Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-04-19

they desire a measure rcmitting state
taxes, similar to the bill passed at the
regular session for Hiladgo county,
VIII do all in my power to secure its
passage. ] will state frankly that am
opposed to such a measure because, pri-
marily, IL would mean bonding the coun-
~ to the limit thereby preventing fu-
ture development and expansion for
which bonds will be necessary, and
also believe that such a measure Is un-
constitutional. do not believe Hidaigo
county will ever issue bonds under the
provisions OF that biil."
Representative Lewis called attention
to the fact that the state reclamation
service has received an appropriation
for topographic and photographic sur
vey in which the RIO Grande Valley is
included. and predicted that the pro-
gram Of reclamation and flood control
evolved By the State Reclamation Ser
vice and Board Of Water Engineers
would be ready for presentation at a
called session of the Legislature at an
early date. These departments are ac-
complshing the work with all possible
speed" he said, 'and believe the VAL
ley's problem can be worked out only
through the state and federal rcclama-
tion services. and through the organiza-
tion Of a reclamation district including
the counties affected"
Would Bond to Limit.
Representative Lewis called atten-
tion 10 Section 2 Of the senate bill re-
hitting Hidalgo county taxes. which
signifies that there would be legal
question raised in the event Hidalgo
county or any city, school district or
other subdivision of the county attempts
70 issue bonds for other improvements.
Mr.. Lewis cxprcsscd the opinion
that the acceptance of the provisions
o. the bill BY the people Of EIidalgo
county would be an obstacle in the way
Of all other public improvements. and
that the county and its subdivisions
would virtually be prohibited for per-
iod of twenty-five years from entering
upon any construction, development
work or other improvements which
would require the floating Of bond
issue to finance.
THE people Of the Valley expect TO
develop a great port at Point Isabel"
he continued. "but this cannot be done
without the organization Of n naviga-
issue which will be matched by the
federal government. doubt III this can
be accomplished IL the Valley counties
issue bonds under the provisions of
this bill: I doubt il il will be possible
for the Valley TO take advantage Of the
greatest opportunity ever offered any
section Of the United States to secure
and develop deep sea port and to OBJ
tain low transportation rates IL its peo-
pie accept the provisions of this bill.
CanaIcs Suggest Reclamation District
j. II. Canales, former representative Of
Cameron county. stated that he had
made study Of the bill remitting Hi
dalco county taxes. and that he agreed
fully with Representative Lewis that the
bill was unconstitutional, not applicable
and that bonds would never be issued
under its provisions. He stated that at
the tine the bill was pending in the
regular session he had advocated sim
liar measure for Cameron county. but
after studying the bill had come 10 the
conclusion that the measure was Who'll
" Inadequate to meet the requirement
Of the Valley.
Mr.. Canales pointed out that under
the reclamation provisions OF the con-
stitution, Cameron county, as a. coast
county. could bond for more than the
one-fourth limit for such purposes as
flood control, but added that the most
logical method Of coping with the situa-
ON would be the organization Of rec
lamation district and placing the work
in the hands of the state and federal
reclamation services.
Az the reclamation congress held in
Kansas City last year. which was at
tended by Representative Lewis, rep
Continued on page Two)