Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-07-04
NEFF LAND TAX
PROPOSALS FOR
THESPECULATOR
Says One Man Who Never Re-
sided in Texas Holds Title
to Three Million Acres.
SHOULD BE ON MARKET
Points Out Half Million Fami-
lies Own Nothing.
Especial To The lfcrnid,

WACO. Txas, July 81 am rot
speaking Of the grazing lands used
for stock purposes, nor the land that
is improved and cultivated by the citi-
zens of Texas, but Of the idle. un-
cultivated and unimrrovcd agricultur-
al lands of this state that are held for
speculative purposes only" said Pat
Neff. candidate for governor. today in
explanation of his graduated land tax
pan. Mr. Ncff made the. statement
i'm connection with charges Of the op-
position i'm southwest Texas that il was
the grazing lands and agricultural
areas that he believed should be
brought under this tax plan.
Explaining his stand on this ques-
tion, Mr.. Neff said:
There is in Texas one hundred and
thirty million acres on uncultivatei
land and :; large part of this land i
owned by few individuals some of
whom are not even citizens of Texas.
There is one individual. NONRESIDENT
of Texas, who owns enough land in
this state 10 form an area rs large
as the state of Rhode Island. There
is another party who hes never lived
in this state VINO holds title to three
million acres Of Texas land. There
are as many rs ten individuals who
own each more than a million acres Of
land
A large part of these million acre
holdings is agricultural land. These
large tracts arc held by these landed
aristocrats for speculation only.
There are five hundred thousand
families in Texas who DO not own. one
acre of land Half the human race
now goes 10 bed At night hungry on
account cf n shortage in the produc-
tion Of the farm.
These statements Of facts suggest
for solution a serious problem to every
thoughtful citizen. Whcn Hogg was
governor thcrc was enacted what is
known as the Hogg alien land law.
the wisdom of which has never been
questioned, prC hibiting aliens who do
not reside within this state from own
ing land in Texas. This law further
provides that If an alien who is a non
resident of this state inheritS land IN
Texas. he must put il on the market
and sell it within ten years. The tim
has come in my opinion when these
million acre tracts of uacultivat .d
and unimprc we'd agricultural land,
now held for speculative purposes.
mostly by people who do not live in
Texas, should he opened up and
placed on the market to be purchased
at fair price and owned by the home
building, the home lovers and home
defenders Of Texas.
am rot speaking of the grazing
lands used for stock purposes, nor the
land that is improved and cultivated
by the citizens Of Texas. but of the
idle, uncultivated and unimprovcd ag-
ricultural lands Of this state that are
held for speculative purposes only.
The time has come when the man
less agricultural land should be owned
cultivated and improved by the now
landless citizens Of Texas. Not only
should these agricultural lands be
opened up TO the tillers Of the soil, but
| am in favor Of the state extending
its credit to hire honest and indus
trious sons to aid them in purchasing
and owning the land they cultivate. :