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

Mr.. Foster. of Grayson, offered a
substitute for amendment and
the section, providing for a
local tax not to exceed twenty
five cents in any one year, provided
twO-thirdS of the taxable qualified
electors shall vote for such tax. and
that counties wishing nay be eX-
emptcd from the district system.
Mr.. Forster said he had been ready
to support the proposition Of the COM
mlttee. He was in favor of liberal
provision, but we may submit some
thing that will not be ratified by the
people, on account of being too liberal
to meet their views. The object of
his amendment was that any county
desiring may be exempted, so that
there would be no difficulty in their
members getting special acts of ex-
emptiOn. TO Mr.. Hill 1t can't ap-
ply to state, only TO district taxes.
Mr.. AyreS opposed the amendment.
If adopted, it would remit the ques-
| ton of taxation for school purposes
to each county. 1t would cease to be
a state system and would become a
county system. The rich counties
would take care of themselves, and
| leave the poor counties, which ought
to have the states bounty, to carry
their own burden. He was not OPP
posed to supplementing the state tax
by local tax, but before he would
agree To a local tax he would have
guarantee that a fair and liberal
state tax would be paid Tor the benefit
| of all the counties. Sections and coun-
ties in this state which complain
against the present low state tax by
Which they pay more to the statst than
| they receive back, cannot be relied
upon for liberal state tax if they
have the means of avoiding it.
Mr.. Robertson said he was in favor
of the bill as it came from the COM
mittee and was amended by Mr.. COch-
ran.
Mr.. Foster spoke in favor of his
substitute.
Mr.. Rogers asked, if communities
desired to tax themselves, will it he
necessary to district the entire coun-
ty?
Mr.. Foster-I think not. That is a
matter for future legislation.
Mr.. Rogers-Can't we shape it so as
to make it definite on this point?
| Mr.. FoSter-I think it is definite.
Mr.. ROgers-It should be, to avoid
trouble in the future.
Mr.. Swan said: If the amendment
authorizing the legislature to exempt
any county from the provisions of the
local school tax clause in the resOlu
ton be adopted, the question of ex.
emptlOn will become political queS
ton in the counties from which the
gentlemen who oppose the district
tax come, and that element would bt
deprived of representation on thi:
floor. While he was in favor of lOca
taxation, he was not willing to manu-
facture political questions to keel
them off this floor.
Mr.. Tucker offered an amendment
! which was not in order at the time
but was subsequently read. requiring
thTee-fourths instcdd-of two-third:
vote.
Mr.. Upton made point of order
which Mr.. Foster. of Grayson, thought
too finely drawn.
Mr.. Upton intimated that he NIGH
see it with pair of fine spectacleS.
After various points of order, over
ruled, the speaker put the question OF
the adoption of the substitute Offered
by Mr.. Foster, of GraysOn, which was
lost.
Mr.. Frank moved to reconsider ant
Mr.. Upton To lay that motion on tn,
table, which latter motion prevailed
An amendment providing for tn
erection of buildings for free schools
was lost.
BY Mr.. Cundiff: Amendment t,
strike out. in line fifteen, the word
"twO-thirdS of the property tax pay
ers" andln majority of real estat,
tax payers" Lost.
Mr.. Adams: To amend by striking
out twenty-five cents and inserting
twenty cents.
Mr.. Hill read q letter from citizens
of Collin county, that they wantel
the tax reduced. He thought fifteel
cents would be right, but it was votet
down. He now proposed to record hi
vote for twenty cents.
In our report of Saturdays pro
ceedings a transposition of name
made US credit to Mr.. Taylor, remark
made by Mr.. Hill against Mr.. Taylor
resolution to recommit, and place,
Mr.. Taylor in the attitude of speaking
against his own proposition.
In justice to both we reproduce Nj
Hills remarks:
/ am opposed to the motion to com
init. Why send this resolution bacl
to the committee when we can ament
here so as to submit both proposition
to the people if so desired? / am on
posed to referring, and opposed ais
to the substitute offered by the gen
tleman from Dallas (Mr. Cochran)
We can have no efficient free school,
until we supplement state aid by loca
taxation. No state in the Union ha
good free schools without such doubl
support. Submit the propositions t
the people separately and then, ii tn
enemies OF free schools vote eithe
down, we will have in future the sys
tenn of the past. am ready to NEE
the issue, and let US submit the resC
luton with both propositions com
hined. We will then have done on
. duty.l
Mr.. Rogers said he was in favor o
the tax of one-fourth, but was OF
posed to the district system.
Mr.. Stout hoped the amendmen
would not carry and argued tina
twenty-fve-cent tax would not ru
the school six months. He was i
, favor of property tax to educate tn
, children, even for six months. Twent
cents would not run them that long
The Adams amendment was lost
, ayes "a. nays 50.
Mr.. Labatt said we had been Ell
gagged in the matter two days. He di
not intend to make his Grafton an
| moved the previous question. Ca
ried.
Speaker: The question is on tn
engrossment of the joint resolution.
Mr.. Acker called for a division c
the question.
The speaker announced that he ha
signed senate bill No. 80, to amen
articles 3I4 and 3l5 of the penal cod
, 1t relates to disturbances of the peac
Mr.. Upton and Mr.. Mckinney mad
, points of order which were overrule'
Speaker: The question is on tn
adoption dissection 4, article Z.
Adopted. Ayes, 70; noes, 4.
The other section of the resOlutio
was then adopted: ayes. 81; noes, 80.
The next business pending Wa
: house joint resolution to amend Sc
tion Q, article 8, of the constitution
fixing the state tax at forty cents an
county tax at twenty-five cents.
Speaker-QuestiOn is on the ado
ton of the amendment offered by til
, gentleman from Navarro (Mr. Stout
I 1t provides for levying tax not t
| exceed TWENTY-FIVE cents, by incorp'
rated cities and towns. for public i'll
: prOvementSsOr enterprises for benef
of such cities and towns.
Mr.. Caven offered substitute Il