El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-10-27

IT IS to be hoped that Texas voters viii not perform their
usual fatal operation on the three proposed constitutional
Amendments and knife them on general principles The
Herald is opposed to making constitutions too easy OF
amendment I holds that the fundamental law ought %
be fairly stable and to that end ought to be kept free OF
legislation and be confined to principles and nfoeo pro
visions that can ard viii stand through the years immune
from passing fads and partisan schemes But It woud be
poor constitution that always stood IN me way OF 4'
In many respects the Texas constitution is admirable
IN some ways it does not meet the requirements Of this day
some Of its provisions framed long ago to meet conditions
and needs then existing imagined by the fathers 10 EXIST
have been outgroWn These should be changed TO accord
with modern necessities and desires Of progressive ceas
But large proportion OF voters ian 20 post themselves
On such matters and acknowledging their ignorance they
tee often take the stand that any change is bad ana vote
AGAINST every change proposed else they marx their
ballots IN such manner that their vote counts neither way
slashng broad black line clear through the entire portion
Of the ballot dealing with constitutional amendments ano
saying something under the breath that SOUNDS IKE len
But the three amendments proposed this year are dh-
ferent They really necessary desirable, WISE oppof
tune They harmless entirely harmless even 20 me
farmer and the stocuan And their adoption would mean
lot Of things vitality necessary to the welfare o. an
the people Of Texas could be done that are now barred
Two Of the amendments relate to taxation Iat alone
viii marx them for the slaughter IN the minds Of lot o.
voters who resent the very word But look here toks
these amendments do not raise taxes they do not impose
any burden charge on anybody All they 90 Is 20 re
move the unwise restriction that exists and make It
possible for communities that really want TO tax themselves
to reasonable extent to do The amendments confer
permission, they impose no new duty
One Of the amendments confers the night on saH rula
communities 70 tax themselves for public purposes the
present limit Of cue-auartr Of percent Of valuations Is
raised TO u percent aImus but no community II
the state need impose more than the present rate unless It
desire TO do SO. Nobody Be hurt by this change
Another aboshes the practice OF paying public oIoela
BY fees and puts all salary basis This IS strictly IN
The interest OF every citizen in the state unless II be the
sers IN some pOpuous counties who have been receiving
incomes all CIT Of proportion to the services performed
responsibilities borne OF salaries paid IN the business world
Sheriffs Texas don't make $4,000 OF Sl90OO0 year as
the sheriff Of New York used TO- but Of them do make
incomes enormous measured by any ordinary standards OF
payment for service rendered
Countv state and precinct officers are entitled to fair
nav and perhaps some OF them may more salary than
tev get IN fees the effect Of the amendment VIII not
only be general equalization, but II VIII mean direct
and considerable saving 70 the taxpayers especially those
IN populous counties The amendment should ~ an means
rv Il has been discussed for many years. and now IS
orr chance to work much needed reform IN the name OF
efficiency and.O ur poc1etoooks- 80
The third amendment is the the entire educational
force Of Texas is backing with ali its strength It adds no
taxes imposes no burden, bit simply authorizes inoe
PENDENT school districts % tax themselves for school p
poses without being subject to the rigid restrictions now u
districts al over the state N the class with chartered
cities 60 far as right Of local self government goes IN
relation to the tax limit for schools
Cities With their Iarge assssEabs valuations commonly
limit BY their own charters their school tax maximum rate
al figure vel within the constitutional n1az1uum But
independent school districts in rural regions, having less
call to spend money on general public works, often desire
10 spend schools thar the CONSTITUTION a0aa II
seems that II ought 20 Be beyond argument that they ought
to have the right to determine for themselves what tax
rate they shall impose UPON themselves for school purposes
without running afoul Of construtonal r 100 low 70
allow the raising Of an adequate school budget
So vote for this amendment simply says 70 the inae-
pendent school districts You old enough and big enough
TO determine your financial abilities for yourselves 50 raise
what you Ike for your schools the constitution VII nor
stand in your way. Isn't that fan2
No taxpayer VII have his taxes raised unless his com