The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-30

ties Of he STATE. where there ere M sc,,.,a
lgation boards, no county officials ar
Ssete comptroller IL made. under The law,
tcc assessor OF the taxes, the collector az
.exeS, the equalization board and "a siy
tpe values Of all property in these unor-
Eanized counties In the State at any vain,
IN MS discretion, so he does NOT disaer
Win inc party rendering. The last rams
, au.aority Is vesting too much power aud
su.noItty In one official or individual with.
out the proper check or balance of This
pvwer somewhere. For instance. won .aka
comptroller McCall's report OF 1874. or
page lls, table No. 70, you find this ian.
guage used: Lands owned by non resi-
uenis, rosiroads and telegraphs, in unor-
san,zeo counties. assessed by the comptrol.
~ or 1919. You find the total number
.. acres assessed In these twenty-onc ,in-
organized counties to be sos. 907 acres. as
sessed and valued at $3.50 per acre. In The
same report. same page and fable vnu
IInu railroad miles in these twenty-one ,lu :
organized counties to be 1O9. 60 miles ns /.
sessea at ard valued at $1,000 per mile; tel
esrapn lines, 1911 miles, assessed and VAL
ued at $500 per mile. ''N'' A'' va
Now compare the above fe,,ros u;,h
comptroller Finley's report of 1896, on
page "A, table No 10. you find this Lam
suage used Lands owned by non resi-
dents. railroads and telegraph lines in un-
organized counties. assessed BY comptroller
lot 1896. You find the total number of
acres assessed in these twepty-one unor-
ganized counties to be 7.27s.5ll acres ss.
sessed and valued at 81 per acre. You
see reduction in value OF one-third by
Mt. Finiey, or as he claims ii, Il reduce
'ion OF a cents per acre less than Mccall
assessed and valued these same lands NJ In
1924, which would make IA reduction on the
entire land assessed by Mr.. Finley IN these
unorsanized counties Of 1921, l15 less than
NV assessed them. See Comptroller
f1nley's report of 1896, page 16.
Also in Comptroller Finicy's report III
1875, on page "A, table No. 20, you lind
railroads assessed by comptroller in these
uhorganized counties at S55i7 per mile.
a reduction in value by Comptroller Finley
OF 1888 per mile less than McCsirs report,
or reduction on the 100 20 miles IF rail-
roads IN these counties OF SS5.565. IN
ABUSE OF his discretion, it seems to me, as
we'll MS a discrimination on his part i'm
favor OF non resident land owners, railroad
companies and corporations. While The
taxes were being raised On the people by
the legislature. the State comptroller was
reducing the valuation OF the property of
non resident land owners, railroads aud
corporations in these unorganized counties
II seems TO me that this large dis ,ret.onary
power should be divided up and i portion
OF this power lodged somewhere else; tucn
there would be some kind of check or hal
ance against this wide scope of authority
as now given to the comptroller
3. The settlement of the taxes with The
tax collectors of balancing up the accolnls
with the various officers, and the settle
ment of the tax rolls of the various eona-
ties naturally entails a large expense upoa
the State, and usually an excessive expense
to the State at a clear loss, as apparent
by the inspection OF the tax laws. This
EVIL, to some extent, WIS attempted TO To
corrected by the last legislature, whilh has
not yet been tried sufficiently 10 demon
stratc the efficiency and wisdom OF the
law. but it was intended for good to the
people in order that each shall help bear
his share of the burdens of government.
/ believe where there are abuses there
Should be clainor for redress. | see these
abuses and l believe it is better to have
our slumbers broken by the fire bell chan
to perish amid the flames
In submitting my name | do so subject
to the action OF the democratic party, either
at the primary election or''convention, or
both, as our executive committee may de-
termine. l have always acted with the
organized democracy of the State and Ma
ton, and subscribe TO and ndor3e the
principles enunciated at our last National
and State platforms adopted at Chicago
and Fort Worth and at all times loya! to
every interest of the people and snail ever
TO live up to the principles upon
which this government vas founded that
is, Especial privileges to none, AMI equal
rights TO ALL" and believe that public nf-
fairs OF the State should be managed ct all
times consistent with efficient and ceonom-
ic government in the interest Jf the Whole
people, and If called to official station
shall take up the duties OF the Office and
bestow upon it my best energies and NEST
faithful attention. l do net deceive mNstlf
as to the responsibilities Of The position.
am fully aware that ii relates ID eveJy
branch Of the State government.
] call upon no man TO support me from
personal friendship alone for the atasoD.
if official position is TO be obtained upon
such grounds, then this government be-
comes government of favorites and not
Of enlightened democracy.
Now, in conclusion, let me urge each end
every democrat TO attend the precinct
meetings of his party, and every delegate
chosen by the precinct meetings should al
tend the county conventions. so that the
popular will will be reflected in the county |
and every county delegate
should attend the State convention to iur-
thcr see that the will of the people as
expressed in county conventions Is reflect
ed In State conventions. This you should
do II YOU want lower taxes, economic eoV-
equal taxation, honesty IN me
Of public affairs and 10
break up official trusts, combines ard all
efforts at life tenure in office. respect
fully submitted, John NJ. Logan.
MIR, AND MRS. EWING REUNITED.
There WINS No Necessity for Any
Court Proceedings.
Dallas Texas January 29--The hearing