The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-19

ing rate of taxation, has been enabled,
largely through the efficiency of your
wise legislation to meet these current and
extraordinary expenditures, and at this
time leave an unexpended cash balance in
the treasury to the credit of the revenue
accornt of $l,500,O00, exclusive OF
the net indemnity claim recently
received from the general gov
ernment amounting to $922,541.52,
making grand total of $2,422,-
541, 52, it would seem to justify the claim
that We have not only been reasonably
economical in handling the public funds,
but the interests of the state have been
watched with care and fidelity. And the
question of all questions that the people
1 are asking to-day is, what dis
position shall be made by you
of this unnecessary surplus? In
consideration Of the numerous re-
quests and recommendations looking to
the expenditure of this public money,
under very liberal and latitudinarian in
terpretations designed to convert the
legislature into a clearing house for the
indirect accomplishment of what the con-
stitution forbids in direct manner, by
its appropriation for local or private en-
terprises, trust you may receive the in
spiration of comprehensive wisdom and
prudence exalted above selfishness, so
that the greatest good may be realized to
the largest number, and that you will be
governed by sense of Justice, rather
than generosity, in the disposition of this
money belonging to the taxpayers of the
state. 1t had better be left in the treas
ury than be squandered.
1t is essential before legislating upon
this subject that there should be care
full collation. of facts; and, in order that
condition of the state, refer you to the
report of the comptroller, which is replete
with valuable information.
A SERIOUS QUESTION.
With no purpose or desire to direct a
matter about which yop have the exclus-
i've right of action, and of which you can
best judge as the immediate represent
atives of your respective constituencies,
yet may venture to suggest that my own
view about the proper disposition of the
cash surplus in the treasury is, first, to see
that the people from whom it was derived
in the shape of taxes shall become the d.
rect benefciaries of liberal share of it
And this brings up for consideration a
very serious and delicate question. If we
were simply required to determine, from
the estimated taxable values of the state,
what rate of t?xation should be main
tanned to procure revenue sufficient to
meet the asoertsined operating expenses
based upon necessary current expend-
lures and outstanding appropriations
the proposition would be of easy solution
but there are other materiel factors to be
taken into account.
Our state is in a formative condition
Its property values are fuctuating and
subject to serious disasters.
And, in addition to this, the receipts
derived from taxation are not uniform
during the year. The great bulk of il
reaches the treasury in December and
January, and for full one-half of the year
the expenditures exceed the receipts. Sc
that, to prevent a temporary embarass
ment and enable the treasury to meet the
lawful demands upon it, you must provide
q sufficient margin I'd a 4 government
over these months. This is the dictate Of
business prudence, and the best states
mauship is but the most thorough COM
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enlarged and applied to the business OF
the state.
Besides, as the county and municipal
levies for I'D valorem taxes are controlled
by the rate of the state levy, and it is to
be presumed that they only levy such
amount as will be actually necessary to
conduct the affairs of their county, city
or town, it follows that reduction in the
state tax would tend to their serious EN-.
barassment. Now, by reference to the
comptroller's statement in answer to my
inquiry on hatsubject, it will be observed
i that his estimate of safe margin to meet
this contingency is 100000, and his esti-
mate of receipts from 1887 taxes for the
current year, as against appropriations
now in force, shows an excess in receipts
over disbursements, exclusive of the bal
ance on hand at the beginning of the
fiscal year of only $298,699.59.
To this we might possibly add the sum
of whatever collections might be made
from back taxes. But financial estimates
must be based upon the solid data of as
certained facts.
POOR FINANCIBR.
The Imagination is poor fnancier,
and wholly without thrift or reliability.
AS this certain amount of money is indis-
pensable to the existence of the govern
ment, the pertinent inquiry arises how
then shall we extend relief to the tax
payers without reduction of the present
tax rate to such an extent as would
afford any appreciate benefit, and
without, at the same time, depicting
the receipts below the requisite margin
absolutely necessary to enable the treas
ury at all times TO meet the just demands
upon it.
| LET IT ALONE.
To this end 1 respectfully offer the fol-
lowing suggestions for your considera-
ton: Leave the rate of taxation as it now
is, and, as the total ad valorem taxes
amount to $1,626, 1924, you might set
apart one-third of this amount in the
treasury from the cash surplus, and direct,
by enactment, the remission of that pro-
portion of the ad valorem tax of each tax
payer when collections are made, com
mencing with September next. By this
means a distribution of this, or such other
proportion of the surplus as you may
deem just and wise, can be made to the
whole people, who are best entitled to
your favorable consideration in disposal
of this money, and, by leaving this sum in
the treasury to the credit of the revenue
account, you simply anticipate the col
lections to that extent; save the state
l Al Ill