San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-02-14
From Wimberley.-The Road Question
Etc.


EDITOR FREE PRESS tt notice from the
published proceedings Of The Legislature
now In session at Austin, that Senator
Crawford has introduced bill which pro-
vides that If the value of an animal stolen Is
less than fifty dollars, the jury may reduce
tho oTenge TO o Iuisdemeanor. Row, Mr.,
Editor, us our mountain country IS mostly
pastoral, tho passage of the above bill
would be o great calamity to us, for we
haye, and have had, u certain thriitless
class OF people who exc out scanty living
by preying on the stock, such as horses,
cattle and hogs. These people have no
visible means Of support, and about nun
eroua enough to com5ulue the profits OF
honest farming and stoclirasing, hence they
work hardship ol those who try to sus-
sain the law aud make an honest living,
Now the passage OF the above bill, would
encourage these evil Doors simply because
they have no broad Of punishment by pay
ing a fine if apprehended,
Our legislators need to tighten the screws
of the law, on the theft Of animals and pro
vide for more speedy enforcement Of the
same. Our mountain country ID well adapt
| ed to the raising of hogs, and il il was not
| for the depredations of thieves, aud the
consequent discOuragements of farmers on
account of same the hill country would
would raise enough hogs every year to sup
ply the entire couutry with pork and bacon,
and thereby save tho money sent north
every year for this product.
Az tie road question seems TO be consid-
erably agitated at present, and it needs to
be, your correspondent would like offer
few iGsas, th.t would perhaps help unravel
this kno5iy but very necessary question.
Oar present road law il q disgrace 70
civilization, and if enected il any other
country than the United States would oGnse
q revolution, ItsnecAS considerably d q
laiiitnry law rs only certain oh6s Of citi-
zon5 Of are liable 10 road duty. I bc'iaVo
that tho constitution of the United States
and the State of Texas provide that TAXA
ton shall be equal ana bear on ell alike.
Ii this is so is il just or right thnS only
those between the ages Of eighteen and Sor-
ty-fye should he subject TO road duty and
all others exempted! There are. ! sup
pose, in the state, some 25O, 600 OF SEQ, 900
men subject to road duty, and are liable 20
work tive days in the year at one dollar per
h,1 II.
Gay each would ne w. 22C,ooo o. taxes tnls
c.nSs OF men pay While al over age, aDd
The property, ID exempt Lfoln EaAeS (yoI
know our present road ana BRUCE Jaw Is a
f.roo Oh the s'atuVs oohks}' Is MOI tHis
class iegi3Iatlon thlok 80: Doeslt o:a;
on ail alike Most "asuIealJ not. NC
think, hear scne "IoS'o'tc@ say we tired
tbs t1X system onco anG ls.Iea' yer!
well, "non fAo you h''e tha' system! some
fifteen or twenty years ago, when there
were very few people IN the state MI
MoSsoack Times nave changed, ana l.
wo ire going to ROMAN in Texas 1t Is ne
cessary TO begin TO make our improve
ments permanent, ana DISCARD temporary
work, an nothing needs 1t more than our
way Of working and LAYING out roads (mora
On this subject later but where Is tho rem
edy for these oV}ilsf surely in the enact
ment OF just and wholesome law, How
best to accomplish this end This Is the
issue. Your quotation nom the letter OF
Capt. McLeLion, OF Dripping springs pup
llshed in the Times, is sufficient to show
the injustice or tho lmpract'cabliity OF
the bonded system, beheVo that per
capita and property tax Is the best IN
our present condition, l. q. for the ieglsla-
ture to enact law ieVylng poh and