San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-02-21
THE VOTE on THE SCHOOL HOUSE
QUESTION.
The Law In ihe Case.

NtiDiiVf
The Law In the Case.
AS having reference to tho vote on
the question of new school building
in this place, tho following letter
from tho State Superintendent OF
public instruction will be read with
interest
AUSTIN Texas, Feb, IL, 1889,
Mr.. CHAs. HUTcmNds,
DEAR Sm:-In response to your
favor of Feb. 14th, you arc advised
that the Statute relating to tho issu-
ance of bonds for any purpose does
not refer to tho population OF a city
or town. Those voting for the issu-
ance of bonds shall be poperty tax
payers. See Act. March 81, 1885 IL
Legislature, p. 80; also, Act OF March
20, 1887; Goth Legislature p. 81.
Very resp, OSCAR ii. Cooper,
State Supt. Pub. Inst.
P.S. The above refers to cities
and towns Incorporated for munich
pal as we'll as school purposes.
In this connection we will copy
the law bearing on this subject, to
be found in the general laws OF 1887,
Chap. So, entitled "Taxes by Cities
and towns for the construction OF
Public Buildings, otc.:
CHAP. 55.-[H. b. No. 377] An Act
TO authorize cities and towns to
levy and collect taxes for the
construction or purchase OF public
buildings, water works, sewers, i'm
provements of streets, and other
permanent improvements, and to
issue bonds therefor, and to repeal
all laws in conflict Herewith.
SECTION l. BE it enacted by the
Legislature of the State Of Texas:
That the city or town council o! any
city or town within this State, incor-
porated under the General Laws,
shall have power by ordinance to levy
and collect an annual ad valorem tax
sufficient to meet the interest and
sinking fund on all indebtedness le-
gally incurred prior to the adoption
OF the constitutional amendment in
1883 regarding the power OF cities
and towns to levy and collect taxes,
etc, and may levy and collect twenty
five cents on the one hundred dollars
valuation of all property in such
city and town for current expenses,
and may levy and collect an addition
al tax of twenty five cents on the
one hundred dollars valuation for the
purpose of constructing or the pur-
chase of public buildings, water
works, sewers, street improvements
and other permanent improvements
within the limits of such city or
town and all cities and towns pro-
yiding for such improvements shall
have the power to issue coupon bonds
of the city therefor, in such such
sum or sums as they may deem ex-
pedient, to bear interest not exceed
ing six per cent per annum Pro
vided, That the aggregate amount OF
bonds issued for the above named
purposes shall never reach an
amount where the tax of one-fourth
of one per cent will not pay current
interest and provide sinking fund
sufficient to pay the principal at ma
turity, and the amount of bonds le-
gally issued under acts passed prior
to the adoption of the present Con-
stitution shall not be computed in
the amount of bonds
which may be issued for the above
named city improvements. Within
the meaning of this act shall be in
cludod building sites and buildings
for the public free schools and in
Of learning within those
which have assumed or may assume
hereafter, the exclusive control and
management of the public free
schools and institutions of learning
within their limits.
SEC. 2. That all laws in conflict
with this act are hereby repealed.
1NoTE.-The foregoing act origin
ated in tho House, and passed the
same by q vote of 65 yeas, 20 nays;
and passed the Senate by a vote OF
Il yeas, 3 nays.
Approved, March %, 1887.
We have seen another letter from
Mr.. Copeland, of Rockdale, to Mr..
Gregory, on our school house ques-
ton. He concludes as follows:
Go ahead, and success will follow.
All opposition to our schools here
has long since disappeared. With
oft a doubt our schools are the best
thing Rockdale has.