El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-07-27
INTERROGATION AMENDMENT.
The Full Text of the mendment That
is to be Voted UnOu Next Tuesday.

| Is W fOtCu y pun ANCAU
On January II last the legisla ture
| pss=e ed a joint resolution providing for
an amendment to the state constitu-
| tion relative to irrigation as follows:
ONT Resolution to amend Article 8 OF
the constitution of the State of Tex
as by adding thereto Section 20, as
follows:
Section 20. In addition to the pow
ers of taxation granted in the fOregO-
ing sections, it shall be lawful for the
land owners of certain portions of Tex
as, as hereinaf er provided, to organize
within that section of Texas which lies
west, northwest aud southwest OF the
following counties, viz: Montague,
Wise, Parker, Hood, Somervell, BIS
que, Coryell, Bell. Williamson, Travis,
Blanco, Gillespie, Comal, Caldwell,
Gonzales, Dewitt, Goliad, Victoria
and Calhoun, irrigation districts with
out regard to county lines. In making
provision for the cost of construction
OF irrigation works within said terri
tory it shall be lawful to create an in
debtedness of not exceeding fifteen
dollars per acre to rest as q charge on
and be secured by lien on the irrig-
able land for the use and benefit of
which said irri cation works have been
or may be constructed. Within the
term, cost of cons ,ruction, snail be in
CluuSu Gue COSU vi Odu
sites and reservoirs, right of way for
canal and la'erals, and other appurten-
ant expenses of the construction of
irrigation plants. In case of destruc-
ton OF the works, or any part thereof,
the repair or rebuilding of
the same shall be construed to be
within the meaning of construction.
To cover the cost of construction as
above defined, bonds may be issued by
~ r iStr lots 70
for forty years or less, and to bear in
terest at the rate of not more than six
per cent. per annum, interest payable
annua ly, which bonds shall be sold at
not less than par. The bonds shall be
liquidated by the levy and collection of
a tax upon the irrigable lands within
such irrigation districts susceptible of
irrigation from and by the system of
irri cation works proposed. Such land
shall be taxed in proportion to acreage
and not in proportion to its value. An
annual tax shall be levied and collect
ed on such irrigable lands sufficient to
pay the interest an said bonds and to
cate sinking fund sufficient to
liqudate the bOcds above authorized
In addition to the tax above provided
fo", there shall be annually levied and
collected sufficient tax from the
lands actually receiving the water for
irrigation of a sufficient amount to
cover the ordinary cost of the mai a.
tenance o. thu irrigation works, the
distribution of the water and appur-
tenant charges and the collection of
| said tax. This charge shall be upon a
basis of the amount of water contracted
for: provided, that this shall not in.
I terfere with the right of any land Own-
err to demand his proportiOnate part of
| the water on the basis of acreage.
| The taxes above provided for shall,
when assessed, be secured by lien on
| the land as now provided by general
| law for the security of state taxes, ard
when delinquent. shall be enforced as
now provided by general law for the
collection of delinquent state taxes,
| but the lien securing the same shall be
subordinate TO the lien securing the
payment of state, county and municipal
| taxes.
None of the foregoing provisions of
this amendment shall ever be construed
to give authority to create lein on or
tax in any manoer any lands SO long as
| they shall belong to the state; nor after
sale thereof shall any charge ever be
| created thereon which shall take pre-
cedence over the leins securing the bal
ance of the purchase money due the
| state.
The Indebtedness for the con-
struction of irrigation works
authorized under the pro-
visions of this amendment shall be
created only upon u vote of a majority
of the land owners resident in the dis
trict pr posed to be organized and
whose lands are susceptible of irriga-
tion from and by the system of irriga-
tion works proposed. only qualified
voters under the existing laws of Tex
as, being such owners of rural lands,
within such districts shall have the
right TO vote as aforesaid.