The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-07
WORK ON THE TAX BILL
Is Proceeding Slowly, as The Members Are
thoroughly Discussing Amendments.
A JEST VOTE on OCCUPATION TAXES
shows Majority I'm Favor of Abolish
ing Most Of Them--another Trus-
tee Law Mny He Called For.

Austin. Texas. February
THE HOUSE wresfled with the tax bill for
seven hours today and the net result Of It's
iaburs was the raising Of the tax on fortune
teilers from $40, as hxed by the tax COM
mission, TO 500 In other respects the SEES
sion was positively fruitlsss except that
whnt might be termed preliminary trial
Of strength was had between the advocates
Of complete vipinE out Of the merchants
occupation tax and their opponents, in which
the former came out victorious II was
during debate over Smith or Grayson 5
amendment to strike out the tax referred
to that the test was made on proposition
10 table said amendment. The motion TO
table was lost by a vote OF 20 to A. and
further consideration Of the movement post
poned until tomorrow morning.
THE GOVERNOR viii, It is expected, tomor-
row call the legislatures attention to tho
decision In the Kimhrnugh ease and suggest
the necessity Of legislation to take the place
Of the statute relating to school trustees
tor independent districts declared unconsti-
tutional in said decision. In view OF the
fact that the directors Of tho Agricultural
and Mechanical college as well rs tho mem
bers Of the board Of regents OF the univer-
sity are appointed for terms of more than
two years, the governor has asked the at
torney general 10 examine the Kimhrough
decision with the view Of ascertanlns
whether or not it reaches those officers also,
so that II necessary, the act relating to
them may be amended as to the provisions
governing tho tenure OF office their cases.
Members Of the hoard NJ regents who have
read the opinion have concluded that It ar
ftces them and that with the exception
Of Messrs. Gregory, Marsh aud Garwood the
board will have to he reappointed None
Of the boards acts can he collatersliy at
tackled though. as its members are de facto
officers until their SUCCESSORS are appointed
HON ROGER Q. MILLS hlled his dat. here
tonight In the role Of Brutus to the tax
bill 1t can not be said however, that he
played the part IN much effect. on the CON
trary, II e admitted by the opponents OF
the measure that a mistake was made when
Mr. Mills was invited to come here and
they express disappointment at the manner
in which he handled his subject. Instead Of
attacking the bill where it is really weak,
he proceeded TO attempt to "hurrah" tue
't'N NNihliAa9loAs hieplhN lus lBHOTdntG OF the
character and effect Of its report IN many
instances. His speech was mainly an as
sault upon occupation taxes and he was
especially emphatic in his criticisms Of the
commissioners endeavors TO discover a
method ny which an honest rendition OF
property for taxation may be secured
TO THE AsToNIsHMENT of some Of his ad
mlrers, he complained Of the provisions for
tho punishment of liquor dealers who sell
intoxicauts TO minors or habitual drunkards
all Of which arc part OF existing laws and
not the invention OF the commission on
this subject he grew sarcastic and INDUCED
in some of the remarks and stories for which
he became noted during the prohibition cam
paign' with regard to the proposed tax
on OIL rehneries Mr., Mills had little to
say beyond charging that It was the in
vention of some ono who was attempting to
Get even with an obnoxious industry.