The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-06-28
To Texans.


To Texans.
The Joint 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. ]. Rosenthal acting as
secretary. The following are the members
of the committee: Hons. W. r. Shannon, w.
T. Armistead. r. G. Foster, A; J. Rosen-
thai. resolution was passed requesting
the executive committees OF the respective
counties of both democrats and republicans
to have the address printed in circular form
and distributed among the people, that
they NAV 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 regarded as an Improvement upon
ali preceding state constitutions, 1t ike
all other humane productions, would De
found BY experience and trial to be in some
of its parts. at least, imperfect,
and that amendments thereto would
in time be demanded ey me
mode and manner by which it might be
Sec. /, Art. 1.-THE legislature at any
biennial session by q vote OF two-thirds OF
all the members elected to each house, to
be entered by yeas and nays on the jour-
nails, may propose amendments to the con,
stitution to be voted upon BY the qualified
lature, which proposed amendments
shalj he duly published once
a 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
open q poll for and make return 10 the
secretary of state of the number OF legal
votes cast at said election Tor and against
said amendments, and II
more than one be proposed
then the number of votes cast tor and
against each of them; and If 1t shall appear
from said returns that majority OF the
amendment, the said amendment SO re.
ceiving a 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 proposition 10
amend the section or sections OF the c0nsti-
tuition therein referred to.
We will present them in their order:
First-Joint resolution No. 2 proposes
amendments to sections and 8 of article
of she present constitution, which require
the Investment of all the proceeds OF the
sales Of the school lands belonging
.t.NA
several counties In Texas state bonds or in
United States bonds. The amendment
proposed SO changes section 4 as to en-
power the comptroller under instructions
of the board of education to invest the pro-
ceeds of the sale of the state school lands IN
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
8 SO 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 )ed by law, aud makes
the counties responsible for all invest
ments; the interest thereon and other
revenue, except the principal, shall be
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.
Second-Section article s OF the present
constitution authorizes the levy OF not
more than so cents on the $lOO valua-
ton, exclusive OF the tax necessary to pay
the public debt, and no county, city or
town shall levy more than one-haf ot ssid
state tax except for payment OF debts al
ready incurred and for the erection OF pub
lie buildings, not to exceed 90 cents on
the 800 valuation in any one year, and ex-
cept MS in this constitution is otherwise
provided. The amendment proposed TO
The foregoing by joint resolut on No. 4,
is in substance as follows THE tax on
property, exclusive Of the tax necessary 70
pay the pubic debt and for the taxes pro.
yided for the benefit OF the pubic iree
schools, shall never exceed IS cents on the
500 valuation, and no county, city or
town shall levy more than % cents on the
400 valuation for city or county purposes
and not exceeding Is cents on the 500 yalu-
alton for roads and bridges, except Tor the
payment of debts incurred prior to the
adoption Of this amendment and Tor the
erection Of public buildings, street sewers
and other permanent Improvements, not 70
exceed Is cents on the 500 valuation, In
any one year" ETC., etc.
This Joint resolution, Il will be observed,
nronoses A reduction Of the maximum state
I'd yalorem tar, from so TO IS cents on the
400 valuation, and also 10 settle definitely
the maximum limits Of county, city ana
town taxation. There Ii such ambiguity
IN section as IL now reads, that there |
IL great diversity Of opinion 90 70 the maxi |
mum rate Of taxation permitted 70 counties,
citIes and towns. which question will be
definitely settled by the adoption OF the pro |
posed amendment. II also author yes alevy |
bv the county commissioners court OF tar /
not 10 exceed Is cents on the 500 valuation |
for roads and bridges, q power which the
legislature thought might well be lodged
With the court for that purpose.
Third-section article Of The present
reads a. follows There shall
be set apart annually not more than
ne-fourth of the general revenue OF /
The state. and a .poll-tsI of 81 on all male
inbabitants Of the state between the ages
Of q and 90 years for the benefit Of pubic
free schools"
Joint resolution No. proposes 10 amend
said section 90 e. to hereafter read a. fol-
'sesctiou & One-fourth Of the revenue de-
rived from state occupation tares and poll
tar Of 81 on every male inhsbitsnt OF this
state between the ages Of q and % year
shall be set apart snnuslly ior ne pensni
in addition thereto there shall be levied
nd collected an annual I'd vElorem state
tar Of such al amount not 20 erred -
cents on the 500 valuation as with the
available school fund srising RON Al other
sources viii Be sufficient 70 maintain and
support the pubic free schools Of the state
not L.. than sir months In each year aDo
fhs legislature may also provide Tor The
fo-msfion q school districts within al o.
~ Of the counties Of this state
Nv general or special law
without local notice, and may sutnorize
40 additional snpual ID yslorem t.n 70 %
80 ~ Collected sitbin such school dis
f-irf fur the further maiutenaDce % pubic
f-es .chools and the erection Of free-scbooi
suilairgs thsrsin. provided. thst tso-tniros