The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-24

.
3 will only pay off the deficiency and main
: tain the present per capita of $3.50, with
probable reduction of the apportion-
ment hereafter due to an increased de-
ticency in interest. Under present condi-
! tons no provision whatever has been
made to meet the past due Indebtedness
OF the State for school purposes. The
orstitht on is sim hranty mandatory.
1t not only enjoins a school term of at
least six months, but provides that in
addition to One-fourth the revenue de-
rived from occupation taxes and a poll
tax of one dollar there shall be levied
!, and collected an annual ad
valorem State tax of such
an amount not to exceed 20 cents on the
500 valuation, as with the available
school fund arising from all other
sources" will attain this result. The
course suggested of urging the collec-
ton of the debts due the school fund,
wherever expedient and wise, and in
creasng the rate of taxation to 20 cents,
will enable us to discharge the just obi
cations of government, perform our clear
duty under the Constitution and render
notable and becoming service to the
cause of education.
The condition of the Treasury as to
the general revenue is also exceedingly
embarrassing In May last it appeared
that there was an excess of expenses
over the receipts for the year ending Au-
gust 31st 1898, amounting to 500, S37. Al.
| In September it was estimated by the
Comptroller that the receipts from all
sources for the year ending February
2Sth, 1855, would be S2,125,0OO, which,
added to SAT 693.05 cash in the treasury
aggregated $2,172, 69305. The disburse,;
ments for that year were estim tne
at $2,300,000, making deficit OF SllI,,
30695, which, added to the eStIma ded
created a deficit of 1927 ,306.95. The stu
uation now, as reported by the Comptroll-
er, is far more serious. Instead OF de-
lfciency of 1927 ,306.95 it is Sl6o,529; As.
In his report for 1894 the Comptroller
shows that on August 31st, 1894, there
was a cash balance in the Treasury OF
S3S, 443.S5, and outstanding registered
warrants amounting to $43O,993.oI' Inns
cash balance was absorbed by called
warrants, not included in the
registered warrants mentioned, and con-
se9uently at the time named the Ireasu-
nv was empty, and there was an out
standing registered Indebtedness of S4oO,-
443S5. On the 14th of this month the
Treasurer reported that this outstanding
registered Indebtedness had increased
to S573, 01534. In addition to this the
|
wear there were registered and estmateu
deficiencies amounting to Sl9o,3l4.l4,
which made the total indebtedness on
January 14th, $76S,329.4S, as above
stated. with no balance i'll the Treasury
TO general revenue 1t is also shown, by
this officer that the appropriations ASKED
for by the heads of departments. state
institutions, judiciary, etc, for for the i've
wears beginning March list, 1899, aggre
cate 81. 251, OS5. 40, while the net receipts
Under present tax rate and laws are estl
: mated at S3,S63, 359.50 If the Leglsla
! tnre should make the appropriations i ask
ed there would be a dehclt OF 9l,o9I ;
715 90 for the two years, besides ina
now existing and would require the tal
rate TO be raised to 80 cents for the y yen.
1905 and % cents for the year lo59
Under present laws, approNllnatediy ,r; az
taxes are paid into the Treasury dur ri.
the months of December, January, rep
ruary and March. 1t is consequently no
imnrobable that the current expenses u ll'
; norton of the present deficiency repIe
santed by registered warrants may "
maid hv April LIST, but as these are IN
only months in which receipts eAc Gee
expenditures, it may be assuiheeu .r .:i
before the end of the year the dehclt WI
ho OF leost as large as now. The net &c
2 1reose of SOC, OOO, 900 for 1894 in the tota
2 tayohle values will, if maintained tn
4 nresent wear, reduce the revenue poV
r mo ner annum at the present tax rat,
e This condition of affairs affects the cree
: # of the State, emDarrasses StaIe i Insl
t tutions and creates widespread hu ~,
j shin and injustice. AS ILLUSTRATING ~, ~
e yersity bonds amounting TO $2Io'2lII
i The interest upon which is used for th
4 sunnort of that great institution, Tn
; maintenance of which at its present hls
standard should touch keeuly the prlde
3 every Texan. There has been default
f the payment of the current interest
S these bonds which is embraced IN tl
e registered warrants named, anu ui Ii !
q sneedily remedied the University, VIII
4 ser;onsiv crippled. And every charact'
: If State warrant whether for salarie
a Snnnlies or on other accounts, is now su
. iect TO discount. The total dehclenc
=. ;ncluding the public schools and the ge
9 erol fund is 81, 455, 349.S9. The presel
: fax rate for general purposes is 10 cen
y on the one hundred dollars and the co
~ dtion of the school fund requires the IL
{ position of tax of 20 cents for sch0ol pu
! poses. There are also county ana on
: municipal taxes which in many iocali ~
= are burdensome if not oppressive "
e pressing my personal opinion, 1t was sa
|. in n nuhlished speech at Goliad, SepteI
!, her %. and reiterated elsewhere, Wnen u
: deficiency was officially reported to be on
y 1927 .3O6.95, "these taxes, together WI
n the fact that all values are depressed al
n that the great body of the people teel u
pressure of debt and enforced econom
e render further burden indetenslDie u y,
l. less ayoidable" and that an increase IN u
II rate of taxation should not be made u
t, less imperativey necessary TO CONDUCT
r efficient government upon the most eS
} nomical basis which can be DEVISED;
II sides n sense of governmental morallty V
'a1 are impelled to this course by the cons
~ tntional Injunction that 1.-The Legislatu
~ shall not have the right to levy taxes
i impose burdens upon the people except
= raise the revenues sufficient for the econ
u mical administration of the government
>. This necessitates inquiry into our pup
= expenditures and the directions IN VINE
u reductions may be safely made. 1t sho9
e certainly be accepted as reasonable una
n n existing conditions that the goyernme
V may be conducted on the expenditures
lie the past year and in the consideration
l. advisable reductions these should be TAX
N as the basis. For the year ending te6r
1T nrv %, 1895. the total appropriate
4, amounted TO So, 391 ,G69.29, to which shou
st he added S195, 314 IA in registered and
SIS timated Deficiencies for the. year, aggi
ut eating expenditures of S2,o92,3Sj'4
) Some of the appropriations were not G
j. ncnded but they are not considerable al
IN IL 41tol Uivnn is HnDrOXimately COrret