The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-27

'"NNh We Ndhtu 10 respect and
protect the individuality and personaI In.
cry OF the sovereign. without detriment 10
otners, without which no free republi,an
FORM 10 government can exist. Perhaps n
Wouiu pc wise and to the best interest Of
.ne state 10 nave constitutional convon-
e slVn ai as early date as practicable, for the
| ioiloWlng reasons. viz: Ii has been twenty
years since the adoption of our present CON.
sutntion ana many changes have come and
conditions arisen which we could no, thnn
iorcsee confront us today. and our cons,i
luton which was then fully up TO The
demands OF our interest. Is now become
uuIuehsome and oppressive. and has be-
come SO confused by the patchwork OF
amendments that 1t is rendered almost I'm.
intelllgiblo. VA
peileve II would be wisdom and econ
omy 10 abolish the civil courts of anneal
ana concentrate the civil business in
supreme court Of last resort, located at the
'a'i,a', ana 10 consist of Judges sufficient
10 90 the business, the number to be in.
creased or decreased, as the business will
JUSTIFY AS great number OF appeal cases
! are iinally decided by this court that get
,here ny a cirouitous and expensive route,
potn 10 the state and litigants. this court
OF last resort should be divided into sec
tons, one of which should remain in ses.
sion during the legislative term md mass
upon the constitutionality of all acts rs
they emnnate from the legislature
pellcVo IN the election Of all State and
county OFFICERS for Il term of four years
ana mat no officer shall hold office for
more IMAM two consecutive terms | be-
ile'e there would be economy in redistrict-
ING the state, reducing the number of iu-
dicial districts. believe in a Just and
equitable assignment law. one that will
prohibit falling debtors from preferrine
creditors. This includes deeds of trust and
MORTGAGES This. however. is a delicate
question and one which has two sides and
calls FOR great care and judgment on the
part of the legislature. i also believe the
law of attachment should be so remedied
That property OF failing debtor when so
attached shall be prorated as under assign
ment. Believing In system of good roads
/ am in favor OF each county il they so
desire. having the control of the labor OF
their short termed convicts for the purpose
Of establishing and maintaining the public
ROADS. | believe in restricting the issu
ance OF county and municipal bonds to a
reasonable amount and that such bonds
shall not be Issued except by vote of the
people except in cases of emergency.
am in favor Of regulating the fees of
all officers and reducing same within the
bounds of Justice and economy. | am in
favor Of abolishing the office OF State SUI
perintendent Of public free schools and APP
ply all school funds direct in maintaining
system OF public free schools for six
months If it can be done without increasing
taxation or impairing the permanent school
fund. AZ the land titles OF Texas Gre in
such confusonand abstracts so imperfect
causing great expense both 10 the State and
the land owner, | believe the legislature
should take some steps to quiet and perfect
The titles to the same, and would therefore
favor the investigation and adoption Of
sonc such system as the Australian or the
Torrens land registration law, now in
force In the State OF Illinois. believe the
bills having been passed and reported upon
by the committees at the adjournment OF
the legislature should be held over to be
acted upon by the next Legislature, thus cx-
pediting the business OF the next legisla-
ture.
believe the comptroller and tax col
lector should control and collect the State
revenue tax and II necessary laws should
be enacted to enforce a compliance of this
duty and that the office of State revenue
agent be abolished. There is much com
plant among the patrons Of the public
free schools. claiming that the continuous
changes in their text books renders 1t ex
pensive on them. believe the legislature
should afford remedy. believe It is I'M
Just to tax real estate and the vendors
lien notes against the same. thus double
taxing the one valve and should be reme-
died A. r. Kerr.