Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-22
ment of land notes and county bonds that
must find an investment or

LIE IDLE IN THE STATE TREASURY.
Is it not better to lessen taxes 10 cents on
the $780, about S772. 600 annually less than
otherwise would be necessary TO support a
six months school, by leaving this amount
in circulation in the pockets of every tax
payer in the state rather than encourage
our state and counties from going in debt
and borrowing money that should be placed
IN the minds of the children9
The amendment carries with it a solution
of the investment and disbursement of a
large part of the surplus cash belonging to
the permanent school fund. Every child in
the state is equally benefited and every tax
payer receive his just share by reduction
OF taxes in proportion to the amount OF
taxes necessary TO support 4 six months
school
Thus it is, considerable portion of the
cash surplus school fund is put in circula-
ton, using it 10 support the public schools.
As the money is received in the treasury it
viii be gradually distributed throughout
the state in every community, thereby pre-
venting an accumulation in the state treas
ury. II is simply using this money for the
purpose which il was intended and lessen
ing taxes.
The argument we hear about the founders
of our government bequeathing the state
public school land and establishing the
precedent that only the interest on notes
and bonds should be the available school
fund and the permanent school fund should
be the principal of all notes, bonds and
cash and land. is false and delusion.
Texas first constitution was the year she
first became a state in 1S45. This was be-
fore the day OF state public schools in Texas.
About all the land that was then set apart
for schools was the four league grant TO
each county. The present plan of making
only the interest the available fund, and the
49, dc u,,n tltaI
the permanent school fund, was the consti-
tuition as amended in June, 1866, which was
adopted by 2S, 119 for and %, 400 against
BYA VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
Since that time the public domain has
gradually been given to the different school
funds, railroads, state capital, etc, and to-
day we have only 4,600, 900 acres still unap-
propriated, which the Twenty-second legis-
lature came very near giving three-fourthS
to the public school fund and one-fourth to
the state university.
The people are the law, the supreme
power. Constitutions are made and
amended by the people, and the people OF
to-day know better the condition of the
school fund in 1891 than those who made
the constitutions of 1915, 1866, or 1876.
The question before the people is, shall
we adopt the proposed amendment and do
justice to the children and taxpayers of the
present, or reject it and continue TO accu-
mulate an immense school fund for an un-
known posterity from every quarter of the
globel The sentimental gush we hear
about precedent and ''posterlty'' which
would rob the children of this generation of
their share of the school fund and raise
them up in ignorance, will give way to in
telligence, justice and patriotism when dis
cuSSed.
in the language of Governor Roberts,
"Posterity is already here, gentlemen"
The old alcalde spoke wisely. "a word fifty
spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of
silver" 1t is the half million children of
the present that confronts US that demands
our consideration.
Many OF whom is the posterity of the
founders of our government; of the heroes
who fell at the Alamo of the defenders of
Texas from the MeXicans and Indians: of
the pioneers who suffered all the hardships
and privations incident to the civilization
and development of new country; of the
honest hardy men struggling for home in
q wilderness, who have felled our forests,
plowed our broad prairies in beautiful
fields and made them blossom as the rose.
This is the posterity that is entitled TO an
education from this fund. 1t is our duty to
provide for their education, and prepare
them to take our places, to keep pace with
the rapid and progressive march OF our
grand state, and the intelligent people who
are COMING ana VIII CONTINUE 10 COlllt anu
make their homes among US.
1t has been truly said that it is the duty
Of a nation to educate well one generation
and it will provide for its posterity and be
more capable of approaching the impor-
lance of educating its posterity and better
able to pay taxes and support public
schools.
The public school fund is large enough
and should not be permitted to become
larger; the fund at its present value is and
will be the largest school fund in the
Union, and one that will require able and
honest management.
The increase in the value of this fund
from the enhancement in the value of school
ands and the interest on the fund should
De used for the purpose for which it was
set apart-to educate, even to the extent of
1 ten months school.
Better leave posterity well educated
'athers and mothers and a smaller school
,und rather than ignorant parentage and a
arge school fund.
We believe this fund should be used for
he purpose for which it was dedicated, but |
We believe in using it and lessening taxes.
We know not what may befall it, dishonest |
officials may rob even sacred fund like |
his; war with its devastation may consume |
t, but that which is placed in the minds of |
he children is used for the purpose for |
which it is intended and is where moth |
md rust cannot corrupt.