The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-17

/ been granted and wherever practicable, to
/ force them into each others territory
! thereby creating competition that will be
J beneficial TO tho public.
J II must hr evident To every thoughtful
MUD. at oil acquainted with the conditions
; IN the state, thnt the people can not safe
( U.s. rely upon the cultivation only Of what
I may be regarded os the staple crops. These
/ must be supplemented by such other prod
I ucts MS arc adapted to our soils ana ell
I mate To insure permanent aud growing
prosperity. Many Of theS" products are
+ classcd MS pcrishuhlc aud therefore require
convenient ready and cheap transit TO
markets other than local Besides very
largo excess over what can he consumed
Within the state may easily and certainly
be- produced, year by ycars For my pmr-
pose. Increased railway facilities become
q prime necessity. or orchard and garden
cultivation urou au extensive scale can
not be prohtahly undertaken and prose
cuted.
Inc report Of the railroad commission IS
full Of interest aud must he carefully con
sidercd Ia order To- reach q correct und"r-
standing Of tho character aud extent Of It's
Bctorc concluding this subject = will not
bc considered inappropriate To alludp 10 y
gentleman to whom the state is greatly IN
commiesion but also for his services 10 the
people n every capacity &C. which nc mas
aud moro continuous than that of any other
person within tho State n is n matter 81
sincere md great gratihca ton that he has
NJ all times and In all circumstances dis
charged every duty ably, honestly. faith
fully. and With view only 70 tho promo
tiou n the general welfare He rotirss tn
private lifc IN the full enjoyment Of the
love and confidence If all followed by the
earnest wish 81 every one that his remain
lbs d years Gsr may he happy as his past career
to whom this reference is made. is John n
Reagan
THE OFFICE or TUE ATTORNEY GEN.
ERAL
From December Is. 1900 10 August 81,
1907, tbore was collected and paid Into the
treasury. through this office $3.50 g2o.S
also, county city aud school district bonds,
aggreeatlng S12,24313s we're examined and
approved. Though showing these transsc.
lions and tho disposition Of much litigation,
In which the State has been Involved the
report of the attorney general om!ts an ac
count Of large amount ~ business. FULLY
Is lnportant' that has also received his at
teution,
THE COMPTROLLER DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the comptroller, with the
tables compiled. should have most careful
attention from the Legislature. The informa.
ton given, with accompanying data, is such
as can be had nowhere else; and 10 legisla-
ton affecting the finances of the State can
be safely undertaken and enacted without
au acquaintance with the character and de
tails Of the report. The comptroller recon-
mends legislative action looking to the im-
provement of the present system for the
assessment aud collection Of taxes The sub
lect was brought to the attention of the
Twenty sixth and Twenty-seyenth legisla.
lures, but nothing was done. II is strictly
true that the amount of property escaping
taxation steadily increases year by venr
anu mat WhGn rendition is made 1t is so
rated as TO hardly reach one-third Of its
true market value A favoritc aud uncnn-
cealed method Of defrauding the general
! teNehu" aud available school fund prevails
~ many Of tn" counties through the main.
| tonancc of the county rate nj high nnd
unnecessary figure. and as COMPENSATION IL,
INC taxpayers the lowering of agsessmenf
SAluGs RMS procedure results i'm loss TO
inc lund mentioned
Again the disparity among the counties
w rue valuation of lands Is such that ,ylpu
E'"eTHlN understood can not bur .utIso
great discomfort Investigation win show
lu't tuG p"oTcr and less fertile lands arc
assessed much hiyh"r In prNportjou ~ tb.u,
,Hlur toau are the richer aud more produc.
lllf'. NO greater eNil can exist in govern
WopI man unjust md discriminating taya-
non lh,eutonalIy imposed or resulting
.oui nature TO require every interest ~
NHuteNcF character tp contribute ms ruiI
proportion 10 the support OF tho pu6Ilr
/ service The maudat5ry proyisinr NJ Tho
constitution that an property whether
i nMugl ny natural persons or carporntlons
Snali p' taxed IN proportion to lis vg1lr
HA8 heen openly disrcgardcl for man,
2'aFs' ara today is practically a nudity II
y uniorlulntcly ton true that mon who
are honest IN their private dealings win
unheSitatinrly dcfraud the Government a.
MS Just dues through taxation nrovIdcA
no serious penalty follows
nc comptroller asks for an appropris
lords OF hls department, which should be