davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

Under this head desire to refer to the
work of preparing delinquent tax records
for the various counties. which deyolves
upon this department. under the provisions
Of Chapter AZ. Acts of the Twenty fourth
Legislature.
able rue 80 carry out the provisions of said
law. was exhausted May |. 1896 From the
time the law went into effect until the
appropriation was exhausted l employed
constantly the best force possible and Will,
there has not been pTant deal accomplish
ed as 10 The number NJ counties FOR which
lists have been COMPLIED. a ynst amount Of
preparatory work has been dolc. and the
records arc now in condition that VIII
porml, the compilation Of such lists win
much more expedition than heretofore
As stated In my report to your rscellency
for the year ending August 81. 1895, II re
auircd nearly six months faithful and en-
Client service Of all the clerks assigned to
ihla special work to get the records In
such shape that the compiling OF the lists
proper could begin. as all redemptons Of
property which han been made since 1854
had to be posted or entered on the delin-
quent records.
With the appropriation OF $4,000 I have
compiled the delinquent records Of thir-
teen counties viz.
Anderson. Angelina. Arkansas, Archer
Armstrong, NiA9rdSh. Auhtln. BaDltFd, iiuk
irop. Baylor Bee Bell and Tnrrant and
forwarded such records 10 the respective
counties for Che institution Of suit aud fore
closure OF lien for taxes IN the dis;/i cou
as provided for In the act In aueatlon.
In addition to this number the delinquent
records for the following counties have
been compiled, under my supervision, By
men employed by such counties for the pur.
poae. viz:
Dimmii. Ellis, Hopkins, Montague, SUIT
ton, Wlbnrger and Wise. There yet re-
mains POS counties for which these Ists
must be complied " the provisions Of the
law on this subject are to be observed and
carried out by this department. To COM
plcte this work Is an undertaking of such
magnitude that | am constrained 10 most
respectfully submit TO your exccllency the
necessity for special and ample appropria-
ton therefor II follows. therefore, that for
the completion Of such work II VIII be
necessary to have a specific appropriation
sufficient in amount TO enable the comp
troller TO carry on the same. with force
Of men empioyed for tho express purpose
and IN addition to the regular force OF this
Office who arc constantly engaged In the
current work OF this department The iabol
that must be- bestowed upon this delinquent
lax work IL necessarily OF the most careful
and painstaking nature, and requires abii-
Ity and accuracy on the part OF those sc
employed
In order TO estimate the good RESULT
which may be obtained by completion OF
these lists for all the counties In the state
I beg 10 direct your attention 10 the fol
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

nitnirH OF the State which necessarily en-
ioilh Increased labor In this office and mug
incniR the responsibility which rests upon
the comptroller.
WIN the rapid atridrs OF progress which
our great state ~ making, yoar by year,
the volume of businoss of this department
grows.
Notwl thstanding this increased volume OF
business. 1t Is n source Of much gfatinca-
ton TINT, under the system of organisa-
ton maintnined. have been enabled. thus
FAR, TO conduct the affairs Of tho office with
the present clerical force, In a mannet
which | nodeally believe has protected tba
best interests OF the state and which
trust has been satisfactory to the public.
with the assurances Of my high apprc-
citation Of the cordial and courteous con-
sideratton nj all times extended me by your
oxccllency, aud Of the most pleasant rela
tionr which have constantly existed, have
the honor To be, with much respect, your
i ohcdcnt servant. H. W. Finely,
Comptroller OF Public Accounts.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
TAXARLE VALUES

