The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-04
TERRELL oN THE TAX BILL.


What 1t Failed to Do.
To the Editor of The Post.
Alto. Texas, March S.--The special ses-
sion of the Twenty sixth legislature was
convened for the following purposes:
l. TO adopt new tax system to take
the place of all tax laws now on the stat
utes.
3 To adjust the difference between the
State aud the public school fund.
.. 10 reduce the rate of ad valorem
taxes for general purposes for the
year 1890.
D. To make certain appropriations for
some OF this State institutions.
This is the substance of the call but
not the exact language. of the subjects
mentioned in the call three OF them were
enacted into law. viz: The bill settling
the difference between the State and the
public school fund.- THE bill making APP
preparations for deficiencies in the State
government" the bill reducing the ad va
loren taxes for general purposes from 20
cents to 2-3 cents on the s100."
Taking as the basis the assessments for
last year as shown by the comptrollers
report the reduction OF the tax rate for
tnls year Will save over $300000 TO the
tax payers OF the State. This is no small
item, and this alone Should justify the
cdiilHS OF the SpeclaI session.
The settling of the differences between
the State and the school fund was also
an important measure. 1t is true that this
adjustment is not entirely satisfactory,
for there is some doubt as to whether the
settlement is just TO the school fund. but
1t is the best that could be made under the
circumstances. 1t appropriates TO the
school fund all lands now on hand and
those lands hereafter recovered, and
makes up the deficit by an appropriation
Of money from the general revenue This
is legal settlement and will go q long
ways towards quieting land titles ana
settling the strife and confusion that have
existed concerning the public lands.
In addition to these very important laws
the deficiency appropriation bill was
passed, thus making appropriations for
the management OF the eeemosynary in
stitutions in order that the poor unfortu-
nate wards of the State may be properly
cared for.
The trustee law, providing uniform
method of electins trustees in independ-
ent districts, to take the place OF the law
recently declared unconstitutional is a
very important law,
There were several other laws passed.
Now for the one great failure that the leg
islature made. and the one political sin
that is to retire the members of the Twen-
ty-sixth legislature to the shades of pri-
vate life is their failure TO pass the "tax
BILL, The legislature has been criticised
severely through the daily press Some
OF the criticism was just and much OF 1t
was unjust. | would not undertake ~ de-
fend the legislature in many things that
it did. for it is q well known fact that /
differed from the majority on many ques-
lions. But the legislature should always
have credit for the good laws it passes
and for the bad measures 1t kills.
tn, ri lfN ; he nj hto1f h. 1
not been told nor is it my intention to at
tempt to tell much in one brief article. 1t
is trus that tax reform" was a demand
of the democratic platform, and the reGu-
lar session of the legislature created tax
commission. in obedience to the platform.
That tax commission. headed by tns gov
ernor, was composed OF able and patriotic
men. who performed their work 10 the best
of their ability and submitted tax bin
to the special session of the legislature.
They admitted n the outset that the
measure was not perfect, but within their
judgment was the best they could devise
under our present constitution. They in
vited discussion, and asked the legislature
TO pass the bill or better one as a ''re-
form tax bill"
/ The bill was a yoluminous one. contain
ing, as 1t did, twenty-one chapters and
over $50 pages.
I AS the .'power TO tax implies the
power TO destroy" this bill affected every
interest in the State.
All the corporate interests OF the State
were clamorlng for a hearing and the
governor said LET them be heard" They
were heard and 10 the detriment OF all
who are honestly in favor OF tax reform
/ The tax bill was introduced the first day
/ of the session and referred to the COM
mittee on revenue and taxation. Here IS
where the corporations got in their work
They appeared before the committee day
after day. and pleaded for justice. as the
called ii. at the hands OF the legislature
when IN fact they did not want justice.
but wanted TO keep our present unequal
system OF taxation on the statutes.
IT -rtesyoon nde etnfu ng9tieno k-lati
When they were pleading for justice
they we're killing time In order that the
thirty day session might end and no tax
law would be passed. Two weeks were
taken UP IN bearing argument asainst
the bill All the corporations OF the
( state were well represented and they
4 made good use OF their time.
After they had consumed nearly two
weeks dghting the bill Mr.. colouitt OF
the tax commission was allowed day