Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-01-24

taCn senator anu representative might.
lefore reaching Austin. be fully al
vised - 20 the contents. a copy Of the
bill and report was mailed him. In
registered package. more than thirty
days since. Al the same time every
newspaper and every other publication
In the state Was also provided with a
copy. Further distribution has been
made TO the end that the people might
thoroughly understand the measure
when Il should be considered by the
legislature.
The law. In pursuance Of which IL
has been framed. Is drastic and COM
prehensiye and proscribes the rules 10
be observed By the commission In clea-
and unmistakable terms. II IL the
unanimous expression OF the will uf
law making power and the commission
has faithfully responded ms best %
could TO the requirements imposed
For myself ! do not hesitate 10 say
that. were IL not FOR certain constitu-
tlonal restrictions as 90 the method o.
assessing and collecting taxes. q much
better bill could have been prepared
one that would have most probably
been more satisfactory o. the lerisll-
turo and 20 the people. As au amend
mont 90 tho constitution cannot D.
submitted az the present session o.
will Doe unnecessary o. refer more par.
ticuhrlv 90 those restrictions.
As was expected. opposition 90 The
bill has been manifested Bog certain Iu-
terests-b y those whose propctles har"
rot heretofore borne anything like
their just share Of taxation.
The tax on moneys on hand and on
notes and other credits-secured ANA
uuseCured-and on railways has bees
reduced In the bill submitted from tlH
present rates. Crute 90 20 cents U.
The 800 except that tax Of peg
cent is imposed upon The gross r.-
,cipts OF railway traihc. The rpa.
though undeglared ground of com
plant by these Interests .s. that more
effective means are recommended by
which 90 secure the better rendition ~
such properties lt O. fair valuation
than exist 10 the present method of
taAation ln this the commission huf
obeyod the mandate - the Legislature
that the bin reported should provide
for and enforce the prompt. effective
and complete collection OF all taxes
imposed"
As 20 the remaining items. Oh y can
not be- Justly considered as expert
mental. They are sanctioned by the
experience and legislation " such
states as Indiana. ohio. Pennsylvania
Massachusetts. Connecticut Sew Jer-
sey and New York 70 has been
charged that the purpose 90 the bill
was % shift the burden 10 taxation
from the MISSES of Tho pooIi tD tlr
shoulders Di the corporations not tI
TIE object, and the BE object VI tlU
commission. was 90 make effective tho
provision OF the oCntiut.Ou which
declares that "aIl property 100 this
state shall be- taxed TO- proportion o.
IT, value and that "gll laws exempt
ing from taxation other than the prop
erty mentioned shall be- vol
In reply 90 the assertion frequently
made that the policy Of the measure 's
inimIcal 10 capital % Is sufficient tp
say that an examination OF the tax
laws Of New York. Indiana, Ohio Mas
sachusetts Pennsylvania. New Jersey
and other of the older states az the
Union will demonstrate. beyond all
question. that legislation in thos"
states has been Oar more rigid an
exactlng than As contemplated in the
uroposed bin The challenge is uu-
hesitatngly given.
In Massachusetts, wherever the
o. La
corporation il chartered within the
state the commonwealth collects The
tex On the shares u the owner b.
within the state the taxes are collected
there. New Jersey imposes for state
u-rs,the same tax contemplated by inc
bin submitted per cent upon TIE
gross receipts Of an telegraph tele-
phone cable and express companies.
n the measure submitted Dee enacted
into law Il Will have the effect 20 re-
duco the present al yllorem rate from
rs cents on the 800 90 % cents And.
further. 10 ls believed. that 10 properly
executed the rate can. within two years
after tho law shall have become et-
fcstIye. bo again reduced Co 20 cents.
which viii Doe amply sufficient Tor gen
,ral and public school purposes.
give 90 the bin ZOO earnest endorse
meut az the best that can probably
be- framed under the constitution of
the state
II the legislature win boldly and
unsweryingly stand upon the princi-
pie that "whatever property is worth
Tor the purpose OF income and sale 10
Is also worth for the purpose OF taxa
ton" and if 10 Will faithfully observe
the requirement pf the constitution
that "aH property BOO This state shall
Le taxed in proportion Go it value
us action All not fail 40 receive tho
hearty c1mmordltln of every JUST
minded and right thInkius citizen.
Never before had any legislature q .
moro prl ling duty 90 perform never .
before In tho history Of legislation was .
There greater necessity for uucom
promising Hlplity 90 the people.
JOSEPH D. SAVERS.
Governor
Accompanying the governors mea-
.ape ls the report ~ Land Commission
n Roran. The land comml sioncr gives
he total number Of acres granted 10
ZACH railroad company hy the state ~
Texas. and which have been surveyed F.
md returned 10 the general land office
or patent. The total number Of acres .
foots up 3j,1GSTlS.