The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-23
REVISION OF TAX LAWS.
Hon. 0. B. Co'euilt Quotes The -Four Candl-
dates for Governor.
ALL OF THEN WERE IN FAVOR OF II
The Platform Adopted mt Galveston
Was Specific In Declaring that the
Legislature should Take Action.

day OF the subject OF taxation ana the spS-
cial session called by the governor to con-
slider the tax bill. Hon. o. B. Colquitt
said:
II have here the expressions Of all OF
the candidates for the democratic guner-
Material nomination In 1898. General
Crane in an interview in The Houston Post
J In January OF that year. and answering q
question OF the reporter as 10 what ne
would do about the proposed exemption OF
manufacturers from taxation, said First
would keep taxation as low as possible,
consistent with an efficient state govern
ment rigid economy would be practiced in
every department Second, would insist
on the enforcement OF all the laws Of the
State. This would insure absolute safety
to life and property. Third, ! would ASK
to have freight rates so adjusted by the
railroad commission as to give factories In
Texas the advantage Of the vast area Of
territory contiguous to them. In other
words, the rates should be so adjusted as
10 give factories in Texas the advantage Of
! competitors situated in the interior OF
other States, and very much farther away
/ from Texas markets. This the commits
1 sion has all along sought to do but on ac-
| count OF tho endless details and the COIN
plications arising out Of The ever varying
Interstate rates. they have not vet been
entirely successful, But they will ulti-
mately, and in the near future be able TO
secure such an adjustment Of the state
rates based upon fixed interstate rates as
/ to secure the desired result There Is no
reason why our railroads can not haul
/ products 81 our Texas factories mines and
farms for a distance of fifty miles be-
tween points in Texas as they can haul
! commodities Of similar character produced
In other states for distance Of 800 miles
frtrx M 1.
/ lem Is not one that ran he solved In an
hour. II requires intelligent and careful
treatment all az which Il will no doubt
! receive at the hands Of The railroad COM
mission If ! am right in the assumption.
" Will also secure to Texas ports the bust
l ness which really belongs to them on ac-
| count OF their geographical situation and
relieve the Texas railroads Of the ueces-
I sity Of the division Of their freight rates
/ with tho long lines Of railroad from here
/ 10 the East. AZ a further result manu-
/ facturers would be encouraged 10 put their
plants In eXas in closer proximity 10 the
raw material The mining industries would
/ be developed. the coast and interior cities
built up and wholesale dealers be en-
couraged to move into the state so as to
enable them TO reach the trade territory
4 at much less cost than is possible for
dealers OF distant cities. whose COM
Z
long line hauls On the lines anpTe in
dictated, II elected governor, ! will be glad
TO cooperate with all the departments Of
the State government to accomplish the
result stated. We have a splendid popu-
lation. rich soil, salubrous climate,
and abundant water power Our leyisla-
ture is as favorable to capital as that OF
any other State in the Union although
the contrary has been so often asserted
BY utilizing these natural advantages we
snail outstrip any other State In the Amer
lcan Union in the matter 81 progress and
development. 1 do not believe, however.
that property invested in factories should
be exempt from taxation. The principle is
7 wrong, and besides II would not induce
factories to come to Texas; weightler con-
siderations will control. II factories
should be exempted from taxation there
is no reason why homesteads and farms
should not likewise be exempt. believe
in the old democratic doctrine "euual
rights to all and special privileges to
none | am, therefore. opposed TO the
granting Of special privileges to manu-
tacturers In the shape OF tax exemptions
Besides, as above stated, do not believe
an exemption from taxation would in
duce single factory to be erected in
Texas
Hon. George I. Jester, in his opening
address at Lufkin, on March &c, had this
10 say on the subject of State taxation: 4
believe that taxes of the State should he
the lowest consistent with an efficient ad-
mlnistration of affairs. and that they
should be levied upon those who are best
able to bear them and who receive the
greatest benefits and protection from the
government. II is well known fact thai
our taxes are not always so levied as MANY
corporations and individuals are receiving
constant benefits and protection of our
state government without contrlbutina
their pro rata share to its maintenance,
These defects In our taxation laws ana
I in their administration should be remedied
so that the burdens Of government NAV ba
more Justly equalized. At a time when
depression exists in many lines OF in.
dustry when our greatest staple Is being
produced without profit, aud when la
norers are many and their hire but small.
the question of taxation becomes a serious
problem to most OF our citizens. and If the
burdens can be diminished without inn
pairing the ethcieney Of our State govern
ment it should be done
Colonel r.. NJ. Wynne. addressing the
people at Greenyille on March 10 lSaS
SAID ! would advocate an amendment ~
the commission laws increasing the mower
OF the railroad commission. to authoriy.
ana empower them 10 assess all railroad
properties in this State for taxation As
NV raw huM SlhnuS the assessors OF Texas
IN the several counties through which m
railroads run. differ so widely IN tbeir
valuations that there is an absolute wan,
Ok harmony ana In some counties the rain
toaa properties are valued at almost nom.
maj hgures, and the general ayerars
reaches sum so low that the railroads
owning property IN this State Of The az.
gregate value OF $404 ,371 ,075. which ,hsv
levy tribute upon the people to nav in
terest and liked charges, and yet their az
sresate assessment amounts to the m.
signihcant sum of s6s.77S i45-insignleea
only as compared with their total van,a
by TINS law the railroads would ba cnn,.
pelied 70 pay to the State at least sisn ono
per annum more than they do now an,
the commission has valued them hv
careful expert and have each and o,ar,
railrcad valuation in the Stale In ~, !,
nee Of the commission. which aeeresss "a.
the value Of si0l.3Tl.075 which h 49,
crate and conservative valuation ana M
should be tho basis. in my judgmen, -,
ing 10 the railroad. of course ~ W.,
TO reduce such values by evidence 90.
due notice. N'ef
believe our laws relative In A..
sessment of property for taxes sbo,i,
so amended as TO subject all chara,,a. ~
properly TO taxation and 10 cornoi az
prorss and Just rendition Of the ssf.,. ~
taxes There Is today personal nra, .o'
IN the value Of MANY millions ~h,eh ~. !! {
not contribute one cent 20 the snn,., voFS
the government In the first 49,