Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-16
Should Get Away From
Hypocrisy

"Our organic law declares that taxation shall be
equal and uniform that all property shall be taxed in
proportion to its value" reads the report Of Tax Com
missioner weinert. Continuing it says: And yet even
a most casual examination into the operation Of our
tax laws can lead to but one conclusion-that as now
administered this solemn declaration Of the constitu-
tion is but a meaningless phrase"
This is the advice given to the people OF Texas ana
their servants: ITO be consistent we should either
provide means by which equality and uniformity IN
taxation shall be an accomplished fact or ny repeal
Of the equality clause in our constitution. get away
from the hypocrisy Of profession that whlch We nave
no intention of enforcing"
There is another excerpt which Is very much to
the point. II his report submitted to the governor
and the lawmakers tine tax commissioner said: IN the
absence Of uniformity in assessments. there can DC no
such thing as equality in taxation. In exact proper
ton a value IS un-uniformally assessed the rate OF
tax becomes variable. The present state ad vaiofem
rate of 65 cents upon the 500 OF assessed valuation
when imposed upon property assessed at 50 per cent
70 true volue. operates as a rate Of but 80 12 cents
upon 100 per cent value; when imposed upon property
assessed at 40 per cent Of true value, it operates as a
rate Of but % cents upon 500 value; when imposed
upon propertv assessed at 30 per cent Of true value. II
operates. automatically. at a rate OF but IS IL cents
upon 500 value. Property unassessed escapes. OF
course. entirely. IL IS VIII IilS dttt PhSS "a ~"
taxing system Is administered. although discrepancies
in assessments Of property. spread upon the tax rolls
are Obvious enough. that in an effort to arrange a
more equal and uniform distribution Of the tax bur
den we are lanost directly concerned"
Stocking Of the homestead law, Tax Commissioners
welna-t made a recommendation which appears 70
have passed over the heads Of the lawmakers. It
follows:
an conclusion I wish to state I believe in the
sacredness of a home: without a home. a mother can
not proDerly function and our liberty and very exist
ence rs a free people is at stake. And since we are so
liberal in emitting. RENTING and exempting, I would
suggest as most meritorious and fair that section ],
article 3 Of our state constitution. be so amended that
in addition to the exemption of $3.50 worth of house
hold end kitchen furniture belonging to each family
in this state. in humble home. occupied and owned
as a home. shall be to the extent OF $500 actual value
EXEMPT from taxation. Such provision in our organic
law would IN a measure at least reimburse an humble
and patriotic people for the great wrong they have
suffered on account Of an antiruated and discriminate
ing tax law allowing ~extortion from those who were
Ieset abIe "a raw. We force them 10 pay not equities
brt debts they owe and let others who enjoy PRIVILEGES
and r-c+~-ficr esoe0a. Our tax laws are not only an
tio,,sted but their present enforcement is grossly
neglected"
A scorching Indictment to say the least. Candi-
dates for major and minor offices are forcing their
faces into the picture Of 1880. What have they to say
relative to the constitutional mandate that taxation
shall be equal and uniform?