The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-28

remained in actual cash to be carried
over with this fund.-" should be stated
as it is when in reality it is not ''in addi--
ton to the above" but in explanation of
!. it.
We went into Office at high noon on
, the 10Th day of November last. The
newly elected county treasurer did not
assume control until the 9th. He re-
ceiyed from the outgoing treasurer to
, the credit of the general fund S1S42.44.
From this we must deduct S3235.6O turn
ed over by the tax collector on November
IL, 1894, and which amount represents
the taxes collected in October out of the
levy of 1894, due October l, 1894, and
J out of which the county government
. must be run from November 1, 1894 to
November 1, 1895, which latter date is
! the earist date at which the treasurer
can receive any money collected under
the levy which we have just made and
against which "XXX" complains. When
we take $32356O from $7S42.44 we have
left $4606.S4, but in addition to this we
also found just and unpaid claims
against this fund, which had become due
before we took charge but which had not
!, been audited, amounting in the aggregate
to about $780, This should be taken
from the $4606S4, and would leave bal
ance of S1006S4 which would represent
the net surplus If the $500 had not
been transferred this net surplus would
have been $9506.S4 on November l, 1884,
but this was not all left over from the
tax levy of 1898, for when the taxes due
October 1, 1898, were begun to be turn
, ed over on November l, 1898, there was
net surplus on hand to the credit of
, the general fund of about $4,000 from
g the previous year, four or five thousand
dollars of which had been collected from
back occupation taxes by the new tax col
lector. But remember the $500 was
, transferred and the real net cash sur
plus was $1006.S4. When we made the
levy of % cents on the 500 for general
revenue purposes there was in the hands
of the treasurer to the credit of this fund
as shown by his report, So, 521 .46, which
included the S1006.S4 net cash surplus
carried over and the collections for the
months of October, November and De-
, cember, 1894, and January, 1885, of the
, 1894 tax. And Notwithstanding the taxes
{ had been due since October l, 1894, and
past due since January 1, 1895, there had
been collected during the months of
October November and December 1894,
and January, 1895, from all sources and
for all funds only $31 ,923.62, while the
total ad valorem and poll tax alone on
the rolls amounted to SS1, 1850. AL
most two-thirds of the taxes due remain
ed unpaid, and people on every hand de-
{ clared their inability to pay regardless
of the consequences. The levy we were
to make was to raise money to run the
, county government from November /,
) future that we had to act with eau
: ton. The rate of % cents on the 500
had been levied each year since 1889 for
general revenue purposes. Hard times
had caused the taxable values to fall off
! S254,334, or quarter of a million dol
) lars from 1893 to 1894, and we saw no
/ reason why, with a continuation of the
5 hard times, another decrease should not
, be expected.
The insolvent list and the list of sales
to the state from which there is no re
turn, were growing larger each year.
{ With these facts before us we did not
2 feel that we would be justified in max
3 ing a reduction below what the rate had
been for the past six years.
Regarding the $4,000 which "X. Y. NJ
I claims is the surplus on hand to the credit
of the court house and Jail debt fund after
E paying the $4,000 due and which he urges
should be transferred to the general fund
, we will say that the $4,000 has been paid
= and that when we made the levy there
: remained to the credit of the court house
and Jail fund $G30.2S. This with what
t ever other amounts may be collected for
this fund will be needed during the next
, the court house and Jail.
We are not prepared to say that former
administrations in this county We're eX-
, travagant, and we can see no reason
why "X. X. N" should have waited
six years to complain of this rate. We in
: tend to run the county as economically
! as possible consistent with good govern
, ment, and if at the end of year we see
our way clear to make another reduction
= in the tax rate we will most cheerfully
do so.
| If at any time anyone sees things GO
, ing on which he does not approve of we
hope that he will not hesitate to call
: upon us and point them out.
r We shall deem it an act of friend
3 decline to rush into print to explain or
+ justify every act of ours, for we have
3 neither the time nor the inclination.
"X. X. n" closes his complaint with
this: "The court is composed of men
identified with the best element of our
: citizenship, but they have been misled.
: The opportunity is now open to them to
, revise their action" ......
! 1t is truly lamentable that the people
.. of Travis county should have selected a
, set of officers by reason of their ig-
: norance and cupdity will allow them
, selves to be deceived and led like lambs
|, to the slaughter. 1t is a pity, indeed,
that the ablest men are not always chosen
, to manage government affairs. 1t, how
ever but proves the couplet that
"Many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean
bear
And many flower is born to blush I'M
| Seeen
And waste its fragrance on the desert
4 air."
|, We think we have corrected some of
!, the Figures and calculations" made by
"X. X. X" and we trust that if we have
not given plausible excuse for so large
: rate of taxation" that what we have
said may at least be taken in mitiga-
ton of the punishment to be visited upon
us for failing to embrace the "oppor-
tunity" offered to US by ''X. Y. X" with
the magnanimity and mercy worthy of
king. Very respectfully,
, d. A. MFALL.
". 2. JOURDAN,
G. COLVIN.
S. F. NOLEN.
A. l.. HUGHES.