The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-06
THE STATESMAN,
AUSTIN. TEXAS.
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
ooMprRoLLER's DEPARTMENT.

AT. Bass, collector of Gonzales
county, and W. y. Adams, collector
of Brown county, settled their ac-
counts with the comptroller yester-
day.
The rolls of Brown, Frio and Ia
valla counties have been received, but
have to be examined.
The comptroller received the fol-
lowing opinion of the attorney gen
eral as to the payment OF assessors:
AUSTIN, August %, 1883.
Hon. W. J. Swain, Comptroller:
Dear Sir-In your communication
you ask the opinion and advice OF thls
Office, as to whether the assessors are
to be paid for the assessments maze
for the current year, the commission
proyided by article 4724 of the revised
statutes. as amended by chapter 40 of
the laws of the eighteenth legislature,
or the commissions provided by that
article before the amendment was
made.
1t is nav opinion that they are to be
paid under the article as amended.
By an examination of articles 4llI,
47I8. 4719, APO and 4T21, 1T Will he
seen that the duties of the assessors
are not necessarily completed and us
a matter of history, which we Enst
presume was ia the mind of the legis-
iature, are not completed until after
the time when the amendment went
INTO effect, ninety days after the adj
tournament of the legislature. Moth
ing is Gne to them until the full com.
pletion OF assessing the property in
their respective counties and prepar-
ing the rolls for the hands of the col
lector. This done the whole amount
due to them is then paid to them at
one time, CART. 4721 Il. 81.
No way is provided in the Gmenda-
tory act, nor is there rule provided
anywhere in the law. for apportlonlng
the compensation of the owners with
reference to the amount Of work done
before the amendment becomes law,
and after that event.
An attempt, in discharging the
duties of your Office, to do so, would
PERHAPS lie unauthorized, and from
the nature OF the services rendered
by these officers, it seems to me such
a thing wopld be utterly impracti-
cable.
have the honor TO be very respect
fully. JOHN ID. TEMPLEToN.
Col. Bruce. collector of Williamson
county, who was in the comptroiler's
office Yesterday, estimates that the
assessment of Williamson county has
increased over $1,00O,OO0. The in
crease in Brown county over last year
is $I,1O0OOO. which is very large in
crease considering the size of the
county.
The decision of the attorney gen
o.oI oA1vo r.i.ra., uriIl 11nalya n hiffarS
ence to the state of about $4,000.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
Messrs. Auritt and Hunter. of Vir-
ginia, have arrived and will be en-
gagged as teachers in the deaf and dumb
= Institute. The new building will be
completed about October l, but in
mates will hardly be received before a
month or two later, as it will not be
prudent to occupy their quarter as
soon as finished.
PENITENTIARY BOARD.
There was another session of this
board, lasting the greater part of the
day, yesterday.
The bond of Messrs. Conner g. Fairs,
of Alabama, lessees of the Rusk pen
itentiaries, was examined, discussed
and approved. The amount of the
bond is 100000.
Rev. S. G. Alexander, chaplain of
the Rusk penitentiaries, resigned, and
Rev. j. w. Wolam was elected in his
place, Mr.. Wolam is veteran.
The contract of Seeligson 81 Kemp
-ner. from Huntsville penitentiary,
was examined and discussed, Mr.. See
.ligson, of Galveston, himself being
present to represent the interests of
his firm. The board. without decid-
ing fully as to the contract, took up
other matter for their consideration.
The monthly account of the finan-
.ciaI agent and reports of Superinten-
dent Goree were examined.
Among other things which Mr.. See
Iigson wants in his contract is the
right to employ convicts outside of
the penitt ntiary to Tun IL saw mill to
provide lumber for his factory in the
penitentiary; and to have the state
pas for guards for such outside work
men.
Tile hoard adjourned to meet again
to-day for further conference with Mr..
SSeeligson.