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

~Our organic law declares that taxation shall De
equal and uniform that all property shall be taxed III
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-tha' as no"
administered this solemn declaration OF the cons'eu-
ton is but q meaningless phrase"
This is the advice given to the people OF Texas anu
their servants: ITO be consistent We should either
provide means by which equality and uniformity ~
taxation shall be an accomplished fact' or oy rep7ai
of the equality clause in our constitution get away
frcr, the hvuocrisv of profession that which we have
no intention of enforcing"
There Is another excerpt which Is very much 10
the pcint. In his report ubmitted to the governor
and the lawmakers the tax commissioner said; In the
absence Of uniformity in assessments, there can DC 40
such thing rs equality In taxation In eXact proper
ton a value is un-uniformany assessed the rate Oh
tax becomes variable. The present state ad valorem
rate of IS cents upon the 500 OF assessed vaiuauoh
urt,e, inposed upon property assessed at so per cent
NJ true valve. ~operates as a rate of but 30 l-2 cents
unou 100 per cent value: when imposed upon property
assessed at 40 per cent Of true value. 1t operates as a
rnte az but % cents upon 500 value; when imposed
upon property assessed at 80 per cent OF true value y
oneratns. automaticallv. at a rate Of but 10 IL cents
upon 500 value. Property unassessed escapes. OF
course. entirely II is with this latter phase Of our
taxing system as 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 lamost directly concerned"
Speaking of the homestead law, Tax Commissioner
Weinert made a recommendation which appears 70
have passed ever the heads Of the lawmakers. IL
follows:
an conclusion I wish to state I believe IN the
sacredness of a home: without a home, a mother can
not properly function and our liberty and very exist
ence as 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 l.
article 8 Of our state constitution. be SO amended tnat
IA addition 10 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
exerrt 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 antinrated and discriminat-
ing tax law allowing extortion from those who were
In,et chile 70 nav We force them to pay not equities
b-t debts they owe and let others who enjoy privileges
ard protection esrane. Our tax laws are not only an
ticrated but their present enforcement is grossly
neglected"
A scorchine Indictment TO say the least. Candi'
dates for major and minor offices are forcing their
faces into the picture of 1890. What have they to say
relative TO the constitutional mandate that taxation
shall be equal and uniform?