The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-01
LOCAL OPTION ON TAXATION
Anunrss DELIVERED LAST NIGHT
NY MIR. JAMES CHARLTON
before the Philosophical society
showing the Bcnefits 10 Be
Derived from 1t.

At well attended meeting OF the Hous-
ion Philosophical society, held last night'
MIR James Charlton delivered very IN
terestirg address upon the subject oil local
option in taxation. of which the foiiowins
is synopsis. After speaking OF taxauoh
generally, Mr.. Charlton said:
Ii has been suggested that as local sell
government is the central idea In oui
form OF government, and an ola easins
that they should dance who pay the pIlee'
II has also been suggested that tue S'a.e
could do for the cities by local option III
taxation what 1t has done by local option
for prohibition, and for the farmer to-WI.,
the stock law, by allowing the clties ps
vote to say what they would tax or exempt
from local taxes.
said local option law might be made to
pnply to all cities or towns with populs-
ton OF 1000 or upwards and should give
the fullest liberty in regard to all iocnt
revenues at the same time clearly drawing
the line at the State and county taxapies
Now, then, suppose such law to be IN
force and Houston were the hrst 10 adopt
the law and should conclude 10 exempt
personal property of all kinds as starter
and machinery and material In process OF
manufacture, the stock of goods in the
hands of the wholesale and retail mer-
chants of all classes and kinds; money,
the stock in trade OF the bankers and the
rolling stock and machinery of the rail-
roads; does 1t not seem TO US, who know
how much trouble people possessed Of
these things are put to to keep the as-
SCISSOR from finding out TO whom they he
long. that a load would be taken from sui
fering conscience ana what card IL
would be for the up-to-date real estate
agent when he could put with his other
Inducements why people shonld come to
Houston. that It was the only city IN
Texas, and the union where capital was
nnhampered and industry sot lis fun re-
ward
But some one will say that it will send
the other taxes higher Capital united wlth
industry means business, ana the lack OF
it means the life or death of n city. What
ever will create or continue business
means growth. expansion and greatness.
and though 1t did make the taxes higher,
the other property holders would be amply
requitAd out OF the increased value and
the greater stability OF all industrial con-
ditions resulting. But what would The
increase amount to? Let us see For a
number of years our city has established a
rule in regard 10 assessments that fur
nishes the information. All properly rem
improvements on land and personal prop
erty. Thai rendering shows approxi-
mately and almost exactly that land stands
for two thirds Of the entire taxable values
Improvements and personal property the
other third, and they are nearly equally
divided SO that TO make the change would
require the addition OF but one-sixth
either by an increase in the rate or values
With deep water aud a land-locked fresh
water harbor for the SEWARD commerce
of the world with a sanitary system o
sewage disposal that will stand a compari
son with any sister CITY. thereby insurip
the health of our people; with net
work of railroads like "A spider web reach
Ing and radiatlng to and in all direction
on iand-east to the sugar of Louisiana
the coal iron and timber OF East Texas an
Alabama; north TO tho teeming centers q
population and wealth; west to the gran
aries Ct Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska
with the precious minerals Of the Rock
mountains ard Pacific States, pourin
their multitarious products into her owe
grateful and ever expanding lap. here I,
he exchanged or reformed by her man
merchants and her skillful artisans, mus
arise such a city MS few OF her people
even in their most fanciful moments have
ever conceived Of; city that for its com.
merce and magullicence SHAH bring honol
10 herself, to the noble man whose name
she bears and TO the mighty state In
whose crown she shall be rs brightest
jewel.