The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-23

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process OF manipulation avoid rendering
same for taxation. This is all wrons and
! can and should be remedied.
Again. there are foreign loan COM
panies that hold mortgages OF many mil.
| lions I'm value secured by lien on al least
two thirds OF the value OF the lands and
other properties in this State, upon which
they have made loans and yet pay not
one cent Of taxes. hold that these mort
cages and deeds OF trust should be as
sessed and made to pay their just pro-
| norton of the value Of said securities.
And, again, we know that the Large
/ ,,roperty owner does not pay his just pro-
| norton OF the burdens OF the government
! when mans taxes begin to reach the
! hundreds of thousands, he begins 70
| scheme to reduce them by every means
/ known 10 the shrewd; whereas. the man
with small holdings Is assessed propor'
tionately much higher and he pays pro-
/ porttonately much more taxes, and the
result is our small property holders bear
I the greater part OF the burdens of the
government. when they are less able.
This Is unjust and is a discrimination
against that class of our citizens least
able to bear IT. and when you consider
that 90 per cent OF our people are small
property owners. we can appreciate that a
fundamental doctrine OF the democratic
party is being violated under demo-
cratic government. Equal rights TO all;
special privileges TO none" | shall, if
elected governor do all in my power TO
remedy this wrong
Governor Joseph n, Sayers while at
Washington addressed a communication
10 the democrats OF Texas on April IA,
1898 Discussing State taxation. he made
the following declaration: To my mind
there is no question more interesting and
important than that involving the impo-
kition OF taxes and the disposition of the
public money. How to levy taxes so as TO
he most impartial and least burdensome,
and how to collect them so that everyone
the willing and the unwilling alike
may be compelled to pay his fair proper
ton. Is problem that legislative wis
dom has thus far failed to successfully
solve
That it is the duty of every citizen
20 contribute according to the just value
Of his estate to the support of the govern
ment is a proposition that will be admit
ted by all; vet It must be acknowledged
that the willtul Withholding of property
and more especially that which is personal
and intangible, from rendition. and its
assessment when listed at less than its
true value. is an evil that prevails to
an alarming extent in almost every COM
munity This disregard of a high public
duty not only breeds deep and dangerous
discomfort in the body polite but 1t also
makes necessary increased taxation upon
the honest and patriotic citizen in order
ia meet the Just wants OF government.
What is needed most at this time is not
Increased taxation, hut rather a method
ny watch the burdens of government
shall be made to fall surely and impair
TALLY upon each person according to his
means and that oil taxable property OF
whatever kind shall be subjected to as"
sessment at it's true value. This being
done, the rate of taxation can he safely
reduced and still yield revenue sufficient
for every proper governmental eXpendi-
ture. X must also be admitted that the
people are paving too much for the pub
lie service and that too much of their
money is being constantly expended upon
objects for purposes that have no rela-
ton whatever to correct governmental
administration and also that too frequent
ly are unnecessary offices created to re-
ward political friends, and too often are
partisan services, past and prospective,
indirectly peid for out of public treasury.
According to my way of thinking an OK
travagant and improper expenditure of the
public funds by those in authority is as
criminal from a moral standpoint as is
the theft or embezzlement Of private prop
erty. Whatever the amount so expended
be 1t large or small-the crime is the
same When we consider the taxation be-
ing imposed and the revenue being ex-
pended by the Federal and State govern
ments and by the county and municipal
authorites--its character and amount
it would be strange, indeed. if the ques-
tlon did not deserve and receive serious
and continued attention. Should | M
elected. | pledge you that l will exert
myself to the full extent OF my ability
to have the burdens Of government eairly
and equally imposed and its revenues hon
estly and economically expended consist
ent with an efficient administration of the
public service
The democratic party OF Texas in con-
Vention at Galveston August A. 1885, nom
mated Savers for governor, and adopted
the platform demanding among other
things the following:
We favor the appointment by the
Twenty sixth legislature OF a committee
to consist of the governor, comptroller and
State revenue agent, whose duty it will he
to diligently inquire into our States fiuan
cial system including the method OF levy
ing and collecting taxes and tho system OF
accounting of the government officials,
said committee to formulate such measures
OF reform looking to fair and equitable
distribution OF the burdens of government
49, " o ihSiN SNbbohiicdl anu tApellllOus
collection of taxes and at the same time
provide all proper and necessary safe
guards for checking the receiving and dis
bursting officers charged with the duty OF
handling State funds the said committee,
TO report to the legislature asking such
recommendations as may be deemed wis,
and practicable
The legislature in compliance with
ms platform demand passed an act at its
regular session in 1899 creating the tax
commission and imposed upon said com
mission among other things. the duty of
examining the entire system of laws and
regulations now in force affecting the rails
ing OF public revenue and Assessment and
correction OF public taxes and To devisa
frame and report the bin or bills DESIGNED
ana calculated to secure full and comnIot.
assessment and collection OF taxes.
l. An exhaustive ana equitable assess
ment of all taxes upon every species a,
property In this State. real. personal and
mixed, tangible and intangible. ana wbeth-
er belonging to natural or artificial ner-
SONS 10 residents or non residents. IN m,
emo that no character of property eessts
holdings or valuable interests shall oscon,
me me- aue. lust and equal burdens OF lawfuI
To provide for and enforce ,bs
prompt effective and complete coIIoction
eI an axes imposed ard assessed bv ~
ga Staie and It's sub divisions and munieinaii.
3, To secure ana cor,,,,