Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-02
HON. GEORGE T. JESTER
Interrie we'd in Regard to the school Fund
M endment.

Correspondence o. he Gazette
CoRsICASA, TEX. July 3l.-There is an
impression with some of the people that
this per cent school fund amendment is il
the interest Of the wealthy and viii reduce
taxes.
Hon. George T. Jester said today: This
amendment, if adopted, will not decrease
taxes. but will simply give US ABOUT two
months more school At present the aver
age school throughout the state is about
four and one-half months, two months of
which Is from the state school fund and
two and one-half months from 4 49, cent
state school tax. 81 state school poll tax
and one-fourth Of the state occupation tax
The constitution makes it the duty of the
legislature 10 provide for a siS-months'
school. Governor Ho2g, in his message TO
the legislature, recommended that the state
tax be increased to 20 cents. which IS the
constitutional limit \ bill was in
PRODUCED early in the session. in accordance
with the governors recommendation. and il
was referred to the committee or reve-
nue. and taxation. | was 4 mem Der Of
that committee, and favored the increase
IL Texas, and III committee reported the
bill favorably. After that | introduced the
joint resolution, transferring annually
per cent OF the permanent 10 the available
school fund, which passed the house by d
vote of - for and ID against.
IN SUBMITTING lulS amendment Illt lfgls-
laturc proYidedifor a full sIX-months school.
but if it is defeated we viii
have only four and one-half months
school. When the bill increasing
taxes to 90 cents was reached in the house.
it was defeated from the simple fact that
we had already provided for full six
months term of school by the l per cent
school fund amendment.
You are not in favor of reducing the
school tax;
No sir. I have never failed 10 vote for
school tax where an opportunity was of
fered.
How is the amendment taking over the
state
/ My information is that the more il is dis
cussed and explained the stronger it grows.
All the sentimental gush about the founders
of our government setting this fund aside
and making the constitution, which
this amendment seeks TO change IS
subSlding for the want of facts
No substantiate the argument. The
founders of our government, in the consti-
tuition of 1896 and 1s4O, created only the
permanent county school fund by giving
four leagues of land 10 each county in the
state. and provided for u st2te
university fund. This amendment does
not apply to either of these
funds, but only the state common school
fund, which has been created and built up
by the people since 1870.
We have been dumping all Of our public
lands into this fund. The constitution of
1856 adopted the present plan of using only
the interest on the fund for the support of
the schools. and making the principal of all
notes. bonds cash and land the permanent
school fund.
At that time, just after the war, the
fund was not one-twentieth of what it is
to-day, and the interest, which is the avail
oh school ff,pI
il is only per cent, while the land which We
have been giving 10 this fund has become
very valuable All the laws concerning
this state common school fund, both organic
and statutory, since 1850, have been in the
interest of the permanent school fund, re-
gardless of justice to the children of the
present.
You think, then, that the state school
fund is about large enough!
The state common school fund is worth
about $50, 0o0, 900, and it is constantly
increasing in value. 1t has doubled
in value within the past ten
years, and from the fact that
more than two-thirds OF this fund is in
land. which will continue to increase in
value, there is no doubt that the fund dur
ing the next twenty-five years will increase
more than this l per cent will draw from
the principal, so that at the end of this time
the fund will be larger than it is to-day.
You think the people have perfect right
to change the Constitutions
Unquestionably so. We have the right,
and it is our duty to change it so that the
children to-day can get their share of the
fund.
If the fund was in interest bearing notes
and bonds it would support 4 full six or
seven months school, Now, # we hold the
school lands for an advance and the homes
of actual settlers, the children of the pres
ent should have some of the advance.
The people of Texas created and are contiu-
uing to create and build up this fund, and it
.iEspHr sacred duty 10 see to it that the
children of this generation secure their just
and equitable share OF it.
The fund is large enough and should not
be permitted to become larger. The in
crease in the value of the fund should be
invested III The minds of the children.