The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-17
KiTTRELL ON THE TAX BILL
HIS REMARKS IS,HOUsE OF REPRE-
sENTATIvEs YESTERDAY.
He spoke II, Opposition to the Meas
urc and Moved to Indefinitely
Postpone Action Thereon.

Austin, Texas, February 16,--Hon n.
c. Kittrell spoke at length In the house
this morning in support Of his motion To
indefinitely postpone the tax bill AIT r
discussing the importance of the aeon
to be taken by this legislature and tao
possible results of the decision to be rem
dored, he said.
by this bill the accumulated and test
ed experience of fifty years has been
pushed aside as Of no value. and meas
ure is submitted for our approval, which.
despite much that is good therein, wOu d
in my humble, but honest, judgment, ii
enacted into law and rigdly and .i-et-
ally enforced, stir storm that no man or
party could quell and do injury that no
human power could repair,
III we say we do not propose to BE-
parties TO the pitiful, but harmful, farce OF
raising values 100 per cent, while we re-
duce taxes but 80 i-3 per cent, VIII + b !
the burdens laid upon the people is ac
tually Increased, who shall condemn us
or call us to account, or say We have
not done wisely?
III the owner of 100 acres OF black land
Lew assesses h at $40 an acre ald pays
$3.50 to the State and the school fund and
So to the county and We decline to com
pei its rendition at $50 an acre, and to
raise his taxes to So to the State ani
school fund, and s12 to the county who
have we injured? Certainly not the man
who is saved from paving S17 for what
he gets now for $3.50.
Have We any assurances that the bur-
dens Of county taxes. the real source of
pXtraNAnanra will ha rpduCed
why pile up the peoples money in the
vaults OF the county treasures to tempt
the eupidity and extravaganza of county
officials?
What is there in this bill of 100 pages
which constitutes its inlallibility? Where
In is 1t SO perfect, that 1t is trea. oA to
oppose it? Is it because it taxes the
farmer, the banker the pedder, the indi-
vldu2l, the corporation raising the tax
on all Of them, but serupulously snd ter
derry avoids raising the tax of the liquor
dealer who Is responsible for one-half the
expenses of the State government?
Is it because 1t taxes land to its full
value, on whioh there is lien. perhaps
for the total amount of the purchase
money, and then taxes 10 its full value ths
purchase money note? is it be 'ause when
man borrows money on the 31st of De,
cember and gives his note, leaving the
money in bank to check against to raw
mote Que on January l, and because Jan
uary l Is a holiday ard ne can not for that
reason pay the note he must pay on III
money as so much nancy on hand and the
oank must pay also on the note as an as
sci though not dollar of additional
wealth or property has been created and
not dollar has left the vaults of the
panK or reached the borrowers pocket?
Is 1t because it piles UP two. threa and
TOUR taxes on railroads, telegraph, tee.
phones and express companies. as il they
were public enemies instead of being az
they are, agencies of progress and de-
velopment, and but for which, esoecia.ly.
Dut for the railroads. many members of
lhls Rouse would net be here, because tn
lalr plains on which they dwell ard which
are the homes of prosperous ana pro.
slesslVe population would be still thu
hunting grounds Of the savage and tbe
feeling fields Of the buffalo?
We are told that We have given mill
Hons OF acres OF lard to The railroads and
consequently they have no right TO com
pam at hlgh taxes. Now, ] do not rap
resent any OF these railroads here. or else |
where' but make this assertion ana chal-
.ehse contradiction OF its truth, that il |
enc railroads have derived from the lana |
given them, and then arrive at what tlsy
nave paid in taxes to the State county |
Sn1 critics, and at what amount has been |
duu'a TO the wealth of Texas and the
saving In time and freight charges 70 ths
peppie' ana the amount paid out in wages |
ara salaries TO her citizens, which amounf |
has entered into all the channels OF trads |
y VIII D. found that the debt Is on tha
slde OF Texas and not of the railroads.
:, II because it taxes every man from
Dhe peaaier on foot to the Wholesale NOR |
Ian ior me privilege Of making Hv- |
ing, and then il he chances TO succeed In |
mdNlns any more and in accumulating
o"mevutng OF value, taxes him on his ac |
and economy?
Do you desire this bill becaus. a ,,.j.s
Inc penalty of a high tax imam hin ', rSo
invests his capital for the purpose ot
converting the seed OF the South's grept /
staple INTO valuable and marketable pro
tuets thereby returning a richer proal n
ne Ialmsr and giving employment 10
honest labor? Is II because u ronfers
Upon the State revenue agent in linee M
% IL article 505S, powers ersatsr tbor
we're ever conferred upon anv officer IN
n's Suate, and the proper performanc. ~ |
Shlch would require an official yested
WIN greater wisdom than was ever mes.
,esseu ny any man since the days OF 500
,ts ana "hioh puts at his caprice every
'incer IN this State from the Justice ot
nc peace to the president of ths uni
am actuated in making this state.
nent by no opposition to the Office of
eysnue agent, nor by any feeling of nm
'lnaness toward the present incumhent
,eeAuse believe in the wisdom ana
iseeSslty of the office, ard would increasa
20 e'nc'enoy by liberal appropriation and
,o p,ss7na$ esteem for the man who
low holds II, but do not belleya tha
liver sought to be conferred upon him
,ss any relevancy to the purpose of IN
'lhcs or that they ought TO be con 49,
IN ~. any man, not even the governor.
~ u because in breath. in ths twInk-
~ o' az eye, the bill in lines 26 srd ~
.rtleie 5oe2' converts invisiole rights ana
sut'lse' 'rt0 r-al netate?
- Is u because, in article 5091. 1t gives
re re commissioners court power to CONNIE,
-, rsVFlRtion OF what amount OF money
ny eluzen had &c his credit on January
o, any given year? You may saw tbst
= tne course of the report which precesds
ne NIL 1t is said it was deemed best rat
~, ieVsire tne officers OF the bank TO sub
~ rs OF their depositors TO the board