The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-21

that time, was S13,G9G, 55J.3I. less inaT
probable commissions paid the agents
and is greater than the total taXabl
values for 1896 Of either Of the grea
counties Of Bell or Collins. This drail
might be more sufferabe but for the fac
that the money is squandcrcd by the OF
iicials Of the companies in the most sean
dalous salaries. perquisitcs and inciden
tails. The presidents Of some OF them re
ceive higher salaries than the prcsidcn
Of the United States. One Of them dis
tinguishcd in rascality and driven iron
the presidency for uncXampicd ycnallty
was afterwards pcnsioncd for life at th'
sum Of $1,000 annually by his accom-
plccs on the directory 1t il not sur
prising when this and other kindred mat
tiers are considered that the substance OF
fbe state is being drawn 10 the east. aud
il il the duty Of the legislature 10 adopt
measures 10 arrest it, The state Of New
York. where these companies were or
ganized, fOrbids the Investment IN any
other state of more than Onc-hat OF the
annual premium receipts Of III" c0mpa-
mics, which indirectly requires the invest
mcnt Of onc-half the receipts in that
state. Legislation requiring these cOmpa-
MES to invest annually a reasonable per
centagc Of the premiums received from
this tate in property here i not only man
ifestly reasonable and just but dictated by
sound public policy. The excess of pre-
NUNS over losses sent out of the state
since 1856 by all life and fire insurance
companies which have done business here
will probably reach S2J,OOO,OW, and ac-
counts, in part, fox the distress here and
the congestion of money and the aggrc-
cation Of wealth in the metropolis. II ~
time that the resources of the state should
be devoted to her own growth and prog
,l,. Il, Of IL
dictated will strongly tend 10 keep capital
here and build upon it.. As these COM
panes pay practically no ad valorcm
taxes, the tax of IL per cent on the gross
premium receipts Of fire. marine and ac-
cident insurance companies should u" IN
creased 10 / per cent and the tax Of
| Ia per cent on such gross premium
receipts of life insurance companies
should be increased to two per cent. Few
people not directly interested III agriclll-
lure appear to understand and appreciate
the evil produced by the plant known as
Johnson grass. 1t has caused widespread
injury already. and unless checked and
destroyed the damage il will bring upon
NE farmers is incalculablc. Sections III
Me northern part of the state, pariicu-
arly are so poisoned by this weed that
land values are becoming scnsibly affected
and the returns from Farm labor
materially diminished. The existence
If the grass has become an important
factor not only in the selling price OF the
land but in negotiating loans upon IT, In
some individual cases distinct financial
ruin has been brought upon industrious
and entcrprising citizens. SO general II
the growth and dispersion of this pest
that in places cases are known where land
owners have deliberately planted the
grass because II has so cncroehed upon
them without hope Of repression or lies,
truction that the inevitable discounted
and accepted. 1t appears that means are
known and in use by which the grass can
he destroyed and thus immeasurable loss
TO the state avertcd il its subsequent pro-
pa cation can be prevented, This may be
done by law vigorously enforced, under
which the importation and sale OF the
grass i'm hay form is f0bldden. and all
and corporations owning, lcas-
ing or controlling realty in this state are
prohibited from allowing the grass to
grow to seed No more important subject
than this will claim your attention at this
The injury sought to be avoided
is so general and alarming that immediate
and effective action is imperative. Not
only by party, but by constitutional and
duty, we are bound to support
literally the public free schools of the
state, and we are especially cnJolheh 10
husband the scnool fund so That the
schools may bc maintained for NJ least siN
of the year. The present rate OF
for this purpose should he nam
tanned, and wherever any portion oil inc
available school fund is devoted to pur-
noses other than the support and main
tenancc of the schools within the mean
,np of the constitution il should cease
yvbotber any portion of this fund is being
diverted depends upon the proper con
of some constitutional proNl-
sions II is provided among other things
Inv section ,, article Z of that instrument
that onc-fourth of the revenue derived
from state occupation taxes and poli
lax of 81 on every male jphNpllant Nc |
tween the ages of 81 and GO shall he set |
apart annually for the support OF the pun
lie schools and in addition thereto there |
shall be levied and collected an annual
I'd yalorem state tax of such amount TO
not exceed 20 cents on the 500 vnlua-
ion. ms with the available school fund |
raised from all other sources VIII DC SUI
icient "to maintain and support the |
hubble free schools for period ot not less |
han six months in the year. By the same |
section II is declared that the legislature |
nav also provide for the formation OF |
school districts within all or any OF the |
,onnties of this state by general or special
aw, and may authorize an additional an
nual nd ynorcm tax to he levied and col |
cctcd within such school districts for the |
further maintenance of the public free |
schools and the erection of school build |
ngs therein" Section . of the same |
article after defining permanent and |
AVAILABLE fund declares that the available |
'und shall be applied annually to the sup |
Dort" of the public free schools, and that |
40 law shall ever be enacted appropriat,
ne any part of the available school fund |
% any other purpose whatever. From |
.hcse provisions of the constitution II VIII |
he seen that except for the support and |
of the schools the lcglsla- |
ure is not authorized to appropriate any |
lart of the available fund. 1t may he
hat in consequence of the provision III |
section that local taxation may he re- |
sorted to for the erection of school build |
ngs, as well as from the history and gen |
raj context of these several provisions |
heir proper construction is that the avail |
lblc school fund can not be used for the |
ERECTION of school buildings or the pur- |
base of furniture or school apparatus, |
,r the support of the department of pub |
lie education. The construction turns |
upon whether support and maintenance |
II the schools was intended 10y the |
trainers of the constitution TO embrace |
ihese purposes. With the exception of |
IN act of 1866, which seems
not to have been enforced |
hat school buildings should b. provided |
hx-t tnN h