The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-26

pas, legislatures In regard 10 alter M lte
AZ eacl succeeding seshioh
has convened, from 1870 EDWARDS, " mas
aeened that about 0nt4lali tbs members
had SOME pet idea Oi amending the inslfu.
ment bat when the vote came they i0uhd
i'm tbe diversity Of opinion that no
one point could be carried ana
the only two that we're ever pissed were
voted down by the people
The first legislature under the Constitution,
before It's provisions had been tled, hau
about twenty five different amendments
before IL, but never passed single one-n
rich commentary on the too previous
members who thus sought to tear down,
rather than build up. E,cl session since
has had It's full share OF wiseacres-'he last
one somewhat OVERLOOKING, II we may Judge
by their iourings and unheard-oi reconslu,
erations. After the senate had labored
long TO mature and pass the school'land
bill the house OF many discordanJ mlhus
attached no less than twenty-five amenu'
ments 10 it, Then came disagreement De,
tween the houses-a commlttee VI
conference, next committee Of Tree con
ference, and finally, hen.pecsed and bad
gered, it got through, with not soul VIII
Ing TO stand a It's god-iather-a long, tortu'
ous and rather confused plan OF accom-
plishing the great end desired by the
people, which is the wise management and
disposition OF the school lands OF the state
Yet, from the oft-repeated puffs published
of portion of the members, one wouiu
otherwise suppose 1t was an exceptionally
able body. fhese remsrks indicate thal
the writer has had no sympathy Win tnt
many wild schemes thus attempted tc
change the organic law, but 1t is the attri'
butte of reason to separate the true from
the false, and TO support the right
regardless of its parentage. 1t II
believed the last Legislature, despite lts
wranglings and shortcomings, did mum,
Der of wise and meritorious things, and
among these are the three chief alterations
proposed in the constitution.
The first two amendments TO sections
and 6, of article D. simply provide that the
proceeds of the sales of state and county
school lands in addition to state and
United States as now limited, may be in,
vested in county or other securities, ano
that the state or the county, as the case
may be, shall be responsible Tor the In
yestment. This is wise and necessary
change, because state bonds can no Longer
be bad, aud United States bonds bear toe
low rate of interest, being only per cent
| to Justify investing our school moneys IL
them, when we can otherwise and safely
get or s per cent. and keeI
the M oney IN the state. In self-defense anC
for self-inlerest it seems clear that every
man in tie state ought to vote for these two
sections.
The amendment to section 9, article 8
changes the mode and amount of ad valoren
taxation. 1t reduces the state tax TO maxi
mum Of thirty-tive cents on the hundred
dollars-no county, city or town to levy
over twenty five cents for general purposes
and not over fifteen cents for roads aDC
4. ~ Far ha nQu m
now existing; ana + r the erection OF pubic
buildings, street sewers and other perma
nent improvements not to exceed twenty
five cents. So the maximum limit is hxeC
at reasonable rate for each specific pur
pose, and for those essential and needtu
purposes which will subserve the public
welfare in the improvement o
counties, cities and towns. The change
is desirable in every respect, and especially
to those who believe in paying tor improve
ments as they are made, and desire rea
and not sham progress. >,
The next amendment is to section !
article OF the constitution. Instead oil
taking one-fourth of the general tax, as no"
provided, for the support of public SCHOOLS
which amount is so uncertain and tnctuat'
ing as seriously to retsrd systematic pro
vision for schools, it provides speclhc bu'
small direct tax for that purpose, In nc
case can IL eACctu JWcuty Coh1o I'll VIZ hu"
dred dollars and if les, than that, with the
other available funds will run the schools
six months in the year, then the tax will be
correspondingly less. 1t still gives one
fourth of the occupation and pol
tax money to the schools: Slight refiec
ton to all who really desire a wise
desirable and progressive system o
common school education wholly severed
from politics. it must satisfy that thi'
is wise change. 1t will give stability
health and growth to the system, as popu
lation and wealth increase, and remove al
otherwise insurmountable objection to 1
gradual reduction of the state ad valorem
tax, and is, therefore, IN harmony with thu
amendment reducing the maximum OF thai
tax from fifty 10 thirty-fve cents.
1t is hoped each of these amendment
NAV be ratified by the people at the election
on the 14th of August.
As to the only other amendment, reduc
ing the terms of the county courts, th'
writer has nothing to say, as he has not Ia
yestigated the matter, and can receive Du
not bestow light. j. ID. b.