Tables Nos 20, II and 70 show tho as
sessments OF all property for 1876, In each
county In the State,
The summary on page 100 shows the en-.
lire property assessed in the State com
pared with the assessment for 1888 II viii
he observed that there is decrease OF
s,i7i .qsG acres OF land Of the value OF
~, sSs.S03. which IL caused by the clmina
ton OF erroneous assessments heretofore
carried on the rolls, and forfeiturcs OF
school lands to the State
The average value OF land remains tho
same as last year 50. per acre Town
and city property has Increased In value
$i62. acc
Horses and mules have Increased IN
number i3,2i3 but show decrease In value
sSio.a22, while cattle have increased In
number lGs dS5 but show decrease In value
s3.d5l 67a Jacks and ienncts have de-
creased 1870 in number and sgG,aii In
value sheep decreased In numl,or asa
ard in value $2S7 i5G. Goats Increased a.
~ Of the value of $40, 800. Hogs Increased
500 SOS in number and in value Si97 .gN7
Goais wares aud merchandise increased
si9S.30o and money on hand Increased
81 SOC. 1872 while miscellaneous property
shows n decrease of 81 .0G2. i20
Railroads In organized counties show an
Increase Of l2f miles and st0l 1860 in value
while the mileage and value of ruiho1ds
in unorganlzed counties remain practically
he same AZ last year. Street railroads
show an Increase of two miles but de-
crCnsed Valuation OF S59 eGl
Telegraph Inns increasod 9SG miles and
in value S6S,S95 Steamboats, sailing YES
scis and other water crafts have decreased
in number 10 aud In value 5000 Gss
Lands IN unorganizet counties decreased
&.2tl lib IN value. a reduction nf "a cents
per acre 1t VIII he seen that the largest
decreases IN value are IN land aud mis.
cellau' Gus property. and that The princlpa,
| II mT - owing increased value are cattle
| and hogs.
THO intro nsscsHod value of an proper Y
IN the State for 1896 is $3.50 soN. 2i5. againat
| $500 al0 5d1 for 1898. being net decroa,,
| ~ value OF si0.601 SCI
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
lowing comparative statement. showing re.
demptions for each year from iSss to 1895

The above statement given only thu
amount Of state taxes, The amount OF
county taxes collected In redemption Il
proportionately large.
The increase In rcdemptions for 1895 and
lSa6 IN unoucstionahly attributable III a
large measure to the operation Of the law
referred to, as passed by the Twenty fourth
legislature; aud Il la a significant fact tina,
a large per cent OF rcdemp,ions made with
In the past niue months ,omc from III,
counties which have been furnished by thii
office with their delinquent tax records
covering the years from 1884 10 1894
In my estimates for appropriation for III,
comptroler's ofhce FOR the ncxt two years
1t will be observed that no estimate hai
been made for the completion Of this par
tcular work, II being special task de
volNing upon the comptroller by law. ans
requiring as already stated q special forc'
of employees, u is deemed hut right ant
proper that specific appropriation be mad'
therefor, IN such amount as the lrgisla
ture may determine, without regard and II
addition To the regular appropriation fo'
conducting the regular and current work q
his department, which ia annually incrcas
Ing.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
LOVING COUNTY

Loving county has not furnlshcd this de-
lhriinont any assessment rolls for tbis
yeHr. The same ccn1iti II existed In lSg5
said county Of Loving wax created from
a portion of Tom Green county hy tho
Vwoniicth legislature. by an ac, approved
February 26. 1887: waa Organized july \.
1913, ana forwarded tax rolls to this de
narimcnt for year 1928 nui ISai. As al.
ready stated. this Office hqs received no
aus ssfl"nt rolls for said county for the
years lS9b aud 1896 and the condition. mn
pears to lie that the county Is an nreanl1o,;
county. without county officers or county
government and consequently no ASSESS
mont or collection OF taNcs. This condition
OF affairs in the county In question Is sub
united to Your oxccllcncy for such con-
on as may he deemed advisable,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
APPROPRIATION FOR CoMPTROILERs
OFFICE

Referring TO the appropriation requisite
for this department for the next two years,
beg To rny that I have given the matter
very careful consideration. and recommend
only such amounts appropriated as be-
lieye 20 be necessary 10 enable the comp
troller to conduct the business Of the de-
partInent In a satisfactory manner.
And here l desire to acknowledge the
very valuable service Of J. X. Curl. ESQ,
chief clerk. Aided by his experience and
devotion 10 duty ] could wish for no bet
Ter coadjutor. and I also tender 10 the en-.
tire force OF the department my sincere APP
probation OF the cfficien, service rendered
ms co workers for tho State.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16


