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

not apply 10 Incorporated cities or towns
constituting separate and independent
school Districts ,--,,-
There was In the opinion Of the. legisla'
tnfe no one question Of public policy upon
which the people Of Texas without regard
10 marty affiliations we're more harmonious.
ly united than that of the great wisdom OF
the establishment and maintenance by the
state OF an efficient system OF public Tree
schools. The attainment of this desidera-
tum by the legislature work
ing under our present organ
ic law has been demonstrated by the expe-
rience Of years to be utterly impossible, ex:
yaiorem tax at such figures as will draw
from the pockets of the taxpayers largely
in excess of the amount necessary to carry
on the expenses of the state government
economically administered. In other
words, your legislature found II
impossible to reduce the state ad
yalorem tax to the minimum neces.
sary for the, support Of government,
the modification tof having to starve the
schools. Remembering the fact that the
people of Texas, of all parties. with remark.
able unanimity during the last political
canvass in the state demanded OF their can
didates for legislative honors that they
should submit to them proposition to so
amend the constitution as to enable the
legislature in the future to separate the
for the support of government,
to the end that the state tax might be re-
duced to the proper figures without d.tri-
ment to the schools, and to the elimination
for the future to very great extent OF the
school question from the field Of politics, in
response to which demand the legislature
submitted the foregoing amendment. The
thsaf, Ntr,tA n hA M
imum allowed to be levied by this pro-
posed amendment would be amply suffi-
cient with the addition of the revenues
from other sources to which the schools
are entitled to give the very best Of school
facilities tor at least six months In the
year, which in the opinion of majority
of them was as long time as free
schools should now be t sup
from the fact that the agricultural classes,
who pay the bulk Of the taxes, in conse-
auence of being compelled to utilize the
labor of their children Of scholastic age
in the cultivation and harvesting OF their
crops, cannot as general rule avail them
selves of the benefit of longer term OF
school than six months in the year.
This joint resolution was passed by en- al
most unanimous vote through both
branches OF the legislature, under the firm
conviction that it was demanded, not only
by all political parties, but by the very best
and highest interests of the state.
Fouth-Joint resolution No. proposes
an amendment to article OF the constitu-
ton by adding section %, which simply
has the effect of authorizing the county
commissioners courts of the several conn
ties to reduce the number OF terms OF the
county courts to not less than four terms
in any one year for both civil and criminal
business, instead OF at least six terms for
civil and twelve terms for criminal business,
as the constitution now requires,
which amendment, it was thought,
would materially reduce the ex-
pense of the courts without prejudice to
the efficiency of the judicial system. The
Legislature, realizing the difficulty OF having
the changes which are sought to be effected
in the present constitution and the reasons
therefor, sufficiently advertised to give the
people fair understanding of their import
and purpose, and knowing that
the people of Texas in con-
sequence Of the conservatism for which
they are so much distinguished, are dis.
organic law which they Go not fully and
clearly understand, adopted the following
concurrent resolution: ri
Resolved, That committee of three
members from the senate and three from
the house be appointed to prepare an ad-
dress to the people tOuchlng
the constitutional amendments adopt
ed by the Eighteenth legislature,
giving the reasons for the changes therein
proposed in the organic law and the ex-
PLANTATION of their purposes, to the end that
the great body of the people may be fully
informed with reference thereto, and the
better enabled to vote understandingly
upon the question Of their adoption or re.
lection"
The undersigned were appointed such
committee in compliance with the fore
going resolution and in performance OF the
duty thereby imposed, they present the
foregoing explanation OF the joint resolu-
tions by which the proposed amendments
are offered for your adoption or rejection,
and some of the reasons which influenced
the legislature in submitting the same for
your ratification.
Respectfully [Signedl,
WILLIAM R. SHANNON.
Chairman,
Asa K. STRATToN
w. T. ARMIsTEAD,
]. r. FLEMING.
OF the Senate.
r G. FOSTER.
Al. RosEHTHAL,
Secretary,
OF the House.