Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-30
APPROPRIATIONS
10 Carry on the Business of
the State
PRESENT PeRPLEXING FACTS.
Forming Themselves Into Problem That Has
to Be Solved.
a Very Important and interesting Question
Nov Discussed In The Attorney. Generals
Office Regarding DISCRIMINATION
Of Counties Capital Notes.
PRESENT PERPLExlNG FACTS.

Austin, Tex, Jan. % Especial lin.
der the present system of taxation a good
fouuu dehciVncy would accrue uguinst
the general revenue fund of the state In
me next two years Such, at lenst. As
we sum on the estimates made 10y Comp
ironer Mccall IN his annual report now
m the hands Of the printer He estimates
the receipts of general revenue for tbe
current year Guiding August 81. 1895. at
9-,l-o.btO The Appropriation year ends
req -, and the estimates of sums re-
qmred To run the government for the
ensuing year aggregate S2.GG9, 1868 The
legislature is required TO make appropria.
tl3hs Tor two years, and the estimates
submitted for the year ending Feb ~.
1910, are slightly less than those for the
preceding year. or S2.i4Li2S The 10.
tai OF The estimates for the next two ap-
preparation yours Is S5.ll3.49l, and tie
total estimated receipts, under present
lor the next two fiscal years Is
o. 90, M difference against the state
Sa, ms 's SS30,50l
'4SGc, hsy. hlem that confronts the
# I"Hhco , aud hnunce commit.
Shm;S5 o'y lriatious be cut down
or shull ~, des be- enlarged
cursory gu .ce at the estimates for
appropriations is sufficient TO show that
no material reduction Is possible there.
The rigid economist may fluid a place
where his pruning knife would fnm
whack away on the salary of clerk
here and there; he may fancy that too
much is paid by the departments for
stamps and stationery and that the capi.
tol enclosures should be planted I'm cab
hngc, as suggested by one member of the
Twenty instead of being the Oh
Jcct OF decoration, but with all of his
wits sharpened, unless he should decide
TO curtail the work of the states celp.
mosynury institutions clog It's courts
or seriously Interfere with the smooth
rui'nlng of its executive machinery. he
could not, 20 save himself from the exc
cratlons of Populst constituency, chop
out OF the appropriations suggested by
the heads of the various public institi-
tions enough to buy a vacant lot In Dal-
las at boom prices
If .he approx rintiOus are not scaled the
revenues must be increased 20 meet them
That is plain enough. 10 increase the
revenues three ways are open.
/. To Increase the adyulorcm tax
which j. now 10 cents on the 500.
=. To increase occupation and other
special taxes.
3. 10 increase the objects of taxation
II the first method Is adopted IL will
require u tax rate of 20 cents on the
500 % raise the required revenue. There
will be strong opposition 10 this, cs-
pecially by the agricultural members.
The Qccupgti0u taxes collGSted last year
amounted 10 nearly million dollars
SOlS,O92 TO be eNaCt--and it would seem
the state il already milking the teut ms
much as it will stand. still there will
be- strong effort made 10 levy heavier
taxes 10 this direction, 10 fall mainly on
the liquor interest The discovery of new
objects of taxation IL a subject that now
cngrosses the attention of several of
those who are charged with the duty of
solving the financial problems before the
Legislature. One OF these said to The Ga
zettc representative that there are over
S2OO,OOOOOO of property values, stocks
bonds, etc. in the rtutc, which escape
taxation. His idea Is TO get everything
that represents value upon the assessor Is
roll. There will be IN effort made In
this line and the question of what conkt-
tutes double taxation is likely TO receive
full ventilation.
The problem is further complicated
by the fact that there are DEFICIENCIES to
provide for nggrcgating S2fU,GO2 The
greater part of this-S232, I5b-hclongN
10 the judiciary demartmcnt of the gov
ornment. The two largest items are:
! Fees and costs of sherlils, clerks and at
| toncys Ina felony eases, SID, iD; eX-
pcnses of attached witnesses, Si3 l33.
| Every legislature heretofore has neglect
ed to make sufficient provision for these
purposes. The amount estimated for the
| first item for the next two years is $500
| 600, which, as minor part OF the cost
| of the felony cases 10 be tried between
| Feb. IS, 1893. and Fob. % 1893, serves
| To illustrate the fearful economic waste
| entniled upon society by the criminal.
The appropriations asked for the va
| riOus branches and institutions of the gov
eminent for the year ending Feb,
~ 1894 are as follows.