The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20

sor ! man Ia Mead usury In defense against
| these oppressive contracts. shall, II
elected governor OF this State, recommend
! the enactment of a law which shall make
| ii a crime, subjecting the violator OF that
| law to severe penalties and compelling It's
| strict observance.
UNIFORM TEXT BOOK LAW.
There is but one way to protect our neo-
pie from the expressions and exactlons OF
the school book trust now for many years
fixing the prices of our school books at
unjust and extravagant figures; in fact In
some cases prohibitory, there being thou
sands of our children who are out OF sehool
because their parents can not buy them
books. So powerful have these trusts be-
come that only the State can deal with
them successfully, II even the state can
do so. ! shall strive TO uphold the uni-
form text book law and perfect ana
strengthen 1t where needed If am elected
your governor. The same shall never be
repealed unless ii be done over my Veto.
! pledge myself TO extend and strengthen
It, believing 1t should apply as well TO cit
les and towns as the country. What is
good for country people is also good for
town people, and In truth there are far
more people in towns and cities unable to
buy books, proportonately, than in the
country. When | see lawyers employed
by these text book companies and trusts to
appear before the school book board at Aus
tin 10 secure the adoption of said books by
said board [ am impressed with the condi-
tions which may arise which will compel
Texas to purchase the copyright of such
text books as she needs and publish them
under contract aud furnish them TO our
children at actual cost. in order to protect
our people from these trusts.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL. FUND.
We have before us for solution one of the
most important questions with which we
have had to deal fer many years the safe
and profitable investment of our school
fund, six hundred and odd thousand dol
lars of which is now lying idle in the vaults
of cur treasury by reason of the restric-
ton in our constitution with regard TO the
investing of the same. shall advocate
an amendment to our constitution author
i2lng It's Investment in city bends of this
State. in addition to the provisions now al
lowed by law, under restrictions and safe !
guards, This is q sacred fund. left to us
and our children by the fathers of the Re-
nublic. | shall oppose the use of any part
of the principal of said fund for any pur-
nose end that only the interest of the same
be used. in order that this fund may re-
main as IL Is priceless inheritance TO
ourselves, our children and postcrity.
! am opposed 10 what is known as the
Jester amendment. which authorizes the
use of part of the principal of said fund
for school purposes. In my judgment If
this fund is kept wisely handled, the in
terest thereon will furnish fund suffici-
ert to support our public schools and re-
lieve our people In q large degree from the
burdens of taxation for school purposes
| will further advocate an amendment 20 |
cur constitution authorizing the lending |
OF said money 10 our own people on real |
estate security under proper safeguards |
and restrictions. Our State Is new. and our !
people are necessarily borrowers, and no |
security in my judgment, can be superior to |
well selected and located lands in all parts |
of this State, Foreign loan companies reap |
a rich harvest in annual interest collected
IRON our people, at 4 rate of interest |
which, If paid by the people 10 the school
fund. would secure many millions manu-
ally leaving our State TO enrich foreign |
money changers, and ! can see no sufficient
reason, as a business proposition why cur
school fund should not be loaned to our
people say at per cent per annum, and
thus save TO them an eXorbitant rate of in
terest which they now pay TO enrich others
children OF this State. To say that the
money would be thus endangered or un-
safe Is TO argue that our State a,Mhori-
lies have not as much judgment and wis
ION In securing money on land situated
N this State, among our own people, as
oreign lean companies ] am confident
hat law can b. framed which would as
'ffeotualy guard against loss to the school
und as to invest II in United States bonds,
'ounty bonds or city bonds. which are now
'eling at such premium that it is almost
impossible TO find an investment for our
chooi FUND In these securities, and at the
anne time secure to our people money
IN long time and a low rate of interest,
ghich would place this money in clrcula-
ion among our people and enable them to
eVelcp our great State inaugurate in |
ustrial enterprises and bring about a de-
'ree OF prosperity now enjoyed today.
ECONOMY.
I pledge myself to the most rigid econ.
my consistent with an effective adminis-
ration of your affairs. If selected as your !
hief executive. l believe government en- ]
loyes should be required to work from s
!. m. TO IL m. and from / p. M. to 6 p. [,
A. each day, instead OF from to 4.as is
ow the rule, and thus reduce the force 4
equired to perform the public service /
ne third, and shall favor eliminating a
ne adjutant generals department, which +
osts many thousand dollars to our people 8
nnuaiiy and no corresponding benefit to
lem- The governor can attend to this b
Military department in times OF peace, with y
ne aid TO assist him, at small salary, t.
nd his honorary staff can do the remain n
ls duty, and the thousands OF dollars thus Il
nnuaiiy wasted can be expended or 50
luch thereof as may be necessary, in S
king care of our brave, unfortunate ex- !;
onleaerate soldiers who lost their all In y
lie defense of their country. whose nrn- II
elton and comfort should be one of the o
ief aims of the State of Texas. n
am opposed TO all ornamental branches X