The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-25
A SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGE.
GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS A RE
DuCTION IN THE TAX RATE.

Public school Fund HASN'T Received
Its Proportion of the Public Lands
and Action Is Recommended.
Austin, Texas. January 24-The follow
ing message was received from the gov
ernor this morning by the legislature:
To the Legislature: In view OF the pres
ent condition OF the State treasury have
to recommend the reduction of the ad
valorem rate Of taxation for general pur-
poses. not including that for the suppor.
of the public schools. for the year 1900.
from 20 cents to l6 2-3 cents upon the
500. The net balance in the treasury to
the credit OF general revenue, on Septem-
Der /, 1899. was 81 1888, 1850. Adding to
this sum the receipts for the year ending
August 81, 1900, as estimated by the
comptroller. s2,7oo,OOO. there should accrue
to the treasury upon account of general
revenue during the year S3,73S, 41S.5b.
Against this are to be placed the APP
Preparations heretofore made and to be
expended during the same period amount-
ing to SS,00S, 225.2S; and also the fur
Their sum of $71,S52.0o. anticipated def
ciencies.
Deducting expenditures from receipts
and assuming that all appropriations
will be expended. there should remain to
the credit of general revenue on Sep
TENDER /. 1900, the net balance of $685.
34t.27.
II Is estimated by the comptroller that
upon an ad valorem tax rate, under pres
ent law, Of iG % cents upon the 500, tho
revenue to the treasury would amount to
$3.50, 600 This added to the balance on
hand at the beginning OF the next fiscal
year should be sufficient to pay all au-
thorized expenditures. including the APP
preparations to be made at the present
session of the legislature, and leave a
proper working balance.
hardly know which Is the more rep
rehensible-a redundant or depleted
public treasury. Certainly, the former
condition begets extravaganza, besides
exacting from the people, through the ex-
pensive method OF tax collection. a larger
contribution than necessary for an eff
cient administration, conducted with
proper economy. The wise course is to
so adjust the receipts and expenditures
that there may always be on hand funds
enough only TO insure the prompt dis
charge OF every obligation as IL falls due.
Under present conditions it is believed
that 100000 would be sufficient for tho
purpose.
BY virtue OF the act OF March 2, 1899.
j. j. Terrell, z. Won Rosenberg, e. J.
Roberts and Jack Carter were appointed
a board to ascertain the amount of public
domain belonging to the State at the date
of the adoption of the constitution, April
II, 1876 the amount thereof set apart to
the permanent free school fund ;the amount
since sold for the benefit Of said fund;
and the amount since otherwise appro-
priated by the State for other purposes.
The board began It's work on March 20,
1888, and continued uninterruptedly in its
labors until September /, following The
magnitude of the work will be the more
appreciated when it is known that each
file and each set Of field notes surveyed
and made on the public domain by au-
thorIty of law and returned to and filed in
he general land office from April II,
1S76--the date of the adoption OF the pres
ent constitution-to May 23, 1898. were
carefully examined and considered.
The result is embodied in the report OF
the commissioner OF the general land Of
fee OF November /, 1899, copy OF which
was mailed each senator and representa-
tive directly after its publication.
/ desire to add my own testimony to
that OF the commissioner as to the faith
fulness and ability with which the board
discharged this most important duty
That II was we'll and thoroughly done can
not be reasonably doubted.
OF the appropriation OF $4,000 made for
the purpose, $7S5.10 remains unexpended.
! concur with the commissioner that the
permanent school fund has not received
lis full share of the public domain as
by the constitution.
In making up the account my own judg-
ment is that the area in lakes and bays
/ ,722, $50 acres--should be discarded alto
yether, and be permitted TO remain as
now for future disposition.
It is the land acreage only that must
be considered at this time
Accepting the findings OF the board and
he report 81 the commissioner thereon
IS accurate. it may be stated that the
amount OF vacant land within the State
IN April II, 1875, as definitely ascer-
aimed. was 6f.25s. 461 So acres. Including
the area OF lakes and bays, and that since
then surveys therefrom have been made
as follows.
Acres
For permanent school fund .21,s65.714. II
fund 49,. 49,. ~. 1. 2,2os,sil
For university grant by con-
stitution ...... $3.50. .....- 100000
For university. grant by leg
isiature 80. 80. -. -. 1870
For individual purposes ...25, $50, ga. As !
For State capitol, grant by
constitution ...... go. -. 100000
Upon certificates issued prior
10 April II. 1876. but located
since then and included in
the item for individual pur-
poses .... ...... 49,. -. s,2s4,s21 Sc !
'otal survey since April II.
1876. -. -. $50. -. SO. O9s. sss Sc |
Add area OF lakes and bays :. 1.722, $50
Add unsuryeyed vacant land :. 4,444,l95
Total ...... .,.... ......61, 25s. 4e1 sc |
From the statement submitted II would |
appear that 1t must first he determiise1 I
whether the surveys made after the adop-
lion OF the constitution, but upon certih-
prior thereto. and aggregating |
,2si.s2l5s acres. aud also whether the
arveys for the university and for the !
II A. - - H. 4