San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-14
Gives the Rate of Taxation of the State
for TwentY-six Years.

ministrstion, L respectfully SUBJ
NIT the following statistics taken
from the records of this office in
order that the public generally
may be informed and judge for
themselves as to the truth Of these
vague and wild statements.
The records of this Office show
the rate of state ad valorem tax on
the 500. Valuation of taxable
property from 1870 to 1896 inclu.
sive, to have been as follows:
1870, Is cents.
1871, 55 cents.
1872, SO cents.
1873, 524 cents.
1874 to 1880 inclusive, SCI cents.
1881, 404 cents.
1928, 304 cents.
1884, III and 124 cents, state
school.
1885 81, %! and 12t cents, state
school.
1883, 1ot and u! cents, state
school.
1SS9.9O, 2Ot and u! cents, state
school.
1891, 168 and u! cents, state
school.
1924, 15S and 12t cents, state
school.
1895, 258 and 20 cents, state
school.
1896, 2O8 and IS cents state
school.
AS shown above, the rate of state
advalorem tax in force in 1870,
when Governor Davis entered the
executive Office, was 10 cents on
the 800, valuation of property.
The first legislature that con-
vened after Governor Davis ad-
ministration raised the tax rate to
333 cents on the 500 for general
purposes and levied an additional
bond tax of 8 cents. These acts
were approved August 9Th and
10th, 1870, too late to be applied to
that year, "a the assessments had
already been made, therefore be-
came effective on January l, 1871;
but before the tax levy for that
year was ordered the legislature
again convened and again raised
the rate to so cents on the 500, for
general purposes, making the total
rate So cents. Notwithstanding
this high rate Of taxation, on Aug.
9Th, 1870, the legislature author
lied the issuance Of bond to the
amount Of $4,000 for maintain
ing rangers on the frontier, and on
May 10 authorized an issuance of
100000 in bonds to meet deficien-
cies, and on December 2, 1871, au.
thorized the issuance Of $l2, 000, 900
in bonds to meet deficiencies in
revenues, etc.
The records show that during
Republican control in Texas, the
county advalorem tax ranged from
$l.50 to 1915 on the 800 valuation.
The tax rolls for this year will
show an average total county tax
OF not over 80 cents, state revenue
tax 20 cents, state school tax Is
cents; total state, county and
school tax for this year SO cents.
The records show the appropria-
tions made for mileage, per diem
and contingent expenses for the
legislature OF 1870 was 1901, 900,
and for the session Of 1871, $685.
600.
The appropriation for the first
legislature under a Democratic ad-
ministration was reduced to $780,
600, while the expenses of both the
regular and extra session of the
last legislature (24th). aggregated
only $145,0O1.O2.
A comparison of statistics with
other states shows that Texas has
the lowest advalorem tax rate OF
any state in the Union, save three,
to-wit: Indiana, Ohio and Mime
sofa.
1t is also shown by the records
that the amount appropriated out
of general revenue for the support
OF the state government for the two
years beginning March l, 1895 and
ending February %, 1897, amount
ed In round figures to SASS, 600,
which will not all be expended.
These figures demonstrate the
gross inaccuracy Of the various as
sertions being made by the
enemies Of the administration
when they claim that the expense
OF conducting the state government
during the past year was $6,000,.
0OO, and that the state government
was run on a Is cent tax under the
Davis administration.
(Signed) R. w. FINLEY.