The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-21
Heavy ExactiOns and Scant PrOtec-
lGaIveston News. /

Galveston News
A state revenue tax of 171a cents,
state school tax of 121s cents, county
revenue tax of 25 cents, bridge and
road tax of 1215 cents, building tax of
25 cents, old county debt tax of 25
cents, and city taxes all the way from
so to 100 cents, to which may be add
ed school taxes of cities, towns and
school districts, and poll and occupa-
ton taxes, state, county and city, COM
prise fearful list of exactions under
which the people of many counties
must suffer. In the unorganiZed
counties where there are no cities and
school districts to levy special taxes
the property owners might be Sup
posed to feel gratified that the special
session left them in no worse condi-
tion than had the fence-cutters; but
since their fences are gone their lands
have. it seems, doubled IN value. for it
is announced that the rate of valua-
tion of last year, which was 50 cents
per acre, has been increased by some
assessing or equaliZing board at Aus
ton to 81 an acre. The $15,OOO,OO0 acres
in those counties, assessed at ST.
100000 last year, have been assessed
at $15,000,O00 this year. The question
is, whether fence-cutting or the neces-
siJies of the state treasury caused this
unusual and unexpected advance in
land values. The land owners, not
withstanding state taxes have not
been advanced in rate, pay twice the
taxes of last year, and are subject to
court house, jail, road and bridge
taxes for the benefit of the organized
tn tn
county is attached for taxing pur-
buttons of surplus cash from the land
owner is added the qualification of
opening siXty-feet roads over his prop
erty, without compensation, and
wen he has further increased the value
of his estate by opening gates every
three miles, that the public may
enjoy the use of his pastures without
the necessity of using wire-nippers,
he is finally informed that the taxes
and revenues are gathered to supply
and support the government, but if
he desires protection, the government
will assure it if he will induce his
local officers and his neighbors to come
to his assistance. There never was in
the history of any state or country so
many OF varied eXactionS upon the
people by the government, coupled
with such an insignificant amount of
protection by the government, as there
is to-day in Texas. The cry of large
class of broperty-owners soon will be
for protection from the government.
While increasing the burdens of the
people to the extraordinary extent in
dicated by a resume of the recent leg
islation, the government is yet almost
reduced to bankruptcy, and the hand
to-mouth system, found so pernicious
in former years, is now regarded as a
certainty before the close of the first
term of the present administration.
What another. like term-if there is to
be another-will produce may be con-
jectured. Extravaganza, reckless ap-
propriations, increased tax exactions,
illimitable local debt making and the
surrender to communistic demands
must weaken pride and devotion to
the state and encourage the division
idea. Sections of the state, where 10y
atty and state pride had already fallen
into decay by the supineness Of cen=
tral authority and the defiance of law:
less destructionists, will. If this state
of affairs continues, ask separation.
If, after paying all kinds OF taxes, the
people of such a district are finally
relegated to their own efforts and at
their own expense to supply the func-
tions of a protecting state govern
ment, it is but natural that they
should desire to be relieved of the ex-
pense of supporting another state
government.