The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1893-10-05

the way Of tuition in the public
free schools for their children than
they pay to the state government.
Certainly these people cannot com
plain of high taxes. / have never
yet heard newspaper, public
speaker, a chronic croaker, q street !
loafer, q saloon bum or a Saturday
evening sluggard criticise the state
government on the alleged ground
of high taxes. Many of them express
themselves in glittering generalities
about the "extravagance of the
state government, but never for
once DO they make specification,
nor charge that the taxes collected
from the people are onerous, excess
sive or high. My critics never fail
to charge extravaganza, ard yet
with the public books open they
never have to this time pointed out
a single item to give color to their
falsehood. Is it not time they are
closing up their mouths or present
ing the facts? Three years ago
when the tax rate was reduced,
general howl went up from the OPP
position that my administration
would strand and have large def
cheney to disgrace it. At the be-
ginning of the next year the same
wiseacres, whose warlike tongues
had wagged in tiresome distress,
again pr dicted deficiency. SO
with the beginning of this year the
same carping critics, though their
prophecies had fallen to the dis
count Of ninety-nine and half per
cent, began again to predict that
there would be heavy deficiency.
They could not understand how the
state government could be man
tanned on so low rate of taxation.
In their ignorance, therefore, for
three successive years they gave vent
to their malice y predicting
bankruptcy of the state
treasury. Instead Of spesk.
ing truthfully and discussing the
subject fairly with the view of en-.
tightening public opinion, these
same false prophets and enemies of
Democracy have falsely charged that
extravaganza III the administration
of the government, instead of low
taxes, would be the cause of def
cheney if one should occur.
At about o'clock or the sth day
of last May was handed copy Of
the appropriation bill, and was
notified that the Legislature would
adjourn the next day at noon. Thai
evening took the copy home, and
comparing the appropriations with
the revenues based upon the Is cent
rate of taxation under which the
government had to be maintained
concluded that the former exceed
ed the latter by several hundred
thousand dollars. During that nigh
l scaled down the appropriation bill
about $3.50. 600 with the view o
r keeping the expenses within tn
limits Of the revenues, and b9.or
, 81 adjournment the next day my mes
, sage to this effect reached tn,
3 legislature. Had this not beel
, done, deficiency could not hav
, been avoided at the present low la
9 rate. Since that time as before, tin
l state government has been operated
up 10 now without a default or de
, tiolency. My policy has Away
l been, is yet, and will continue t.
be, to keep the state treasury a
, clear of surplus as may be cor
9 sistent with the necessary demand
e of an economical administration 0
9 public affairs. This can be don
q only by low rate of taxation
:, High taxes produce surplus in tn
r government treasury. Low take
e do not. A surplus is no less tha
f money contraction, and leads t
heavy appropriations, often t
Y public extravaganza, the qain'
essence of governmental sin.
During the months of Septembe
i and October money is lower in til
g state treasury than at any othe
season of the year. This conditio
b is produced from many causes
r Heavy expenses necessary to carr
d on the courts, and especially tn
l. district courts, in the prosecutio
/. of criminal cases, wherein the fee