The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-01
Judge Fulmore's Card.
To the Editor of the Statesman.

To the Editor of the Statesman.
There appears in The STATESMAN of the
26th inst. reply to recently compiled
statement of the present condition of the
county finances by Walter Tips and 9th
ere, signed by all the members of the
present commissioners court. There are
so many errors in it and SO much that is
calculated to deceive people who do not
closely examine such matters, as we'll as
implied charges against their predeces-
sors By which they seek to avoid the re-
sponsihility of their shortcomings, that
am constrained to reply to q few of
them.
Three reasons are assigned for the pres
ent deficiency in our finances:
l. Having to pay debts created by their
predecessors.
2. Permanent Improvements on co1nty
property; and
8. A less amount of money than :heir
predecessors had for the ordinary ex-
penses of the county.
To support the first they refer to two
TENS, one for $500 paid as attorneys
fees. This fee was contracted for, six
months after the present administration
came into power. 1t shows upon its face
that it was not chargeable to the preced-
ing administration. The other item is for
$4,008 interest. which became due long
after tLey came into Office: 1t is not Cus-
tomsry to pay interest in advance, and the
interest which became due in 1888, and
that which is to become due in all future
years 50 long as the debt continues,
might jnstas we'll be ckerged up against
the former administration.
FsRMANENC, IMPROVEMENTS.
The addition to the court house was
paid for out of the court house and jGii
fund, which was, raised cut of a special
extra 10 cent tax for that purpose. The
amount os money raised by that levy, %
the records show, was $12;,I52.66 net. The
amount paid for the ad iition and furni
ture for the vaults, was Sl0,977. 1t was
rot paid for out Of the general revenue; if
there was any additional cost it was not
paid for cut of this general revenue.
The other improvements peid for, az
cordlng tc5their own showing, was a paT-
nent on the addition to poor farm of
$4,000, $3.50 for safe in assessors Office
and 1852 for stosk and implements On
poor farm. Total, $3,252.
During che two preceding years there
was paid out fer permanent improve
nsnts the following:
On hospital building and furniture. ......S662 81
{ z remodelEg district court rjem. 1870 %
..........-....o.....ss2y 81
Minor permanent Improvements, sloh
as building house on poocsfarn for luna
tics, ETC., are not mentioned, as have not
ths time 20 go ever the -eooEs25 and Gull
the items.
As to tie third cause there appears this
remarkable statement: "We had as rove
aue from the tax rolls OF 1887 (protably
1886 was meant one-Gfth less than in
1887, in which year the tax rolls of 1886
we're in hand. This viii account for our
having less money for the ordinary
expenss5-and the reason for some def
ciency."
Nov, it would appear to one unac-
quain red with county taxation for taa last
few years.. that the reduction in
the rates of taxation vas due to th3 man
agenlent of 5he present court.
In 1886 the rate OF county taxation was
as follows For court house aud Jail puz-
poses, 20 cents on 500; for general reve-
nue.. purposes, 10 cents on 800; ior road
and bridge purposes, Is cents on 500, or
a total Of so cents on the 800. This levy
of 20 cents for court house and Jail par
poses in 1886 was $3.50 in excess of
what was necessary to pay off the court
| house and jail debt, exclusive of which the
total tax was 80 cents on the 500 valRa-
ton. There being no court house and
Jail debt in 1888 it was NOS within the
power of the present court to make an
assessment on this account. Why then is
the tax 80 cents instead of 30 cents for
1888? The sin pie answer il, because the
general revenue arising under 15-cent
tax rate is not enough to pay expenses,
and raise to 20 cents is resorted to.
The idea Of the present court "haVlng
less money for the ordinary expenses l;
prepusterCEs. If 15-csnt tax on ST.,
/ $4,000 yields less than 15-cent tax Oh
/ $13,455, O0O, then. they have had less money
/ If this statement of the present court !;
really true, then it is serious renectlor
upon the tax collector. He has been II
Office eight wears, and during the first si1
wears he made very close collections, in
creasing the amounts each year as the
taxabIe values increased, and l have nc
doubt of his having done so during the
last two years, and that his records will
show that he has turned over moro money
into the general revenue by hundreds Of
dollars the present year than was evel
turned over in any one year in the history
of the county, since the tax rate for gen
eral purposes was Is cents.
will warrant that be will make thi:
statement and prove it by his records tc
any citizen who will ask the information