The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-21

nance OF sinccures In office and pets and
hangers on about Austin. This is the first
and foremost duty of the incoming lcgisla-
turc, and II the pledges made by the dcmoc-
racy In its platform and on the stump By
its speakers and defenders are not kept
sacred In this respect, the party will hear
from the people two years hence In no UNI
certain tone. There has been for years
past too much extravaganza practiccd by
our legislatures-too much winkins ut cX
orbitant salaries and unlawful appropria-
lions to pay them. The public funds should
be appropriated by the legislature in that
prudent, judicious manner that character
ICES the expenditures made by prudent
and cautious business man or farmer. The
Legislature has no right to squander the
public funds, which are drawn from the
pockets of the people by taxation, in max
Inc extravagant appropriations. Thousands
OF dollars are squanderod annually In the
maintenance of useless offices and depart
ments
1 The agricultural department ought
to be abolished. 1t Is useless cx-
pense to the taxpayers. The insurance
branch of this department, should be placed
in the comptroller's department. where 1T
properly belongs. 10 be presided over by,
competent clerk.
. The adjutant generals department
should be abolished This is the biggest
humhug in the state
q. me SuntTlUttnutllS III the illlltlC aSN-
lums should be given a stipulated salary
and mnde to board and feed themselves and
not allowed to run boarding establishments
at the expense OF the State for their kin
folks and friends
1. The State revenue agents office
should be abolished. and the tax
collectors and comptroller made col
lect the taxes. Why pay three men To
do what 1t is one mans sworn daiy TO do
Make these officers and their bondsmen re-
sponsible for the uncolected taxes and you
Will see that they Will collect it. Officers
should be made to do their duty when their
oath of office Is not sufficiently sacred TO
make them to do 1t.
b. Abolish all the FIVE courts q civil
appeals and establish one supreme
court at Austin. with sufficient judges
to transact the business There isn't
anything in our State that is more
senseless and useless and uuitlcss of
good TO the people than our five courts OF
civil appeals. They are simply OF big q.
pensc and no service. Their decisions ar.
not final. and when question OF any I'M
rortance is involved In a suit the case is
always appealed to the supreme court.
Then why have them? Why not have ono
court of final resort. with sufficient judges
TO dispose OF the business without much
expense, worry and annoyance to litigants
anC expense to the StatcI
Sixth. Amend our present assignment
law so as TO prohibit all preferred cred
itors, Give the creditor and debtor just
and equitable law one that will not be a
cloak to dishonest men.
seventh. Pass a Just and equitable
county fee bill allowing all officers a
maximum salary. 10 be regulated by the
county commissioners courts, to be paid
out of the fees and commissions allowed
them by law. the excess in fees above their
salaries and the salaries allowed their dep
uties 10 be placed in the county treasury
TO the equal credit OF the county school
ana general funds Then submit to the
voters an amendment to the constitution
making all officers elective for four years.
This would make county expenses less and
give to the public schools of many of the
larger counties thousands Of dolars,
Eighth. Submit, constitutional amend
mcnt requiring all voters to pay their poll
tax for the two years previous to the cleo
ton at which they proposed to vote. Such
a law would make elections more honest
and just and more truly represent the real
will of the citizens OF the State and place
in the State and county treasures an
nually between si5o,OO0 and si75 900
There are about 100000 voters In Texas
who do not pay any sort of tax. and the
comptroller's report shows that the coun-
ties which have the largest list OF delin-
quent poll TAX payers receive from the
State the largest appropriations for free
school purposes The school fund alone OF
the State Is defraudod out OF 800 900 an
nually by the delinquent poll tax payers.
yet the scholastic reports show that this
class Of citizens are the greatest bene-
ficiares of the public schools. II | mis-
take not, the records show that there Ia
due the State on poll taxes alone from 1855
to 1895 about 81. 900. 900. Isn't II time We
had law that would make these dead beats
pay their taXos-pay something toward
the maintenance Of the publip schnnlu n nd
defraying the state md county govern
mental expenses? There are many other
minor reform measures that should be con-
sidered, but these are enough for the pres
emit am one OF these who believe that
as everything the taxpayer raises ani pro-
duces is falling IA price Ynar aftor v.sr.
IL Ia time TO cut down expenses of govern :
mert: use the rsuning knife prudently,
judlciously. but use II wherever 1t can
be used, not 10 cripple the efficiency OF
any department OF government. but In a
spirit Of true economy and Just retrench
mont in the interest OF the pcople who
bear the burdens of government.
ByronDrow.