Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-01-24
SAVERS MESSAGE.
What the Governor Recommends 10
the Lawmakers.
EQUALIZlNG TAXES.
The Executive Gives Some Valuable In.
formation on This Point Many
Tables Submitted Taken
From the Records.

] Gov. sayers, at the opening OF the
special session Of the twenty.slxth
legislature. submitted the report OF
the tax commission. together with the
following figures and suggestions:
In part redemption OF the pledre
slVen by the Democratic party Al iis
iast tla'e convention the legislature
Oy unanimous vote on final passage
created the tax commission and dl.
Iec,eu ~ IN specific terms. TO frame
ahd report a bill or bills designed and
calculated 20 secure an exhaustive and
equitable assessment Of all taxes upon
every species u property In this state
real personal and mixed. tangible ana
intangible, and whether belonging To-
natural OF artificial. 10 residents or
hon-res.dents 20 the end that no char
t'leI OF property assets. holdings or
valuable interests shall escape the due
Just and equal burdens OF taxation
ana 10 provide for and enforce The
prompt effective and complete caller-
tloh OF all taxes imposed"
Language more mandatory and com
pfenenslye could not have been cm
pioyed, and the legislature thus stand.
committed by its own deliberate arf
10 Whatever measure will best ana.
most surely accomplish the result con-
trmplated. Having put lts hand t1
the plow IL cannot. without loss 0f
reputation. look backwards. nor faif.r
IN its effort 90 c0nsummlte a reform
promised by the dominant party In
thla state and accepted by the peopl.
lh the full confidence that the promise
30 made would be faithfully kept.
The constitution. adopted nearly
tWenty-iour years ago. prescribas in
plain and simple terms a rule for tax
auon. and The wonder Is that IL has
not hitherto been more carefully OBJ
served. 10 declares. with emphasis
that All property in this state shall
De taxed In proportion TO Us value
and also that "all laws exemptins
from taxation other than the property
mentioned. shall Boz void"
Contrasting these constitution.
al aud atatutOTy-uo difference ns 10
purpose can be sceu The Language OF
The constitution is imperative upon
The law making branch OF the govern
menti so also. is that of the statute
upon the TAX commission. Both ars
identical Ia meaning and contemplate
the very same ohiact-the only dine--
enee being that the latter is more par
ucular Ia expire sion
To meet the requirement of the con-
ftitution completely and in good faith
double duty ls imposed one 90 lav
taxation as directed. the other 10 pro-
vide the machinery ADEQUATE for its
successful enforcement a failure. ln
either direction. viii bring reproacb
70 those upon whom the responsibility
rests
That there are many large and
profitable holdings IA this state. that
have hitherto eutlrCly escaped taxa
tion, or whose contributions 10 the
public treasury. through the want OF
the proper process for collection. have
been but very small In proportion 10
their value. cannot De doubted.
Class legislaiiou-not permissible
under any well regulated government
may result In either Of two ways
the one. through the direct grant %
special privilege and immunity. the
other through the failure of govern
mont 10 impose the same public dutv
upon az citizens alike and 10 So deter
mine that none may escape its per-
iormantc.
Either method ls rcprchcnsible In
the extreme. and will inevitably lead
20 distinctions in society, either as 10
personal rights or ls 10 property val
ucs--often 90 both 40 the same time
Apart from the constitutional obll-
cation 10 may be pcrtinently asked.
Can any Just reason hc assigned why
laws, such as experience may show
90 be necessary. should not De- enacted
and enforced Tor the lstmont f0r taYl-
ton ot money notes. bonds and mort
gngcs as well as VI real estate?
Why should not corporate stock. en-
dowed ns 10 is with exceptional privl
egC NJ most valuable character ha
made 10 yield an income 10 the state
IN proportion 90 its value. as rs re-
qulred of the country farm or of the
city lot?
Why should not the franchise. r-
eagerly sought and $500 profitable 10 tsp
owners iu many places. be- put on Oh.
ycsy same i01tne for taxable pr.
poses. with other property OF moro
tangible character
~ au aero 0f country or % foot .f
town and city property cannot unI
present law lo securely hld against Oh. |
uy.utherer seek1g payment OF Hr /
public duos current or past WIS
should not lihe rigid law bc upon Oh, I
statute book to g1'Irrv the assJssmpI /
and payment Of tHa fiN upon persona /
property and Intangible
repeat th0 questions What BE- tnrr. F.
IN money that wuI Do moro sacred /
tuau uud'
What aga the peculiar qualities with /
which notes and bonds mi morira. /
res are endowed that should outit.r /
them 10 an exemption from the sun /
port of tho government which is not
accorded 90 The ehrcrigss home OF tho
widow and orphan?
Why Is such ho-e-whethcr urban