The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
TINT IIngg Fec.

To tho Editor Of The Post
Cherokee. San Saba County Texas.
March 17.--Thcy say Il is not constitu-
tiopa to pay it. THAT It's payment viii
he violation Of the state Constitution.
Is this so? We think not.
Article ". section 10. state Constitution;
1.-THE goyernor) HE shall cause the laws
to be faithfully executed; and shall con-
duct IN person or In such manner as shall
be prescribed by law all intercourse and
business OF tho state with other States
and with the United States"
The governor could not conduct that
scribed by law, What law? Act of legis-
fature OF Texas, 1887, page 1873. article
2009; Revised Statutes, page $50.
Tho governor is hereby authorized tc
order through the proper officials the In
stitutlon. prosecution or defense of any
civil action N suit whenever he deems
such coarse proper for tho assertion or
defense of any right OF the State. ana to
render to said officials such assistance AZ
10 him may seem necessary or oxnediont."
The attorney generals attention was
! called 20 this casos 10 get tho money
! that official needed assistance. What as.
slslance? such assistance az 70 him (the
\
dent Governor Culberson thought that
/ by the help Of Governor Hoee the State
/ might get that money To employ assist
ancc carries with II tho idea of paying Tor
| H. The assistance WAS obtained. 1na
! work was done aud tie Stale got the bene-
| nt VIII tho state pay MS laborers Or
| serYants2 ~ seems that our august eena-
! tors wish TO repUdiate q debit legally made.
| They claim that section a. article ~,
/ state Constitution, prohibits the payment
/ OF the HoRg claim because the Same bad
| not been provided for by pre- existing law.
/ Governor Hogg was employed by the gov
| efnor OF THIS state. as the above shows
| coneluslyoly. IN accordance with the Con
Etiiution and statute.
That same section a. article ill., State
! Constitution. commands that the legis-
! latnre shall provide by law for the com
! pensation Of all officers, servants agents
| ana public contractors not provided for In
! this Constitution 1t would he impossible
| for the Constitution to specify the salary
J thai every servant, agent or contractor
OF this State rs to receive. The heads Of
| departments have TO manage tho business
Of their offices With such aid as they
need. They hire such aid aud the state
pays the bill Tho several institutions OF
this State have hundreds OF servants and
officials. They are paid BY appropriations
for the support OF such institutions.
Section 4s, article III, State constitution.
ennmeratos the purposes for which taxes
may be levied and burdens imposed upon
the people. One purpose was the payment
Of all officers, agents and employees Of the
State government and all Incidental e1-
penses connected therewith.
This section enumcrates all the lnstitu-
tons OF the State, such as schools, uni
versitles. quarantine, asylums Of different
kinds. cemeteries public grounds, from
tier protection and many other purposes
for which taxes may be levied, but II does
not mention the State penitcntlartes Be-
cause 1t does not mention them IL no rea-
son why the legislature should make no
appropriation for their support and thus
turn iooze the convicts. There is big,
broad power given to every government
whether It Is mentioned in rs organic law
or not 1t is tho right a government hss
10 perpetuate itself