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

department of the state government pass
in order to protect our constituents we
will tender our designations to the proper
authorities, and call upon the people to
replace us with qualified and competent
officers
Before we made the levy complained of
by "XXN" a committee of citizens ap-
Ipeared before us and urged q reduction.
l"XXX" headed the committee and ap-
peared as spokesman. We listened to what
the committee had to say, and thanked
them when they finished. We appreciated
in all sincerely their efforts to aid us in
the reduction of the tax rate, though as a
matter of fact few things were pointed out
which we did not know, and few things
left unsaid which we did know. We are
glad to receive advice and information
| from any source and we always welcome
the citizens of Travis county when they
come to talk over and advise with us upon
county affairs, but as we are the ones who
| must bear the responsibility, we think we
should be granted the privilege of follow
| ing the dictates of our own judgment when
such judgment does not coincide with that
of our advisers. ...
This answer is growing lengthy, but we
crave your indulgence, Mr.. Editor, and
we ask a patient hearing of the public
while we continue short while longer,
| we now Collie W inc ShaNuiSh VI 'H
complaint.
| There is no complaint as to the levy of
| Is cents on the 500 for roads and bridges
and the looping off of the cents for court
house and Jail debt and they are noticed
only in so far as it is contended that the
interest and sinking fund for bridge bonds
| should be provided for out of the former,
and that the surplus remaining TO the
credit of the latter fund after paying OIL
the $4,000 debt and interest should be
transferred to the general fund. Ihese
points will be noticed later.
The complaint as to the 5 cents on the
S1OO for bridge bond purposes is directed
not against the amount but against the
| lew as q whole because without war
rant of law"
Section 8, article s, of the constitution,
as amended in 1888 (see governors proc
lamation September %, A. ID. 1888,
reads as follows: "The state tax on prop
erty, exclusive of the tax necessary to
pay the public debt, and OF the taxes
provided for the benefit OF
public free schools shall
never exceed thirty-fve cents on the hun
dred dollars valuation; and no county,
CITY or town shall levy more than twenty
FIVE cents for city or county purposes,
and not to exceed fifteen cents for roads
and bridges, on the one hundred dollars
valuation, except for the payment OF
debts incurred prior to the adoption OF
this amendment, and for the erection, OF
Ipublic buildings, street. sewer and otner
permanent improvements, not to exceed
twenty-five cents on the hundred dollars
valuation in any one year, and except as
is in the constitution otherwise provided"
The words street, sewer and other per-
manent improvements" was the main
change from the old article. This sec
ton and article of the constitution was
further amended by joint resolution of the
Twenty first legislature in 1889 Csee laws
| 1885, page I'D, which was declared
adopted Dec 10, 1890. This change was
for an additional fifteen cents tax ito be
levied and collected for the further main
tenance of the public roads, to be autho-
rized by an election to be held for this pur-
pose (See Constitution of the State OF
Texas, as it appears as preface to the
report of the codifers of the laws of the
state, made to the Twenty-third leglsla-
ture, page HXXyll.)
The special session of the Eighteenth
legislature, which convened on Jan. 8,
1884, less than four months after the
amendment of 1888 was declared adopt
ed, passed an act entitled AN act TO
authorize counties to issue bonds for
bridge purposes and to levy a tax to pay
the same; also to validate bonds hereto,
fore issued for bridge purposes. the hrst
two sections of which act read:
"Section 1. Be it enacted by the legls-
llature of the State of Texas: That the
county commissioners courts OF the sew
eral counties of this state are hereby au-
thorized and empowered to issue the
bonds of said county, with interest cou-
mons attached, for such amounts as may
he necessary for the purpose of buying
or constructing bridges for public uses
within such county, said bonds to run
not exceeding twenty years and bear in
lterest at any rate not to exceed per
cent per annum.
"Sec. 2. The commissioners court shall
levy an annual ad valorem tax. not to
exceed fifteen cents on the one hundred
dollars valuation, sufficient TO pay the IN
terest Oh, and create a sinking fund f0l
the redemption of said bonds. The sink
ing fund herein provided for shall not be
less than per cent on the full sum for
| which the bonds were ISSUED" (See
acts 1884, page 29.)
The Twentieth legislature passed an
act entitled Gan act to authorize countles
TO buy, construct or contract Tor the use
of bridges, and to issue bonds and levy
taxes to pay for the same, and to repeal
ali laws in conflict herewith" the hrst
two sections of which are in the words
of the sections just quoted. Inc cnansess
are in the limitation on the amount OF
bonds to be issued and in the grant, OF tne
| right to contract for the use OF bridges ge IN
certain cases. (See acts 1887, page loo.)
The Twenty-second legislature passed
an act to carry into effect the amend,
ment TO the constitution declared adopted
Dec. 10, 1890, (see supra), allowing an
additional Is cent ad valorem levy, upon
vote of the people for general ROAD pur-
noses nose (See acts 1891, page SD
The acts of the Twenty-third legisiIn a
ture on this subject did not change tne
nIoyision regulating the levy OF taxes
for interest and sinking fund. Noee "c''
1898. pages 81 and 112)
There appears to be a PLAIN disll iho
tion. both in the constitution ana t s
statutes. between the tax to be leVleu ~! u
General road purposes and that to pro'tfa cue
FOR interest and sinking fund to pay lol
honds issued to build bridges and make
other permanent Improvements.
with these flights before US ana tne
further fact that this levy had never peeh
questioned before, we acted: 80. low,
Now, with regard to the 20 GEMS s levy
for general county purposes. NM say oSr > :
tSTbese hooks show that the 70 Genus gen
oroI revenue rate for 1894, brought
e eIn money into the county treasury
80 nav the entire expenses, or ra Hie
current expenses of the year ana % oon+
1 TX