The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-17

tory, and wen NAV the nsas. 'no Ih RAJ his
pIc as well consider thoroughly Inc ~
o Of IT, capabiltics and political convictions
such time with the dlreetlon ~ sus sI ny
iaits OF their state government AV a.
am opposed to any radical lec,si,,,.,
now unu ns 20 disturb the harmonious felations
nov eHIstlng among the essential forces nns
opment. "Vuuerlul deyel-
am opposed 70 any legislation which
~ con iahn. uiscorl aud antagoniems be,
eaiculatcd to revive or excite class nsnt
udlces among the people. There he MI MI
free eI ,e SSr eseaS state for the full and
who Is disposed to work. and The e aS,,
tunilles are beyond estimate for rho 40.
r Isv hd bio o. a Competency for ali who
OF intelligence, coupled with indrstrfSo ovs
nah.ts There Is, therefore, no escnsn ,oa az
this time for such antagonlsms, discords
out by the demqgogue fc- political pnr.
poses are rather imaginary than real ana
mere is no reason to "dlsttrb the herd -
III the language OF our esteemed lieutenant
The purpose should be to fo,ter the nre.
valing spirit Of enterprise am,ng the peo
PIE by preserving the present harmonious
relations among them and not to disturb
fairly satisfactory conditions By the enact.
ment Of radical legislation
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
The provisions and limitations Of the
constitution Of 1875 were fairly wei adopt.
ed to the conditions existing at tina, period
of the States history, but undt the
changes which have since taken place. some
or them are no longer applicable bu are
lnsuperable obstacles to the Industrial aud
material progress of the State.
II Is admitted thgt ancient and reveNed
Instrument stands In he way of the ms.
shge Of much needed legislation relathg
IN NVgsN ~ sts.vs. HfsA1
judiciary system Of the State Is cumbee
some ami expensive and unsa tisfactory IA
some Instances the legislature is given to6
nucu power and disCi elton, while In others
its powers are too much restricted. be-
licve that 1t would he wise to call con
Nention to form Il new constitution, more
thoroughly suited to the present and pros.
pcctVe conditions OF the States develop
lu'nt. ! can not at This time go into a
discussion OF the defects In our pi esent or
guuic law which need correction. and In
the desired object and to maintain the sym.
rnetry Of the constitution is through the
medium Of a convention Of lntelligenl and
people Tor that specific purpose.
TAXATION.
During the last few years there has been
raised a great clamor ag0lnst the tax avs
OF Texas ana a demand for some radical
changes looking to the equalization OF the
burdens of the government among all
classes Of people. II has been Insisted
that by reason OF serious defects In the
present laws certain classes Of property,
principally Of IN intangible nature, have
been able to escape taxation, and hat It
Is quite possible by q general revision Of
said tax laws 20 secure the assessment Of
such property and to force il to contribute
Its Just pl oportlon TO the support of the
public service. In my ludGment TINS con
dition Is not SO much attributable 10. the
defects in our present taxing system, which
is the result Of over half cent1rys eN'
pcrience In such matters but from o ran
ule Of those iutrusted with the enforcement
Of the laws already on the statute books
While some changes in our tax laws are
needed q sweeping and radical revision OF
the same as was contemplated by the late
commission BILL while unnecessary, is eN'
trempIy dangerous and calculated to de
moralze the financial and business inter
ests of the State
In my opinion, the system or raising
revenue By the taxation of useful occupa-
! lions is wrong Ia principle, as II tends TO
! discourage such pursuits and 10 encourage
| idleness, the breeder OF anarchy aud al
| should. therefore, favor the immediate re-
| peal Of the laws imposing such tax, except,
| perhaps, on those occupations or pursuits
| which ere detrimental 20 the pubic veal
| and should be discouraged. These, IN my
| Judgment, should be aOated by positive
| law as early as it can be done, In view OF
the condition of public sentiment respon'
| sible for their continuance.
| TRUSTS AMI NOIOLAI~o.
1t is very generally conceded that the
overshadowing danger to our commercial
freedom, and even to the perpetuty Of our
most cherished institutions, Is the lnsaua'
| BILE greed OF the trust and monopoly whose
| paralyZlnC influence is everywhere sirlh
| Ing down competition In trade by the com
| binatlon Of all the business Of the country
| into the hands of a Few merclless maui
ulators, who prey upon the hard earnings
| of the people The Iwenty-slNlh leglS
| lature passed, almost without Il ulssepuhs
| vote, very stringent antitrust law, wmcn
| 1t was believed al the time would preYenl
! such unlawful combination OF competing ~
| terests In Texas. 1t Is now being tested II
| the courts, and It. Is hoped that II WI
| be found eliectual IN the accom-! lshnielp,
| OF the purposes In view, Should II not nc
| sufficient to suppress monopoly in any ahG
! all OF Its forms, I shall favor such amend
monts as may be deemed necessary loI
| that purpose, If II should appear TO- ne az
| ali possible under the State and Fedora
| constitutions,
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
II should be the policy Of the State tt
encourage In every legitimate way thu
| early settlement Of its waste places by al
intelligent, industrious and thrifty popula
ton, and to that end such Of Its public
| lands as are susceptible OF prohtahle cul
| uyation should be set apart Tor the us'
| of the actual settlers, and such terms Oh
| Tered ms will enable any worthy appican
to acquire title to the same within a rea
sonable time. Such lands should not b.
| exposed to the greed OF spectators ah'
land grabbers, and provision should d
| made for prompt forfeiture in cases o
| Violation or resort to subterfuge by whlcl
| such provision is successfully evaded'
CATTLE INDUSTRY.
The cattle Industry OF the western dis
trlots is a material factor in the prosperit
OF the state, and should be fully protect
ed from plumber by class of adyenturer
who have been able TO blackma'l tros
engaged in that pursuit through defects J
| the laws In the special interest OF ~
| bona fide settler. A thorough survey OF IN
arid uninhabitable lands OF that sect,o
should be made Mt the earliest prgcucao
time and report made of such lands rs ar
unit for profitable cultivation, and thert
fore not capable Of actual settlement uhue
the provisions Of the general laws OF Ia
State. end special legislation enacted PR
yldlng for their disposition IN Ia e
bodies and without the conditions Impose
upon purchasers for actual settlement
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Before the sale and disposition OF IA
public lands is pressed by the State, r.
liable geological survey should be mad
Looking to the preservation to the who
Deople of Texas OF the rich mineral depusl