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

u
a crease, $3.50, 600 is for new
buildings. the remainder
t for repairs. libraries, equip
e ments, and for current eX-
= DcISes). ,joD,ZDl w
While entitled to the utmost respect
t acquisitions made should excite no specia
r alarm that unless granted the state will
, suffer irreparable injury. The tota
, acquisitions for the current two years
was $5,251 ,OS5.4O, yet the government
, and institutions have been admirably con
Quoted on about S4,000,0O0 Aside from
, any other objection, all the appropra
tions now asked could not be met if the
, rate of taxation were put to the limit OF
the constitution and, consequently, any
thought of doing 80 should be promptly
dismissed. This legislature, moreover
is commissioned by the people to con
tinuc economy in the expenditure of pub
. lie money and reduce expenses wherever
practicable and should resolutely pursue
that policy. 1t is true Texas is grow.
ing toward destiny that passes our
vision, and public needs will naturally
and inevitably enlarge with this progress,
but we are in the midst of industrial
stagnation and financial distress which
press heavily upon the people. Every
citizen is constrained to curtail eX-
penses in his private affairs, and for the
legislature to add to the burden by un-
necessary expenditure or increase in pub
lie charges would be both indefcnsible
and ineXcusable. Deeply impressed with
these considerations, it is submitted that
in dealing with this subject these general
rules should be observed: First as the
government has been well administered
Ion the appropriations for the current two
years, they should be taken as basis
and every practicable reduction of eX-
pcnSeS made; second, no salaries should
be increased or new Offices created; third
no increase of appropriations for any de-
partment or institution should be al
lowed except it be Indispensable ut this
time, and, fourth, the appropriations
should be held strictly within the limits
of receipts, and as the state is out of
debt the al yalorem rate of taxation
should. under no conditions, be in
creased. The total appropriations for
the current two years were 81 80, 1860.
Reductions in appropriations may prob
ably be made in many places upon careful
Investigation, but among larger items
the following should be made for two
years: Five thousand dollars for pen
sions and $4,000 for relief of liquor deal
crs which will not be needed, $4,000 by
emitting appropriation for special district
Judges and requiring the regular judges
to exchange when disqualified. as pro-
vided by the constitutions; $4,000 by re-
pcaling the law allowing fees in exam
lining trials; $4,000 by reapportioning
the judicial districts and reducing them
to forty; 100000 by prohibiting the at
tachment of witnesses from other coun-
ties before grand juries except in capital
cases, and S15O.00O by reducing the fees
of district attorneys and county officers,
aegregating 100000. With these re-
auctions from the last total biennial APP
preparations there would remain S3.0j2,-
$3.50, and, with estimated receipts of
i,631 900. would leave an excess of re-
ceipts of S67S263.70. If no reduction
be made the excess would only be
S23S, 2G1.70 which would not keep the
state on cash basis, because in the
operation of the laws revenue from taxes
IL received ut the treasury only during
four or five months. while disbursements
amount to about 100000 monthly. TO
avoid registering warrants. which usually
ncccssitates discount by the holders and
works discredit to the state. there should
he at least 100000 in the treasury at the
beginning of the year. But, in addition
to this, it must be borne in mind that
appropriations over those of the current
two years, and to which the legislature is
pledged, seem necessary for the Con-
federatc Home, insane asylums, univer-
college. The increased amount asked
for the Home should be allowed I'M
grudgingly, for the time should never
come when disabled Confederate heroes.
entitled to the generosity and gratitude
of the state, should suffer for the com
forts of life. BY charging the San An.
tonic asylum to the capacity of either
of the others and guarding against
crowding them with persons not entitled
TO admission, such as non-residents, i'm
beetles, idiots and epileptics, all the in
sane can probably be cared for State
pride. remembrance of the aspirations of
the fathers and sincere appreciation of
the great work in which these schools
are engaged, suggest that any reasonable
rcquisition for the support and necessary
expansion of the university and Agricul- |
tural and Mechanical college should be
granted. BY section II, article I. of the
constitution the legislature is prohibited
from apprOpriating general revenue for
the creation of buildings of the university
and it is apparent that other increased
demands made by it, as well as some by
the asylums and Agricultural and Me
chanical college. are impracticable at this |
time. The acquisitions of other depart |
mcnts and institutions should be care
fully scrutiniZed and only allowed where |
proper and necessary. Large reductions
IN expenditures may be made. rs pointed |
ont, and in the consideration of demands |
for increased appropriations no better
general rule can he adopted than to allow |
none except to the extent of reductions
in expenses and to divide these fairly |
among the most needy and deserving |
The work of the legislature on this sub
ject is embarrassing and difficult. Econ |
omy will be decried and opportunities |
come from many quarters, but you will
deserve well of your country if you stand |
to your public pledges and the countless
toilers who believe in a simple and frugal
government.
Congratulating You upon the outlook |
for short, harmonious and useful ses
sion, l welcome you cordially to the cap
ital and while the foregoing recommen-
dations are submitted with candor and |
emphasis, it is done with becoming defer
encc to your judgment and sincere pur-
pose to cooperate with you in every |
measure you may devise, tending to the
public welfare.
c. A. CULBERSON.
SENATE COMMITTEES.
The Standing Committees nf tho Senate |