El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-20
TEXAS TAXES UP
REFORM LAWS
Initiative, Referendum and
Recall Amendments Are
Under Consideration.

Austin. Tex. Feb. 20.-Proposed
amendments to the state constitution
providing for the initiative. referen-
dun and recall have been introduced
in the lower house OF the 36th legis-
lature- Representative Black OF
Bexar. author OF these resolutions,
said that they were copied almost
verbatim from the oregon constitu-
ton. Such amendments have been
heretofore introduced in the Texas
legislature but have failed OF adopt
ion. the opposition in the past having
been very great. Mr.. Black said he
introduced these measures with a
view Of having this subject OF legisla-
ton brought TO the attention OF the
Legislators The initiative reserves TO
the people the right TO initiate legis-
lation snd II a majority favors such
Legislation. il becomes imperative
upon the legislature to enact it. The
referendum provides that measures
on proper petition. shall be referred
10 the people before being enacted in
TO law by the legislature, while the
recall permits the people. upon petit
tion Of a certain percentage OF the
qualified voters, to recall any state or
other official for any misdeeds in Of
flee
Abandonment OF Ball Commended.
The house today commended gov
ernor and Mrs W p. Hobby for their
action in requesting the abandonment
of the inaugural ball
After postponing until next Tues
day consideration OF a bill which
would require limited partnerships,
joint stock companies. ETC. 70 file
with the secretary Of state COPY of
the agreement under which they
worked, the house took up consider
alton OF a senate bill proposing the
Of q legislative commit
tee to investigate the subject Of taxa
ton and recommend such changes in
the present system as they conclude
would be beneficial The bill was re-
ferred to the house committee on
revenue and taxation
To Abolish Fee System
The house joint resolution. pro-
posing an amendment TO the consutu-
ton to abolish the fee system for all
public. officials and place them on a
straight salary basis was taken up
yesterday in the senate, the measure
having already been adopted in the
house.
Senator ". r. Cousins. OF Sabine.
oppised the resolution on the ground
that in the smaller counties II HOu4u
make the officials Indifferent and
many fees would be left uncOllected-
The resolution was defended by sen
ator j. H Woods. Of Navarro, because
he said II was a Democratic platform
demand and the people demanded a
change in the system The resolution
was engrossed by a vote OF II to 3.
It requires q affirmative votes TO
finally adopt the resolution
Corporations To Return-
The final passage In the senate
yesterday Of a house bill 10 permit
foreign corporations ousted from
Texas for a violation Of the anti trust
laws 10 return after five years Of eN-
pulsiOn means the return 10 Texas OF
the international Harvester company.
The American Book company. and
other corporations. All attempts to
amend the bill which has already
passed the house. were unsuccessful
An amendment 10 extend the time OF
expulsion from five TO ten years and
one to require the ousted corporations
TO give bond OF ten percent Of their
capital stock as an evidence OF good
faith were both defeated
House Considers Free Text Books.
The house considered the senate
free text book bill and a number OF
were proposed The bill
has already passed in the senate It is
proposed in the bill TO carry out the
free text book amendment 10 the con-
stitution-