The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-23
THE FELINE OUT OF THE BAG.
tBY l.. A. PETTY

| new constitution Is still fresh In the minds
of newspaper readers.
Everybody remembers that when said
legislature met 90 per cent OF the members
thereof were in favor of redressing of
the organic law, but that the matter of
providing therefor was entrusted to the
care OF n committee organized in advance
to block any move in that direction, and
that as soon as it became evident that the
committee referred to would not disappoint
those who were relying upon it to euchre
the advocates OF constitutional conyen-
ton, the tom tom was sounded from the
outside and great cry went UP that the
demand for constitution In accord with
the times came from the corporations and
that their purpose was to lay violent hands
upon the handiwork of the fathers OF rs.
The corporate press" came In for share
of abuse in this connection, too, from the
sef-constituted sentinels who imagined
themselves in the watch-towcr Just about
that time and its past faithful services
In manufacturing statesmen out of two
bit politicians were entirely forgotten in
the attempt to excite prejudice at Its eX-
pense. BY hook and by crook the will OF
a majority of the legislature was defeated
and the constitutional convention PROPOSE
tion went dead.
\ \
Some folks marvelled much at It's demise
and worried no little over the secret there
for. Having overlooked the fact that al
a.,Jl
as creature of the corporations none
but corporation representatives had played |
the part of Brutus thereto. they never hit |
upon The true story of its death But |
they'll get it soon, and in box car letters |
at that. for the time is at hand when the
crowd which SO vocferously decrled those
who impelled by honest convictions, sought
this spring to have the constitution sub
jected to needed alteration will be I'M
masked. The tax commission created by
the same legislature that allowed itself to
be hoodooed by the simulators of venera-
ton for the Anticipated misft which serves
Texas in the capacity of organic law, will
undo them. In the pursuit of it's mission
this commission has become forcibly i'm
pressed that the granger constitution
of 1876 is about the worst piece of organic
bric-a- brac that could we'll be put up.
Sized up from the standpoint of tax
reformer the only purpose which 1t is now
serving is to place 95 per cent of the tax
burdens upon the shoulders of the small
of far oit |
while 1t enables the holders of money,
personal property and valuable franchises
to successfully escape the tax gatherer So 9
true is this that the tax commission finds {
itself in many ways hampered in its work
thereby. There are few directions in I
against this granger" instrument of tor 9
lure for the Industrious. honest toling -,
plain citizen who has been so unfortunate
As to accumulate few acres of ground BY
he sweat of his brow.
Granger" constitution indeed! 8
Had the people who evolved it been en- f
ieavoring to find a plan for putting the S
screws to the grangers they could have not
lone their work better. That this Is no "
sratuitous assertion the people who pay -
he taxes can testify 10 and the records
If the comptroller's office will back their
evidence. Farm property and city lots
Jay 80 per cent of the taxes In this State
oday, and this sacred nightmare of 1876 n
S what makes them do it. il
~
The tax commission has found 1t out. h
4 last, and will be forced to so state. all "
eit 1t may be by Inference only. when II :,
eports' one thing certain, 1t will have cl
ask That the constitution be amended II
ot entirely renovated before the recon- is
nendations it will have to make can he p
oilowed. There can be no doubt about l.,
MS, as 1t is now debating what kind az a IL
uggestion 1t will have to offer in tbis I
natter with the chances in favor of a
rand new constitution. No wonder then. ~
nat the corporations and their representa- Az
YES were SO emphatic in denounclng the
hggestors of new constitution when Va
he legislature was in session. Why should !, -
ley want change when as matters stand r.
ow they and the money lenders the to
N'" anu 'ue SPECTATORS can take I'M
ne-half OF the time OF the courts In en-
'rcing their rights" while tho bome ~
wner pays the bulk of the taxes for keen-
Is said courts up. The granger" oon- DC
atution is good enough for them w, "a "a
Of, as 1t forces the granger to dance "a at At,
leir music and pay for it, too. su
~
Where else In the Union is there n Stat.
here "timid capital" and Legitimate in J"
'stinents' pay less taxes than they do
ieSasY Who would be shook UP II 80
'w constitution should be adopted that c 81
0uia force everybody to walk up to the do
ptain's office and settle on equal terms9 me
" me plain people, surely. And 4,
, an hurt them, either, to have a
snge In the cumbersome system ~ Sh
urls for which the granger, const,,n
~ Is also responsible Their taxos era
' ai DC lessened and the cost OF MAIN fiat
hihg their legal rights would bs n,star- OF
ny decreased If the Judiciary systsm yer
nc constructed with a view to Shorten
litigation instead OF drawiny n o,,t "
',e tne present plan. MIR. Material
lthess' who figures SO extensivs,v IN Lu
,nihai trials these days would lose much I
.he importance attached IN nj. .,.,s is