Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-21
BAILEY AND ANDREWS REPLY
TO THE MESSAGE OF MAYOR PAD
DOCK TO THE COUNCIL.
THEY CHARGE THAT HE HAD LET
TIERS FROM THEM WHICH PLAIN
LY STATED THEIR POSITION.
BAILEY WILL CARRY OUT THE
WISHES or LEADING CITIZENS.


AUSTIN, March 20.
Senator W. J. Bailey said in refer
ence TO the mayors message to the city
council OF Fort Worth;
81 am little surprised that the may
or should have submitted such a mes
sage to the council He had certainly
received my letter in answer to one
written by him to me calling my at
tentlon to certain features OF the bill
as reported. l wrote him that Mr. An
drews and myself had already agreed
before receiving his letter 10 increase
the penalty for the non-payment Of
taxes to so per cent unless under the
constitution OF the state we were re-
qulred to make 1t 100 per cent. | have
amendments prepared now making the
penalty 100 per cent, In conformity
with the state constitution, and shall
submit them at the proper time ire
spective Of what the mayor may or may
not think II the city council sends Il
committee down here | shall treat them
with the utmost courtesy. reserving,
however. To myself the right to oppose
any measure or amendment which /.
as the representative Of my city, may
think Is hurtful to the best interests Of
my people. | think that the mayors
whole opposition, however, to the
amendments which Representative An
drews and myself seek 10 have en-
grated on the bill Is conferred against
the right OF appeal on the part of the
people from the arbitrary ruling OF
boards of equalization. / notice the
mayor carefully avoids direct refer
ence to this amendment. although ii is
one OF the main features of the bill.
This amendment was sent me by Judge
Hyde Jennings, Capt NJ. b. LLOYD. w.
II. Maddox and others, among whom |
note some OF our most prominent peo-
pie, and so far rs l am concerned, |
shall endeayOr as far as possible to
carry out their wishes, and to that end
shall offer what Is known as the Hyde
Jennings amendments with but little
variation. The bill as reported for the
purpose of having Il printed Will be
changed so as TO make appeals direct
from the board Of equalization to the
district court"
1T will also provide for the payment
OF taxes In case the appeal has NOT
been adIudlcated for the current year.
1t occurs to ME that tho mayor has
rushed into print for the purpose OF
obtaining cheap notoriety at the eN-
n
tlves at Austin"
Representative n. IT. d. Andrews
said; AT the time Mr.. Paddock sub
mitted his message 20 the city council
Of Fort Worth on last night, in which
he called the attention of the aldermen
to the bill for the amendments to our
city charter, which had been reported
thVorably by the senate committee, |
have reasons to believe that he yns i'm
uUENpEgiDu "a Haitian
In reply to a letter received from him.
giving him clearly to understand that
Senator Bailey and I had agreed to
amend the bill pending by granting
the city the right 10 invest it's sinking,
fund In Its own bonds, and further
that we had agreed TO raise the penalty
for the non-paymrnt OF taxes to 80
per cent OF the amo~ut ~ the tax. and
II the constitution required II. to double
the amount Of the tax. I am author
lied by Alderman Spoonts to state that
Mr., Paddock reud portion OF my Lot
tire 70 him ana one or two others after
the adjournment OF the council, which
letter Mr. Paddock Is authorized To
make public. His failure to publicly
INFORM the city council OF my position
In regard 10 these amendments I'm the
light OF his message did me an injus-
tlce.
referring 10 his statement that his
official relations with me were unplens-
ant, | Will say TINT for this outburst
of Indignation l know nothing and
care less 10 the members OF the CITY
council, whom I highly regard. / wish
to say that If they win visit Austin
In the interest OF the city charter
amendments I will extend to them
every courtesy at my command ana as
slst In every way possible. am in
favor Of an amendment giving the
right OF appeal from the board OF
equalization, coupled with the provls-
lon for the payment Of the tax on or
before the first day OF January I'm each
year, whether tho appeal suit Is set
tied or not, This IL not only lust Ia
the rich, but to the poor, and 10 every
man who pays taxes upon property in
Fort Worth, | have endeavored 10
listen with respect TO every person i'm
my county, regardless Of sex. color
race or condition in life. who wished ia
discuss matters pertaining TO legisln-
ton with me, which fact can be hest
attested by those who have seen ut ia
address me either personally or nv
letter and I am not afraid that any
unpleasant relations will cause me 10
lose sight OF their interest"