The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-19

clear collection thereof, is mot the com
missions fault. That it is explicit in de-
clarng that all property, whether owned
by natural persons or corporations, shall
be taxed in proportion to its value + be-
You'd controversy. however, and the COM
mission addressed itself 10 the framing
of statute that will secure an honest
assessment of property Of every character
and effect an equitable distribution of tn 2
tax levies as was contemplated by the
trainers of the constitution and has here
tofore been the exception rather than the
rule In this state. For this the commits
sion is being accused of seeking to in
crease the eXactlors Of the tax ga hercr
OF pandering TO the agrarians and fright
enlng capital. Time and again has this
same accusation, for ten years or more.
beer hurled at every man who has sougn.
to protect the State from certain ro,iti al
couchee- couchee dancers WHOSE purpose
mas ever been TO turn II into pasture TO.
/ irresponsible spectators and graceless
promoters of water-logged schemes for
bringing about a parting between luno-
cents and their money.
~
And 1t has invariably been the rule for
the benehciaries of a number of paying
Investments in this State to Join in the
accusation for the purpose of soaring away
competition and holding for themselves a
held than which there is none richer in
this Nation. Sought out as they have
been by the tax commission and place
upon an even footing with the plain citi e
by lis Dill the last mentioned class natur-
any feels uncomfortable. Having fallen
INTO the habit OF successfully blutfing the
TAX assessor on the one hand while keep
ing out competition on the other. this
/ segregation objects to disturbance of its
einch on the situation. lis mouthpie es
arc therefore, alleging that the tax com
mission has endeavored TO shift the b1r.
dens of taxation 10 the shoulders OF the
corporations. This is a msstatement p1ra
ana simple. No shifting of auy kind !,
proposed No surprises are contempla e.
no new taxing devices have been in
vented
IL is a we'll known fact that CERTAIN
classes of property have been continuon j J.,
escaping taxation, in spite of the plain
mandate OF the constitution that all pron-
cry snail be taxed in proportion 10 ii,
| Nsiue' ana In redemption of the plom 5 a
,uaus uy Governor Sayers on the umD
.ss' year TO- II possible, bring tax DODGERS
4 10 time, method of securing a co~1o, II
asseSsmeht OF taxable values has seen
suggested. BY this method the ag,-o,a .
vollectiors OF taxes will moi be in.-.ea a
puu on the other hand the rate OF t,xati,m
wiH De reduced Payments of taxes win
equai'Led and not shifted. Valuahie
PfHeses' accumulations of personal mon
.'F ana hoards of wealth will have 10 nav
~ the same proportion, as the humble
nolne OF the industrious citizen NJ mod
slSte means who can not conceal his fe,y
siuss from the gaze OF the ass ssor
LII ''iepresentation is not argument and n
u aVaii the opponents of the t,x hni
a ~os to distort its provisions Pnr.
!, s''ue OF the bill may be objectionahle ana
nro ran possibly be shown that some o. n /,
=, are onerous, but a reotiseation
bsrs ~. -, errors as the commission NAV
H. e siren into will not result from =
lts rsno. suu grossly Inaccurate snalysls OF
ihe principle upon which its bill &c co,
.,'0''ed is correct and constitutional
mat 1t disturbs the impurities ., =
number exceptionally favored ,n,eres,s
. not ground for It's eondempaiio, n
esuse It Atiempts to reach ths rlah
.he prosperous as well as the uoor ana
o cTe ,sW-iearing Is no argument in S,lpnort
~ tue himsy contention that n VII
sh.en capital and paralyze Industry
a.. "anm hight on the bill Il exnestsd
In I'm several quarters. but tina n viii
s ssss without material mutna,ion l. rot
rouNee mere A clear majority has ~
reauy been figured out for Il among tss
nv OF The house. TIL senate has
40 oeen accurately polled as vet. howsver
~ ~ INC impression obtains that /, Is =,
hs Ms noSy that the bill will receive the