Special attention " directed TO table No.
81. which glves the appropriations asked
for by the VariuuR departments aud H'atn
institutions for tho years beginning haich
/. isg7, aud ending February ", lSeo'
These estimates were submitted TO the
comptroller by the heads OF the several 10
partnents md the Hnperintcnhcnis ~ the
said institutions, and their estimates aud
explanations M 90 the necessity oil such APP
preparations are given In fuN'
summing up of these oHiimalcs may be
seen on page ihI. which aggregates Sd,l'2. .
4sl 10 FOR the year ending February TX.
1898, and 81 1854 1885, 6 for tho year ending
February 2S, 1899.
A brief nnalysih of these cstimaica show
the total amount asked for to meet the
rcgulnr or current exprnhss OF The stats
government for tho year ending February
2s 1898 to be ii, 30s $40 10, the difference.
| 1854, ias being for the brttermont or en-
largcmont of the various institutions.
| For the year ending February Is, 1893
estimated current cxponpen ara t2,90a,
| 1913 10. enlargement of state inptl'utionh
| shp 900. total sa,Sdi. 1913 10.
| Tho mileage, per diem and contingent
| expenses are not included IN the above.
| III, Sc estimated appropriations for i'm
| troveincnis are inninly for the university,
orphan asylum. Southeastern and North
Texas insane asylums, deaf aud dumb and
| blind aRylums, Confederate Homo. ARrisui'
tural and Mechanical college and Prairie
| View normal school.
| Or George T. Winston. president Of The
university In his estimate Of needs OF ths
| university, places the figures for improve
menis at 1886 1855. Special reference Ia mad,
TO his communication on this subject 81
| page li2.
| In connection with the above also bet
to direct the attention of Your oxcpllenei
| 10 table No 81, which gives the probable re-
receipts Of general revenue for tho ensuing
| two years which being summed up amount
| TO t2.3ii 900 for the year ending Fcbruar,
2s, 1898, and s2,al7,000 for the year cndn.
| February rs, 1899.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
AGRICULTURAL ArIsrIcs.

compensation Of tax assessors Article
.A21. Revised Statutes, 1895. providing foI
the collection Of agricultural and farm sta
lislics by the county taN aasrssors OF thlt
state Tor tho department of agriculture
insurance statistics aud history. makes ne
prov islon for the compensation OF tho as
sessors. cE
In the original net of the legislature pro
viding for taking such statistics. chapter
~, acts Of the Twenty first legislature. tho
compensation of these officers was fxcd 10y
section Of said chapter but appears tc
have been omitted In the Revised Statutes.
Wy reason ~ such omission the tax
AsscHsots OF the various counties IN
the state who have complied with
the Inv and the instructions Of
the commissioner Of agriculture, insurance
statistics and history. have been unable to
secure pay for such services. and recon-
mend the necessary Legislation ON this sub.
icct.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

AS shown by the foregoing statement
there is now in the State treasury money
to the credit OF the two counties mentioned
sufficient to pay their pro rata rhare of
said bonded indebtedness and all accrued
interest. but the comptroller las TO an
thority to apply said money to that pur-
pose.
A law should Ivy all means be cnacted 10y
tho next legislature giving The comptroller
authority to apply said money TO the Ii
quotation Cf this debt
The counties OF La Sale Potter and
Travis are In default in the payment of
interest due on April 10. 1886. on their
bonds held by the permanent school ftnd
The attorney general has been notified nj
the default and refusal to pay this interest,
ard requested ia tnl.c such action thereon
AS he may deem necessary 10 enforce the
collection Of the same.
The Travis county bonds held by the
permanent school fund amount % Sl0i SEQ,
aud bear interest al the rate OF per cent,
amounting annually 10 $d21o,
The La Sale county bonds amount to
$S3 600, bear interest nj the rate Of 4 per
cent amounting annually To $lgSD
The Potter county bonds amount g $50, o.
GOO bear interest at the rate Of per cent,
amounting annually to $500.
The In Sale county bonds were rur-
chased October Is. 1855
The Potter county bonds were purchased
~ follows August 81. 1855. S2} 600 and
| April 2S. 1889, 100000 aggrceating $o3 600,
OF which amount $4,000 has heon iedcmocd
as follows; on April 10, 1893. 5000, April
10. 1891, $1,000 and May 70. lSaI Slcr0
The Travis county bonds were purchased
aa foiIoys.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

