The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1893-01-12

CoSTINrrD FROM SIXTH p,GE.
hIc for your honorable body 70 Submit q CON
tiona amendment in obedience to the ex-
ed will of the people on this subject.
Public Education.
declaration in the state constitution that,
General diffusion of knowledge is essential
liberties 1nd rights of the people AMI
andng that the legislature shall make
(ble provision for the support and mninten-
Of ali efficient system of public free schools
pcr.od o. not less than six months of each
can never be consistently lost sight of nor
Hooked by the peoples worthy representa-
The demand that this provision shall be
piled wi h IS but just aud reasonable. The
bile have Ms" through their convention de.
I'D that the University and its branches and
other public cducatinal institutions must be
bropriatclv 1dowed aud maintained:
or fun information on the subject of public
bca ion the attention %! your honorable
hies is rcspe 'tfuly called to the able eabor-
aud intercs ing reports OF the superlntcnd-
FRS Of the Sam Houston Normal Institute. IL
led At Hunts vile of the priire View Normal
kttutc. at Hempstend, of the A. and NJ Col
e at Bryan of the Regents of the University
IAN, tin. and of the mt deal branch thereof
klvestou. En. 4 of these several reports de
rive investigation. for they have been made by
ZEN well vcrs"i III th"se public institutions
|milar with t cir necessities. with Just prid"
IT, state has .ppo ted each of these pubic
|hools and as result the people are daily re-
Sviug from them benefits far beyond compu-
ItlUu that III ISL grow Ill Importance !chi Wy
Jar as the state itself moves on to leadership
hong her sis rrs Most OF these institutions
h in IA hca thiul. PROSPEROUS conditions. vet
e demanding, Of necessity. I'M reascd appro-
katious o meet the cxigencics OF the times;
the state grows the publ C schools ana
CHER cducat nal institutions expand t. Keep
ace with her greatness. hclr encourage
Eat in all ,esp"cts must spring from the honor
ID pride of the pcopl whose libcrailv
yards them in the past vouchsaies LOT them
&, ess in the future
Mechanics Liens.
Ehe pcople through their convention last Au-
H. also adopted the following PLATFORM
Ns. Ne pledge the enactment of law to
pre- Justly and perfectly secure the mems OF
echanics, material men, artisans ana labor
IS "A revision Of the laws now volumlnous
hd inadequate on this subject to more justly
foiect the wage-workers. materia!-men ana
hechahcs becomes important in view OF the
demands and tho ting detects in the statute
hereon 1t is therefore called respectfully 10
he attention of your honorable bodies. with
ne illli confidence that all appropriate, need
nl remedies will be adopted.
Convict Labor.
| Another important declaration by the people
to be found in the following expression
Trough their PLATFORM
[",2l. We bcleve the custom of hiring out
pa leasing penal convicts to corporations anu
fivatc persons to be az inst public policy.
By message TO the first session of the 22nd
legislature this question was presented, point
pS OUT inc cNilS apparent III tut pIcscut Sss
Em of permitting convicts to be leased o.
bred out in any respect whatever. Referenc"
b the report of the superintendent of peniten-
(aries will disclose the advantage of working
penn upon state account over the custom OF
Easing and hiring them out There are two
|aramount obj, cts that should be kept in view
p the control and operation Of the penitentiary
bnvicts: Firsl. to carry out the objects of pun
|hmcnt for crime; and, second to avoid as far
possible, placing the convicts in competition
(ilh free labor Experience teaches that the
primer object is as impossible Us the latter has
Proven 10 be impracticable. The object of penal
punishment is TO suppress crime and to reform
pc offender. . is quite doubtful If crime can
r Suppressed or the reformation of the offender
fconplishcd BY permitting the convicts to be
(vrked for hiic by private parties or corpora
ions At best it j. difficult to reform the crimi.
bal element an this trouble cannot be relieved
y exposing the prisoners in chains to the pub
lc gaze while they are working upon railroads
nd private farms removed so far from the
hocsome effect of prison discipline and moral
hiiuence that may be so conveniently thrown
pound them while working on State account
The trouble seems to be that the State now has
bore convicts than 1t Is capable of keeping
1ithin the walls of the two penitentiaries, or of
Torking upon the farms she now operates.
General subjects-Taxation.
1t is fundamental principle of good govern
nent that taxation shall be equal and uniform
Tlthou! discrimination IN favor OF or against
my individual or class. TO eqnalize taxes In
nvidious discrimination in the valuation Of
Ioperty produces unequal taxation.
Without entering into full discussion of this
Important question affecting the public welfare,
he following suggestions are respectfully
nade that may be improved upon by the wis
|om of your honorable bodies:
J. Fix the minimum value of lands, below
!hich the assessor shall not accept 1t for taxa
lon.
2. Prohibit county assessors from accepting
lrban property at less than the value rendered
the city assessor for municipal purposes.
.. Direct that the assessor shall not accept
my property at less than the amount for which
stands mOrtgGged.
a. Tax insurance companies on the amount of
ne business dine annually.
b. Increase the permit tax on all foreign cor
!oratons doing business in the state. Le'
! De made an annual tax on the franchise.
u. Impose an annual occupation tax upon all
persons who sell or offer for sale pistols. bowie
knives, dirks ALL daggers
lace tax npon all persons engaged in the
nanufacture or sale of all classes Of cigarettes
ma the materihl used therefor.
Levy tax upon every telephone used, to
y PAID annually by the company owning or
)ontrolling them.
D. Impose an occupation tax on each sleeping,
Palhce or dining room car company, and on all
RoMPanics Leasing or renring cars to railway
for aly purpose Whatever; or better
l'ili adopt the pennsylvania law on this sue
Gnsines, t *, me right Of the commands. N ~
hx ~ 'nls state depend on payment Of tho So