle definitely
the maximum limits of county, city and
town taxation. There is such ambiguity
in section 0 as II now reads that there
is great diversity OF opinion as to the maxi.
mum rate of taxation permitted to counties
cities and towns, which question will be
definitely settled by the adoption ofthe pro.
posed amendment. It also authorizes levy
BY the county commissioners court of a tai
not to exceed 10 cents OH the 800 valuation
for roads and bridges, power which the
legislature thought might we'll be lodged
with the court for that purpose.
Tnird-Section 3 article Z Of the present
constitution reads as follows: "There snail
be set apart annually not more thar
one.fourth of the general revenue o.
fho "a ate and "a sn0ll.tav NJ a an oil ms