The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-27

wtvnt T.. this omission
mother difficulty devel-
ne toJ IOok for the where
assessors for their work.
md peop,e of Texas are dis
just and equitable in their
II their official agents; that
iizc good faith as the right rule
in public as well MS private af-
that where important RESPONSE
are imposed commensurate COM
IN should be extended Under
tutes now in force there Is no pro-
for paying the assessors for their
Article 4544a, laws Of 1889. is
omitted, and yet il, or some law SINH
to II, il manifcstly essential for visit
punishment upon officials and upon all
hcr persons who shall refuse or fail to
urnish required information. These
omissions of the law left the department,
as to it's agricultural feature and other
statistics, entirely dependent on the will
of county and state officials TO give in
formation or not. BY circular letter ]
duly notified the assessors Of the true
condition, and ut the same time Appealed
TO them to continue the work, and to look
10 the coming session of the legislature
for their pay. | nm pleased to say that
1f the 22i assessors in the state 1SI of
them complied with my nest, com
plctcd the returns and Dtly sent
them to the department fC IN this re-
port. Many other off ~ asses
sors, Also were prompt { hc in
formation requested. nus
materially promoted { L.
parunCnt and ARE de- COM
mcndation at the III goo clti-
zens. Just why 80 omitted
laws, to which ! hi erred, were per
United to be stricken from the statute
book and TO become RELOCATED M useless
trash to the waste piles and rubbish heaps
OF obsolete legislative cnactments, | am
runablc to surmsc. Their disappear
ancc, without legislative repeating action,
~ matter leave TO the compilcrs TO cN-
plain. can only say and urge that, not
vithstanding the compi.crs seem 20 have
complied until they compiled the assessors
out OF their pay, those assessors who
have faithfully done the work should he
paid; and | sincerely hope the members
II the legislature may see their way clear
TO incorporate Il provision for their pay
ment in the appropriation bill. II GER
calmly could not have been ut any time
the intention Of the legislature To exact
this work of the department without pro-
yidng the means and methods TO per
form IL.
" a copy of the annual report Of the
agi icultnral department could each year
he placed in each farm house in the state
il would not he n misuse OF the volume.
Ii wound direct the farmers attention to
matters which Immediately affect him and
his interests. Ii would show him that
the state is giving viGi,ant attention to
the important business If agriculture,
aud il could not otherwise than stimulate
and encourage his efforts to find that they
were being promoted to the greatest cN-
cent attainablc under the provisions of
human laws. The publication of so great
"A number Of volumes would, however eli
tail an outlay of money beyond what a
reasonable regard for economy might per-
nit. But there should be a much larger
ISSUANCE of these reports than that which
il has been the custom to allow. The
farmers represent the great body Of tax
payers as wei rs of producers Of wealth,
and as they pay so largely TO the con-
duet OF the state government, they are Ell
itled TO primary attention at least in
those matters of government which relate
directly and exclusively 10 farming COndi-
lions. Holding to this conviction | in
my last report suggested that 10000 cop
les of il might be printed for general dis
tribution among the farmers, for | be
licyed then and believe now that even
more than that number could he protita-
bly, used by sending them to the farmer
citizens of the state The state printing
board however. could authorize the
printing of Int 2000 copies. which is the
maximum number allowed by law. The
law should he amended in this respect.
Fourteen hundred copies out "f this num-
Der were delivered TO this department for