OF this amount $4,000 has been redeemed.
as follows January 2i $3.50 5000; Feb
ruary 1895, 5000 total $1,000.
Further referring to the Investment Of
the permanent school fund. | viii state that
during the yoar 1S51-S-r. the State of
Texas lunncd To the Houston and Texas
Central Railway company. the Washington
County Railway company and The Buffalo
Bayou BrazGs and Colorado Railway com
pany, IN specie and United States hon H.
;he sum Of s9l6 .oa1, shich amount belonged
to the permanent school fund
Up to May. 1874. tho state had received
from these loans IN principal and interest
the sum Of 81, los, i5s.li.
Prior to tina, Antc. The Washington
County RnilwaY company was merged into
the Houston and Texas Central Railway
company. which last named company as
sumed the debt % tho former. The Buliao
bayou, Urakos and Colorado Railway las
also been purchased by the Galveston. Ilar-
r'sh1rg and San Antonio Ps.l@ay com
punS, which company assumed the febt due
By the former to the state
In 1893 and 1894 the Houston aud Texas
Central and Galveston. Harrisburg and San
Antonio Railway companies refused TO pay
further upon this Indebtedness. claiming
that II he'd all been lQuidated. This claim
waf based upon the fact that some Of the
payments were made in state treasury war
rants Issued during the war. Il being
claimed by said roads that they had a right
to use said warrants In making these pay
monts. Suits were brought by the attorney
general against sed roads for the amounts
claimed by the State 10 DO due ON account
of the payments made Ia state treasury
warrants.
on February 30 1896 judgment was OBJ
tanned against the Houston and roxis Cen
trial Ralrcad company in the district court
81 Travis county for 1919 i09 56. which WIS
tho amount found TO he due on account OF
It's own lean and the loan TO The Wash
ineton County Railway company. Judg-
men, was also rendered By said court
against the Galveston, Harrisburg aud San
Antonio Railroad company Cor yiilb61 80,
this amount found to be due by said road
on nccount OF the Buffalo Bayou. lrnzos
and Colorado Railroad company. SAID judg-
ments aggregated SLIGO. GTI.lI.
From these judgments the defendant
roads have appealed. and The cases are now
pending in the court OF civil arpoalg at
Austin.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
Insurance agents NEW taxi. s,ssa IS
.---------
Totai...... ......... ........ sssoss 0?
TAxEs MADE PAYABLE by LAW TO
THE COMPTROLLER

Tables Nos. so and 81 Inclusive. show
amounts or moneys collected which by
law. are made payable to the comptroller.
which being summarized. class as follows
Amounts collected from noa-
residents In organized COM
ranies ....~ .n..........,si io,sS2 e5
Amounts collected from non-
residents in unorgansed COM
panies ..,., -. .,...,....,,. 50 .a6s Is
Railroad stagccoach, steamboat,
passenger tax, ctc..,....... be.25T CO
49,.
Total collections .,...........S a26, t76 10
These collections may be seen In detail
In the above tables.
Table No. "a shows the deposits Of all
these moneys in the state treasury.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

