Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-05
GOV, H0GG TALKS.
What He Thinks of the State
| Treasury Situation.
THE LEGISLATURE TO BLAME
Not the Proper Attention
Given His Warnings.
The Depleted Treasury is Not the
On, esuIt of Extravagnnce-The Adj
81, Il, 'stration Hna Been Under
:" HH.@l, Erpenses--No Waste.
Special Dispatch.

Special Dispatch.
Austin, Tex. May ASKED about
the state finances Gov. Hogg said to-
day:
Texas is all right. 1 much prefer
to see the state treasury in its present
depressed condition as the result of
low taxes. than to see a large cash
balance as the result Of high taxes.
Had the tax rate remained at 20 cents,
the surplus In the treasury would be
today over million dollars, thus with
holding from circulation large amount
OF money now out among the people.
No one can deny the injurious effect
that such contraction of the circulating
medium would have produced among
the masses during these hard times
With that amount of money tied up in
the treasury the stringent financial
condition of other states would today
greatly overshadow Texas. As It Is,
the concession is freely made every
where that in this state there is less
bankruptcy and more universal pros
perity than in any other agricultural
state In the Union. have always been
opposed 10 lhTBe C3sH phldHce III
the treasury. II Is proof evident of
high taxation. II means rich gov
eminent and q poor people. 1t is con-
traction without necessity, entailing
high interest burdens on the debtor
class. 1t tempts men from honorable
pursuits to hang around the capital as
lobbyists to promote schemes for eN-
travagant appropriations and govern
ment disorders and creates discomfort
among the masses.
The states Credit.
mo one will be materially injured by
the scarcity of money in the treasury,
nor will the states credit be affected
The treasurer will simply number the
warrants drawn on him by the comp
troller and pay them off in the order
| in which they are numbered. In this
way the money now on hand, and all
| that may come In, will be paid out i'm
partially to the holders OF warrants
| according to priority. So that any man
! In the remotest part of the state will
| be on equal footing with those at
| Austin or in the capital building or else
where. No claim now due Will fail of
| payment on demand. The interest to
| become due next July on the old un-
| matured bonds will be promptly paid.
/ The declaration made by the treasurer
that he will hereafter number warrants
or claims and pay them according TO
| priority as the money reaches the treas
ury viii put all men on notice VINO
choose TO deal with the state or to con-
| tluue longer in It's service. This pfac-
tice will continue by the state until
taxable values are properly raised or
the tax rate Is increased. Under this
system no one need lose cent nor
shave his warrant much, II any, for.
in his turn. with the most circumspeet
| Immortality he will get his money with
| out any more delay than is usual in
ordinary business transactions. or In
dealings with counties, cities and other
states. 49,,
"At the worst the officials and en-
ployes who seem willing to accept the
conditions without resignlng, and the
merchants who are anxious enough to
sell 10 the state without murmur or
increase in prices are about the only
ones that will be affected by this neces-
sary action of the treasury. Personal
lv and politically / will be abused at
a distance. but | am used to that My
consolation is that the taxpayers VIII
lose nothing by IT, nor will the states
credit be impaired.
"Well governor, the charge is made
that extravagance in your ADMINISTERS
ton has wrecked the treasury. What
have YOU to say about this2"
"You are certainly joking about this
charge being made in the face OF the
record and facts. / know few little
fip-lIppers assuming to be critics talk
this way. but no self-respecting man
would imperi his veracity by such a
charge even in hot political debate.
The low tax rate under which my I'D
minlstration has operated contradicts
the charge OF extravagance. Govern
ment money is collected from the peo-
Die by taxation. II taxes are high
money in the treasury is abundant and
extravagance possible. II the tax rate
Is low money is scarce and the oppor'
tunity of extravigance is corresponds
ingly diminished.
The Taxes Reduced.
''You will note that the legislature
in 1891 reduced the rate OF taxation FOL
general revenue purposes the first yeai
to &c 2-s cents. and for the remaining
three years OF my administration to II
cents on each 800 valuation OF proper
~. They made 1t possible for mar
to pay his state revenue tax on slV'