Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-30

1879, the upporlOnment OF the hchooi
FUND per capita was $3.50, and the
school term 5-25-1o0ths months. and
for the year Is92-is9s the apporuon-
ment per capita was $500. and the
term 5-7s-i60ths months. This increase
In the school term Is due 10 the In
crease In the levy of local taxes for
school purposes and the transfer Of
one per cent from the permanent to
the available fund. The apportlonment
for 1Se3-ls9l was $3.50. and for the year
1s94-lSs5 on a scolastlc population Of
693.752 II Is $3.50 per capita or S2,423,-
1888. There was a deficit OF seo6, 0lS.45
for the year 1S93-iS9A and II Is yet UNI
paid This deficit, as well as the failure
to make a greater apportionment for
the present year, Is due to the increase
in the scholastic population and the
arrears OF interest on school land notes.
The following shows the increase In the
scholastic population;
For the year 1s92-1s9s It was. -. s95
For 1s92-1SgS II was ............ sos, 495
For 1s93-ls9i 1t was ..............d30,30 3
For ls9I-lSs5 Il WAS ..,........... 0g3,l52
or the permanent school fund out OF
which the available fund is drawn in
Interest there are Sl5.OO000O in land
notes. These notes generally repre-
sent sales to settlers OF land situated
principally in the western portion OF
the state. The apportionment for the
year 1S93-iS9i was made upon the as
sumption that the interest upon these
notes would be paid, yet because OF the
general financial depression and the
disaster TO agriculture IN that section
the amount OF past due interest on
these notes IL 100000. II this could
be collected. It would discharge the
deficit and leave surplus to be added
TO the present apportionment OF $780,
GOO. II this can not be collected,
or II It ~ and the people
desire to maintain the schools for the
full period Of six months, there is no
method by which this debt can be
paid and this purpose accomplished eN-
cept an Increase OF taxation. The pres
ent rate OF taxation for school purposes
Is 10 IL cents and the constitutional
limit Is 20 cents on the one hundred
dollars. Taking as a basis the s.
1881 appropriated for the present
year. the scholastic population of 693.-
1J2 and S66S.O00.000, the estimated total
assessed values, II the interest due be
paid and taxes Increased to the limit
OF 20 cents II win do no more than pay
the deficiency and allow an apportion-
mont the coming year OF $3.50 per
capita. which Will maintain the schools
for 25-100ths months, unless increased
by additional taxes, Following the
constitutional direction and accom-
pllshlng the cherished purpose of the
fathers Of Texas the university has
been established. AS early as 1889.
while Texas was yet a republic. an act
was pissed by congress providing for
the selection OF a suitable place for the
establishment OF a university. During
the time intervening between the pas
sage of this act and the adoption of the
present constitution the permanent
founding and efficient maintenance OF
university OF the highest grade has
been the ambition of the people Of Tex
as. No one thing more impressyely
Indicates the wonderful progress OF the
slate than the marked Improvement
made in It's public school system and
nothing Is more suggestive Of the en-
llghtenmeut OF her people than the
progress thus made. The more COM
prehensivo and thorough this improve
ment In the public school system the
more essential 1t becomes to properly
sustain the university. 4 university
furnishing every facility for advanced
study Is a fltting sequel to the com
mon schools and 1t is matter for pat
ri0tic congratulation that ours Is one
at which the youth OF the state may
enjoy the blessings OF higher educa-
tlon practically free. writing his own
epitnph Thomas Jefferson said: Here
Hes buried Thomas Jefferson. author
OF the declaration or American indepen-
dence, of the statute OF Virginia for
religious freedom. and father Of the
university OF Virginia" This Illus
Jrious salesman thus recognized these
acts o. the greatest OF his life those
that would perpc.uate and hallow his
memory, and thereby proclaimed that
the principles OF civil and religious
liberty and the Intellectual develop
mcnt OF the citizen are indissolubly as
Hociated' Mindful OF these considera-
lions and this lofty example 1 am In
iull sympathy with every proper effort
[ mat shall be made for the mainten-
ance and development Of the university
ana other educational Institutions Of
the state.
The Democratic party has always
drawn It's cldof support from tho
masses, and though 1t cherishes the
fundamental principle Of equal rights
| 70 all and special privileges to none.
Il has ever been the consistent friend
| Of labor. The national Democracy has
! made an emphatic declaration against
1 the importation Of foreign worlImon
under contract 10 degrade American
labor and fGvors legislation that win
| protect the lives and limbs Of railway
employees aud those OF other hazardous
/ transportation companies. BY the act
/ OF congress approved by Mr.. Cleveland
| october 1, 1898, provision Is made for
| the appointment OF boards of arbitra-
ton or commissions 10 adjust differ
| euces between railway companies en-
I gagged In Interstate commerce or oper-
| ntIng in the District of Columbia or
| territories OF the United States and
| their employees. Under the act of con-
gress OF August ~, 1884. all persons
contracting with the United States for
! the construction or repair of public
! buildings or other public works are
/ required to enter Into bond for the
/ payment OF claims for labor and ma
/ terial. In our own state, through DEM
ocrntlo effort the homes. household
effects, sufficient live stock for family
use, implements OF husbandry and
tools belonging 10 any trade owned and
used by the people, as well as current
wages, have long been exempt from
debt Household effects OF families are
exempt from taxation and the leglsla-
turc Is prohibited by the constitution
from imposing an occupation tax upon
those engaged IN agricultural and ms
chanioal pursuits. In 1855 builders,
contractors and mechanics were pro-
teoted by Hens and the law was ex-
pnuded and improved In 1857 and 1889.
The SHINE legislature in 1855 restricted
the employment Of sailors and crews
OF foreign vessels In handling freight
or laboring on wharves or levees Of
ports IN Texas. The Twentieth legis-
lature required railway companies to