Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-22

] S711 20 as recommended, the as
bursements for the next year would
be 1854 ,023. %. The total receipts os-
timated by the comptroller for the next
( two years at the rate OF Is cents were
i 81, S6S, 1853. so. and for one year would
! be Si.931. 6I9.7 5. or an eN-
cess of receipts over expenditures
/ OF 1851, csc so. This would pay
expenses but would leave o deiicit
of $3.50, 90 unprovided for, and $780,
900. the limit which could be borrowed
from the school fund, would not have
discharged t. Reduction OF expendi-
lures In many directions Is imprac-
ticable without legislation, executive
veto being powerless in such cases,
and expenses were only actually re-
duced 1904, II for two years. or $780,
I 1ib.S5 for each year, which Mt the rate
of 10 cents would have left unprovlded
for deficit of ss6q,g77. An increase In
the rate Of taxation OF 20 cents for
1896 and 20 cents for 1896 was there
fore unavoidable and imperative. That
as much as 25 cents for 1895 and 20
cents for 1896 was demanded Is also
clear, because the deficit was s7ss.0O0.
and an increased rate OF 10 cents on
the total taxable values of $s65. 000, 900
bringing revenue OF $500 900, less cost
of collection, will not more than dis
charge II and maintain the govern
ment ON cash basis under existing
llMss ne present tax rate OF ~ cents
q mills) for general purposes IL com
paratively low Notwithstanding the
fact that Texas is a young and grow
ing state with yearly increasing de-
mands. Only three statea which fol-
low the ad valorem system have a
lower rate. Indiana and Ohio having
rate of IL mills and Minnesota a
rate of is mills In Colorado and
Kaneas where so-called Populist re-
forms were inaugurated, the rates are
33 and 425 mills respectively. A great
people Justly esteem the honor OF their
state and by the course pursued our
debts have been paid, the credit OF
the government preserved, expenses
largely rduced. and on March 1, 1897,
when the appropriation year expires,
the comptroller estimates that there
VIII be a cash balance on hand Of
$40 900 In the treasury. Nor Is this all
that has been accomplished. In the
midst OF marked depreciation in other
states our taxable values have been
substantially maintained, the mis-
representation and falsehood of dis
credited politicians and a partisan
press respecting recent laws have been
dispelled; a new and sturdy and manly
Immigration has turned toward us;
the political calumny of enmity to
foreign capital and enterprises has
been dlsproved and they are seeking
nv NoAHitit anu tilplOg IleHh mere win
renewed condolences; and so far as the
administration OF the state govern
ment may contribute to such result.
there has been general. intellectual,
commercial and industrial progress.
STATE LEGISLATION RECON-
MENDED.
From time to time during the cam
paign subjects OF future state leRis-
lation VIII be presented to you. 1t
VIII suffice now to speak OF some of the
more urgent and important The
practice of economy In the expenditure
of public money should be resolutely
and vigorously pressed. Wherever in
quiry and experience show that ex-
pendltures are unnecessary or may be
dispensed with temporarily or per-
manently without detriment to the
public service existing conditions de-
mand that they be discontinued.
Among these is the annual appropri-
alton of $4,000 for fees OF oHicers in
examining trials, and In order to ac-
compliah this the law authorizing and
liking the fees should be repealed
The judicial districts should be re-
apportioned and the number reduced
to forty, which viii reduce expendi-
lures S32500 annually. Some of the
present districts have u population
OF 100000 where the business has been
satisfactorily transacted. and as the
population of the state does not ex-
coed 100000 the number of the dis
tricts. measured solely by population,
may be reduced to thirty. But there
are other considerations which affect
the question, such as extent of terri
tory to be traversed, and probably
forty would be a reasonably safe num-
Der. The length OF the terms of court
justify this view, for they run from
twenty-eight to forty weeks in the
year and the average term OF actual
service does not probably exceed
thirty-two weeks out of fifty-tw A
Is demanded also to
equallze the work and labor OF the
judges, 1t being manifestly unjust to
require n service OF forty weeks of
some while that of the others is only
twenty-eight, The salary OF district
judges is $500, and the average salary
OF state oiiicers Is $1,000 per annum. No
sound reason exists for the payment of
greater compensation than this to dis
trict and county officers. and the fees
OF district attorneys should be limited
10 s2O0O per aDnum and those Of coun-
~ ana precinct officers should not ex- |
coed $1,000 net. This would probably
lessen the expenses of the state $780,
900 annually in the amount paid these
oihcials as fees in felony cases be-
sides affording relief to individuals
and counties IN fees paid by them.
All necessary provision should be |
made TO render effective the con-
sututlonnl prohibition against railway |
consolidation. and the practice of is |
suing free passes or transportation |
should be prohibited As soon as prac- |
tieablc the state should cease to be a |
landowner, and to this end all public |
JANUS should be sold at their reason- |
able and fair market value on long |
time with interest at the rate OF Ave |
per cent per annum. This policy will |
promote the development OF the wea- |
tern part OF the state, put the fund out |
al interest for the benefit OF the |
schools aud cut or much OF the annual |
expense required to maintain the land |
ONCE. These will far outweigh any
probable Increase In the value OF the |
lands which would result from hold |
ing them indefinitely. II Is the set |
lied policy OF the state TO favor bona
nde and actual settlers on public
isnus adnpted to agriculture and ser |
tlement, and 1t should be steadfastIv |
pursued. The live stock Interests OF |
me state, which add probably s75. O00
wy annually TO our wealth, deserve
ialr ana reasonable conslderatIon
Mhere lands are leased by stockmen
euepted TO grazing and pastural mr.
poses their rights Of possession
ana property should be protected from
/, u.lswirrhnted molestation or in
terterence' and the law provId-
lus sor cattle quarantine regulations