In closing this report desire To call at
tention to the fact that the wora OF thi'
department is constantly increasing.
Every tract OF land sold by the state.
every transfer Of land made by individuals.
every eew enterprise inaugurated, whether
II be- Of commerce. mill or factory. the
b.iilding OF railroads or the development Of
any industry. weaves Its way Into the fiscal
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

deficiency had not been coyeroa -. -.
Vi august. y has ali neea paid since 1is'
me following is an estimate nj ,Sa ..,
aple school fund receipts for the 49, "a .a
h lug august 3ist. 1891, as furnished ,S,
Kscoin ~. ,uuca,lon by this department, VIZ,
=. $500" 'ss..s. ..s......... e. xzr u,o
'.ceipta from interest on all per-
manent school investments, con.
slstins OF county, State and rail-
ROAD bonds, land sales and lands
-, -'''ss.ss. ..........,. usS ~ :
transfer OF per cent permanent
'"' ''''''''.'.'....... lG0. SOC
Nn"s'hS .s.....s. 50 uul sSu
-, Vn when estimate Is apportionncn,
Vi ''.oo per capita was made for 1867.
mink 1t Is safe to rely upon the rcccIpt,
c,ana'' ana mat there will be no def
ing year. '0 ''''"
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
ii Of COMPTROLLER.
,.,r..se In the States Ex-
..,s for Two Years.
Ln1lyc OF THE SCHOOL FUND.-
,.wcreut Counties Pur-
"~.nsc IN Land values
-, Assessors Errors.

annual report Oh ov ,,. ca,,arnnr
sir:
fau' ." .nor, comptroller's Of
kuti'c pep"' nao,h,r Ia 1ses. i
lu,tin, Texas - ,,.
!, honor to submit W w" Wv
~. NJ this department FOR the
ending August II, 1876.
esr en rono,', is confined to the fiscal
we -, The state government Tor the
as " deem it appropriate TO give a
|Mt ,hn general revenue uC-
tiAiyss,' ms, two years.
w W REVENUE.
,, tsua
Ia 3ist oil huBus', Oh r.
ueasury W .a 10 s2s a,3 M
ktodnt aiuou','' ar nnd.
kips duflps INV s'"' . nesr-s oo
sgust H. ie'o'
,,, ,a,
receipts, iuo''''s . ,os NO NJ
..,..''.'''...,,' ,.i,,1
Aused durlls sam 49,.
y GV9l 'ooo.'o - 49, , nos o,o =,
tfg accounts S'''''-' 1870 ~ :
., A,
)ing balance oii ii"' .s o7o -,
1898. ...".; ',.,,.,,', '. ,,,,.c
records U, VIE -
bat Of the peg 'nii,nh "
al year, nre' ~ ,,r5
arants agaihst '''S a au,''
tding ana uiip"'" "'''''" ,-o., ma
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. -''1-'''''
pants afamh ,o 90 '"s ' , 900 az, r.,
August Oh i0''''''''' -''-''' ''''
-, 80 -
,....'.....''.. ..'. 49,, ''o'
~ sWte ue"s"iu w"
af ehdins august o. 40, eoc er
."'''''''''''''''''''''' 80 ''Vo''o
,
ING War'ihes ,,o ga, -,
Tlsi 81 iS'', .,''.,'.',.,;;' 'oo' ,]l,oo
Increase III tho i"tr ", "u ,"'Vi 'li'
I'd BY 'he ! "on's io,, " lisa. - a, VI, g
ta eiiec' .nV w. ." III
Fse' as sa.' ~ 49,, i"'e "i,l,,.n ~ u,
" asseSs''leii, "ui'.' Nv NV" ' 81 -,
revenue re1e sa was eN ,a,,a NM, NM,
.e.'ol u. io'' u"N'' '"'''' " T. VI
the s'a,o ',','9uls
ias. an,,u''' l'pp'' w fp"'
aiui 's'ue w ,,.''l''S v, 40
Na'ns Wv sh''u '"ur',''1' "a q n"a'1'
ne inoiea'e" az ,"vu .o" So, ~ :,
naiions uheApenu'u "nn w 'orot, !.
nd will be oashcd at the State treas
syeen the first of February and
1885,"
ioye predicted. the State treasurer
a cash payment on the 27th day of
IMAM, ,n,e,yon,,nn ever since
be beginning of the fis-
r September !. 1898.
us a cash balance in the
uasury to the credit OF
revenue amounting to-. $2S,072.7l
ips from all sources OF
lnyenuc during the year
August 81. 1896. 3.0es. 725. 9s
----
Balance on hand at the
,g Of the ycar....... 3.051, 79S. CO
dlsbursements by tho
Nasurer during the Same
d time amounted to
No3-Trmsfcrs adjust
ane ,67.Sib1i. making
credit against the total
~ ...,,............ 2,9i2,0i517
(ns a balance in the
treasury TO the credit of
fevenue on August 81,
e.,..,..,.. 09,153.52
kawn above. S2.sS4. 70n.0 was dis
y the State treasurer ont Of gen
while warrants drawn against This
Arng tAe year amounted to only
AN these latter figures represent
exact amount of current expenses
y accrued against the state and
a general revenue for the SAID
he difference between the total
nNcsent registered warrants which
stiandIng and unpaid on the lat
Sp'ember, 1885. amounting to $500. .
d.,
nrrry to general revenue On the
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
nrcpplrs AND nXrENsEs.

