The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-27
Department Notes
as Transactions in the Different
Branches of the State Government.

IL
Ang INSTRUCTED the formation of public
9schools In several populous school
acommunities, the county Judge re
l1nEed them from Office. The trustees
dobjected to being thus removed, and
1.-THE county judge, in order to ascertain
the propriety of his action, writes to
Hon. j. NJ. Baker to know if ne was
fright ia his action. The matter was
Preferred to the encouragement, who
advises that the judge had no author
'ty,to make the removal, nor had the
Aperintendent of education the power
a formulate any rules looking to the
imGYal OF district school officers. The
Obnoxious officials will be made to va
ate, doubtless, by regular quo war
onto proceedings, WEIGH will be insti-
lAted.
~ The governor has offered a reward
! pr Sl,OOO for the arrest and conviction
lpf zach and every person who was in
NY way concerned in the diabolical
york OF wrecking the passenger train
3n the Houston u TeXas Central Rail-
Ayoad In the recent disastrous catastro-
XSne near Hem rstead. There is al
READY standing reward for the con-
vlctlon of any miscreant found
{ gupFy of wrecking trains and this ac-
Ion OF the governor, by doubling the
/ reward, affords ample inducement to
dpd the miserable wretch or wretches
Eho brought on the appalling acct
gdent at Clear Creek.
The comptroller's report is COM
pleted. 1t reviews the financial opera
.3tions OF the last two years. At the
4 beginning of that time there was
leash balance of S526,545; at the close
iof the hrst year this sum was reduced
to $S45, 154; and at close of second
ssyeT there was only $145,298 remain
ing, showing in the two years expen-
dltures exceeded receipts by 1881 PAT.
The tax was 30 cents for general pur-
poses and 10 cents for schools the first
year, and 2212 cents for general pur-
poses and IL cents for schools the
! year following. This surplus is now
almost exhausted and having no re-
eve receipts, must sustain the bur-
n OF each years expenditures. The
Sfenue last year did not meet expen.
st8tures by S199,855, a result antici-
pated and pointed out in the comp.
troller's previous report. AS to the
two ensuing years if 2215 cents was
insufficient how can expenditures be
brought Within receipts from tax of
~ cents. Next years revenue is
carefully estimated at $I,661 ,406. The
sxRenses as footed up by each
head of department are esti-
7mated for the first year at 1852, 234
land for second year 1851, 134. The
Iuenelency claims to be met amount to
! $22S, l94. The cost of the regular
isession of the legislature will amount
TO $l2o, 600 additional making a grand
Fotai for the two years, including reg
niar expenses, Deficiencies and legis-
padlon, amount to $3,636,562. Esti-
mated receipts for the same period are
$S, 322 .8S2, thus making a deficit of
1913, 100. This presents an embarrass-
ment which cannot be removed by
reducing expenses, on account Of the
large deficiency to be paid during the
firSt year out of the revenue. The
greatest possible reduction of expenses
would not exceed $4,000, still leaving
a,shortage of $263,750. The shortage
for the first year cannot be remedied
by raising the taxes, since the collec-
tons cannos be made in time to be
available, on account of the long in
terval between the levy and the col
Election. The relief suggested is to
issue deficiency bonds, though the
measure can only be defended from
hthe standpoint of emergency; 4 per
Pcfnt bonds could probably be disposed
OF at par. A change in the tax so as to
give twenty cents to the general
revenue, and 10 cents to the support
of the schools is deemed advisable.
[<1yen with this increase in the revenue
Acome the strictest economy will be
CURED. Referring to the increase of
-fs4Ol GOO in receipts from occupation
taxes, the increase is to be chiefly as
cribed to the enlargement of the
liquor traffic. There was an increase
in the total assessed values last year
of $73,000O00. County bonds amount
ing to 81 ,602298, yielding an annual
revenue of $104,622, have been pur-
chased for the benefit of the schools.
The above is an abridged report of
the lengthy report of the comptroller,
but. it lovers the most important
lectures of this important uocument.
Gen. w. FL. King has completed his
report of all the Indian and hostile
Mexican incursionS since the war, to
accompany the vouchers showing the
expenditures by the state for frontier
for which indemnity is sought of the
general government. The report is
exhaustive and comprises full his
of border troubles with the Indians
9Rd Mexicans for the last twenty
years.
The board of managers of the luna
tic asylum at Austin will recommend
to she legislature that the lunatic asy-
INN fund. the proceeds of sland sales,
be appropriated for improvements.
The asylum land sales fund of the
fhroo 20
cannot be increased so as to TO of
material advantage, as most of the
aR2ld; and it is therefore suggested by
the comptroller that these lands should
be used before mdney is taken from
the general revenue for improvements.
There is no reason why this fund
should not be used to support the asy-
lums, so as to relieve the treasury of
embarrassments anticipated during
next year.
Hon. b. M. Baker, superintendent
ct public instruction, will most prob
kr5ly use his exertions before the leg
S1SsRture to secure county Superintend-
Srncy of the public free schools, at
Feast in the most populous counties.
He thinks that the county Judges
who, under the present system, have
control of local school affairs, ought to
be relieved of this extra service, for
which they get no adequate pay. Be-
sides, county judges have quite
epought official business to look after.
outside of the schools. In every way
it is to the advantage of the education
al interests of the state to have coun-
ty superintendentS, according to the
idea of Superintendent Baker, and
when this improvement is effected he
thinks the school system of Texas
viii be on par with any other state.
Superintendent of public instruc-
ton. Baker, has received reports from
81 towns and cities of Texas in regard
to the status of the public schools.
Number of white schools maintained,
eos; colored, 55; average term, 2S7
days: framed school houses, 81; brick,
Ia: stone, 10; log, 4. Local tax levied
by cities, S152, 1926.
The 10th volume of appellate court
reports is out and can be obtained at
the office of the state secretary.
= Election returns from about one
half the counties In the state show
that twenty-nine members of former
legislatures have been returned to the
18th. OF the newly elected members
several are known to be in favor of
free grass.
Gatesville city bonds, to the amount
: If 5000, heariug per cent. interest,
save been registered with the comp
froller. Bonds of the city of Dallas
to the amount of $95, 900, 80 years, at
& a. I,ksr oant hova hoon iGclJo1 and will