The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-31

To tho Editor OF The Post.
| suppose it is now in order to discuss
the proposed addition OF territory to our
Houston city limits by charter amendment,
and therefore give you, first. the law gov
efning this matter as it appears in our
Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, to-wit:
Article 503. Adjoining Inhabitants May
Become Part of City-Wheuever a majority
OF the Inhabitants qualified to vote for
members of the State legislature of any
territory adjoining the limits of any city,
accepting the provisions of this title, to the
extent of one half miles in width. shall
No'e Ia taYor OF becoming part OF said
city. any three Of them may make affidavit
TO the fact. to be filed before the mayor,
who shall certify the same to the city coun-
ell OF said city. The said city council may
bv ordnance receive them as part OF said
clS from thenceforth the territory so re-
ceiNod shall be part OF said city, and the
| inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to all
the rights and privileges of other citizens.
anu bound by the acts and ordinances made
IN conformity thereto and passed in pur-
suancc OF this title.
Has any citizen In the one-half mile OF
| territory around the city limits of Houston
asked or pettioned our city council to be
admitted TO the glorious right or privilege
" fNN'aAAhE ldfN VI luis Guy, inclusive
OF the privilege of helping us pay our great
city debt?
Is II not little previous In our city
council TO be attempting TO take in the
truck farms and milk dares around Hous
ton without asking the consent OF their
awnors OF saying by your leave, sirs?"
Is this leap year?
And for what purpose may | ask. is the
CITY council trying to do this illegal act
Is II to help the small farmers and other
! owners OF suburban properties by giving
Them drainage. paved streets. lights. water
and police protection?
II this be the design. l, as an inhabi-
| lNht ol Houston, am opposed to II because
70 would entail upon us an expense far Ia
excess OF any revenue We would derive
from the taxation levied upon these su-
! hrrhan properties.
But II this be not the motive. and II the
design is TO take these people OF the SUI.
brrhs In simply to tax them for the benefit
| OF the inhabitants OF this city as II now is
then ana opposed to It as being a piece ~
robbery only inferior in outlines TO hold :
ing up n stage coach
Was there ever 4 greater cxempllfication
OF unauthorized gall than for the civ
council 10 lay scheme by charter amend
ment TO Tx per cent tax on a nconla
not only without their consent but ..-ninst
their known wishes and over thelr mas,
strenuous protests made now and often I'm
the past
So far are the suburban property owners
from fayoriag this diabohcal scheme that
they stand IN fear and trembling NAT tbis
grave wrong may By some change be in
ilicted upon them.
We now have nine square lniles Of TOR.
ri'ory within our city limits. not oue.fourth
part OF which is properly improved nv
naNod streets. or which shares In the bona.
his Of our city Incorporation: and This area
could easily accommodate more than double
our present city population.
We have not a street in our citv ..,,
onr. which Is paved 10 The corporate liri,s
Then how Ions would II take for us 10
nave the streets in the territory wh,rh tho
council is schenins to annex9 our tn;ne
grounds. '"'pe
Ar,lcle rosa Of our Revised Statutes mo-
city TO withdraw and TO longer remain " a