Of law, in fees Of sherlffp. clerks. attorneys,
attached witnrrscs and examining c"hf's'
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
ruRNTsIuNG ASYLUM SUPPLIES

Amendment of the Law Recommended -
Chapter 3 OF tho Revised Statutes, which
provides the mode Of furnishing certain
supplies to tho asyums. should, 10 my dpln-
ion be 30 amended that the duty Of ad
may dovove upon the superincn and
Of he comptroller
The law above mentioned, and now In
force was enacted many years ago, when
the asylums were in their infancy, and we're
located here in the Capital city.
These Institutions have been growing
year by year, IA the population OF the
State has increased, until. instead Of the
iunnilc. deaf and dumb and blind asylums,
all In the city OF Austin twenty years ago.
and all comparatively small, va now have
luuatic ayslumb al Austin, Terrell and Ban
Antonio, two deaf and dumb nsylums at
AuBiin. one for whites and one for ooorcd
people, the Confederate home at Austin
tho blind asylums at Austin and the or
phnns' home at cOrscaDa.
The State has advanced IN population
during the pagt twenty years from 100, o00
to about 3,o00.000 these institu,lons have
grown corfebpondingly. and The mode OF
furnishing supplies that gas feasible when
tho law referred TO waA enacted, Ia now OK .
tromcy burdenaome. uns8 tiafactory and al
most impracticuhle to serve the best in
tornst Of the state and ins,itutions
II rs believed that the change in the law
as recommended VIII prove most beneficial
| 10 the state and viii 10 n conHid ,rablc OK
tent decrease the expenses OF these lnsti-
| tutions
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16
TAX coll.EcrOna' noNns.

Attention is called to the conditions eN
istinr in come Of the sparscly rot'lod ooun-
I os IN the northwestern portion of the state
relative to the making of bonds by the wax
collectors under present laws,
The law as it now stauds makes II i''na'
cff.nsc for any officer charged WIN Inc
approynl of such bonds to approve hhnc
Whit any Yurctivs thereon are non -r'Aid"hlS
of tho county Soc article 2il. Penal Cote
This virtually prevents the making In some
counties OF strictly legal bond by the tax
collector
70 Illustrate; In one Of these counties
the taxable values as appear on nhsesnuloht
rolls for lSaG ainount TO $Aip,bil. the lotai
value OF all property, real and personal, IN
said county for 1886. owned by rosllcnts
uf the county. is S2tS2.
The amount OF the State TAX nnsessed for
ISaG on the rolls OF the county IN s3o't. u,
and this IL the amount, under The law
for which the tax collector must give bona.
IL viii readily he seen that the tax collector
of said county can not, under existing laws,
givn bond which can be lawfully APP
proved.
IN the absence Of pny valid 'chaon why
the suretios should III every instance be
residents of the county, 1t IL respectfully
recommended that article 21i, Penal Code,
b. so modified As to ai1ord relief M COM
ties where 1t may be shown 90 be necessary