The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-21

DALLAS, June 20.-The following members
Of the joint legislative committee met to-day
and framed the following address: Senator
shannon, Representatives Armistead, Rosen-
thai and Foster, of Grayson.
To the People Of the State Of Texas: The
franless OF our present organic law recognizing
the fact that however much it might be re-
garded as an improvement upon all preceding
state constitutions, it, like ali other human
productions. would be found by experience
and trial to be i'll some of its parts at least,
imperfect, and that amendments thereto
would in time be demanded by the best inter-
ests oil the state, by the mode and manner by
which it might be amended, as follows: Sec
/, article 1.-THE legislature, at any triennial
session, by vote OF two-thirds of all the
members elected to each house, to be entered
by yeas and nays on the journal, may propose
amendments TO the constitution. TO be voted
upon by the qualified electors for members of
the legislature, which proposed amendments
shall be duly published once week for 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 a newspaper is pub
lished: and it shall DE the duty Of the several
returning officers of the said election, to open
a poll Tor "and make returns to the secretary
OF state OF the number OF legal votes cast at
said election, Tor and against said amend
ments; ana II more than one be proposed, then
the number If votes cast for and against each
OF them; and II IL shall appear from said re-
turns that majority OF the votes cast have
been IN favor of any amendment, the said
amendment so receiving a majority of the
voges cast, shall become a part of the consti
tuition, and a proclamation shall be made by
1 the governor thereof"
In conformity thereto, the eighteenth legis-
lature have submitted for your approval or re-
lection the following joint resolutions, each of
fai To
section or sections OF the constitution therein
referred to. We viii present them in their or
der First, joint resolution No. proposes
amendment TO sections and 6, of article Z, OF
the present constitution, which require the
sales of the schuol lands bel nging
! TO the state, and to the several counties in
! Texas, in state bonds, or in United States
I bonds. The amendment proposed SO changes
I section 4 as TO empower the comptroller under
instructions of the Board OF Education, To in
vest the proceeds of the sale of the state school
I lands in Texas state bonds, in United States
bonds, Texas county bonds, or such other Sc
makes the state responsible for all invest
mentS and section is so changed that the
( proceeds OF the sale OF county school bonds
may be invested in state or United State bonds,
or such other securities as may be prescribed by
law and makes the counties responsible for
all Investments. The interest thereon, and
other revenue, except the principal, shall be
the available school fund.
The purpose of the legislature in proposing
this amendment Is MADE manifest Dy the con-
sideration OF the fact that the premium of both
state and federal bonds is so high as compared
TO the rate OF interest they bear, that TO con-
tinue to invest the funds in either
would be destructive to the prime
object for which the investment is made
that is, the security OF an available school
fund.
second, Section q article 8, OF the present
constitution authorizes the levy Of not more
than 20 cents on the 500 valuation, exclusive
of the tax to pay the public debt and no
half OF said state tax, except for payment OF
debts already incurred, and for the erection Ol
public buildings, not to exceed so cents on the
500 valuation in any one year. and except as
ia this constitution is otherwise provided
The amendment proposed 70 the foregoing by
Joint resolution No. Is in substance as follows:
N tax on property. exclusive OF the tax
necessary 70 pay the public debt. and for he
taxes provided Tor the bepe1f Of the public
on the % Valuation. aud IL Gilnnff city q
town s17.. ...r mere than p ,.e..s Se " f'lc