The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-14
TO AID MANUFACTURING
An Appeal to nouston's Representatives In
the Legislature
10 VOTE FOR AN EXEMPTION CLAUSE
m an Amendment TO tho Constitution
Leaving 1t Optional to Exempt
Manufacturers from Taxation.

The following letter has been forwarded
70 Harris countys representative in the
legislature:
10 Hon. Waller +. Burns. Hon. John I.
Browne, Hon. Norman G. Kittreli.
Gentlemen: The Houston Manufacturers
association recently appointed commit
Tee of ten to bring to your notice, and
through you to the legislature, matter
which Is recognized by business men as
one OF great importance to our people. 1t
is the need in our own city. as well as
other cities OF Texas. OF having some plan
whereby the Houston manufacturers ana
capitalists could be offered special induce
ments to locate In our midst. It has been
demonstrated that the only way TO ac-
complish this Is by exemption from taxa
ton or by bonus. The Manufacturers
association hereby offers plan wnicn
they believe meets the requirements OF the
case.
Mr.. James Carlton OF Houston has ad-
dressed the following open letter 10 the
Houston Manufacturers association;
''To the Members of the Houston Manu-
facturers' Associations
sBeing personally acquainted with many
Of you and realizing how terribly you are
in earnest in the desire 10 advance the IN,
terests OF your State, city and lndlVlunai
members, and feeling that anything thh1
would assist In the accomplishment oil your
object would BIO accepted regardless OF It's
source. l beg to offer for your consldera-
tion the following natter
at is we'll known that industries OF va
rious kinds have been encouraged In other
places too numerous to mention by adopt
ing one or more Of the following means:
''First--TaNes laid on comp ing indus
tries or tariff taxes.
''second-Bonuses. such as bounty on
production, as the United States bounty on
sugar and the German bounty on expor-
tation OF beet sugar.
"Third--Exemption from taxation with
and without limit
"Now. as 1t is absolutely impossible for
us to get assistance In Houston on the
line OF a tariff or bounty, We are compelled
10 cast about and see II there IS any pos
sibility of assistance TO be had In the way
of exemption. There has bobbed up every
few years in first one and then another
city OF Texas, individuals and orBaniza-
ttons who, commercially ambitious for the
development OF their particular localities,
have gone to the municipal and State leg
islators and have asked for the exemption
OF manufacturers. Late instances are, eX-
Senator Bowser, who in the last two legis-
latures represented the Dallas district, and
Senator Yeti now representing the Austin
district In the present legislature, who ls
asking for an amendment TO the constitu-
ton authorizing municipalities to exempt
manufactures from taxation. While they
deserve sympathy In their noble work, VIZ
can not hope for any success in their ell
forts, because of the natural antagonist
their methods raise In the agricultural an'
dominant element In our political organi
II ffNuN t,a pVVNl n Tf11
of revenue must be raised they VIII neces
sarily be called upon to make up the de
felt by additional taxation. Hence thet
opposition. But that opposition need no
be incurred IL those to be benefited viii
but do justice by the agricultural elemen
and by themselves. In order to oyercom
that opposition and help our cause I sub
NIT FOR your consideration the follogin
suggestions:
THAT our representatives at Austin b
asked to introduce and advocate the adop
ton Of a resolution to amend the consti
tuition, allowing cities the right 10 classit
their taxable values under the three head
ings OF land improvements on land an
personal property. II such an amendmeu
could be had after having ascertained tn
total values the city council (after a
election held for the purpose OF adoptin
this method) may exempt any one or wv
of the classes from taxation and colleC
the entire assessment from tulSe not ue
clared exempt. Such measure would b
a grand step forward. 1t would be lik
refreshing showers to parched fields.
will readily be seen what an impetu
would be given to factory and store II onl
they were exempt, but how much more
factory. store and dwelling were adde'
The system could do no injustice to an
one, not even to the lot owners OF OF
cities. for they are constantly clamorin
for factories, because they Will raise va
ues It will do this, as they cheerful
admit It will, and I think to a create
AMOUNT than the additional tax INQUIRE
Advances in local option in taxation hay
been made in the following countries
New Zealand, British Columbia. Sout
Australia and Canada, Certainly IL II
land owner has no good ground to oppol
local option taxation the manufacture
merchant, professional man, mechanic ar
day laborer OF all classes should hail /
coming with Joy, for it is the making AT
handling of personal property not Il
making and transfer of town lots, tn
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