Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-03-21
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
National Advertising Representatives
Replacing the AID Valorem Tax

There are signs that a new state taxation policy is
on the way. There are signs that the ad valorem tax
payers win be interested in the program to come in
the near future. A significant statement was made by
Sen j. W. Stevenson. farmer and stock man Of the
Victoria district. at q meeting of the state affairs
committee when the sulphur tax bill was under con-
s~ideration.
Sen. Joe Moore Of the Hunt district had introduced
an amendment which would have taxed other natural
resources. Sen. Stevenson, in reply, stated that he
would not favor more than a so cent tax on sulphur
and would not favor an additional tax on any other
industry at the present time for the reason that If
funds were provided they would lead to "a carnival Of
extravaganza in the state government that would have
70 be taken care of by the automatic tax beard at its
meeting during the summer. AMI YOU'LL RESULT
IN NO SAVING TO THE AID o TAX
PAYERS"
This in the face Of the fact that Pres. H. Y. Bene-
dict Of the state university had bluntly stated else
where that state schools are starving for want Of
funds" Then came the significant part Of Sen Ste
venson's statement. 1t was that he intended to in
troduce an amendment to the constitution at the
regular session OF the 42nd legislature: this amend
ment would provide that the ad valorem, as now
collected, be applied solely to the maintenance Of
the counties and districts and that the support Of the
state government be derived from taxes otherwise
levied. "such as the occupation tax, the gross re-
ceipts tax, and especially a tax on intangible values"
He declared the only important intangible tax now
collected is on railroads. that such concerns as large
cotton factors, in fact many lines Of business, pay no
tax except a small corporation tax and the tax on
visible property such as furniture and office buildings.
s
He then made the novel suggestion that he would
Mace in the constitutional amendment a provision
that within 80 days after its adoption, the governor
should call a special session of the legislature; THIS
SESSION TO CONTINUE THO ANY LINZ
TATION. AS PROVIDED IN H PROVISIONS
OF THE CONSTITUTION, U TO CONTINUE IN
SESSION UNTIL IT HAD DEVISED A SYSTEM OF
TAXATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE
STATE GOVERNMENT. OTHERWISE THAN FROM
| AN AID VALOREM A ON FARMS. RANCHES, ON
TOWN AND CITY PROPERTY.
Senator Stevenson said that it was clear to him
that from what had been exposed in the sulphur tax
1 investigation and from what had been developed in
the matter Of income by other corporations that the
| state government could easily be supported without
calling "on land and real estate to help out" He
proposes no commission to work this out, having
found from experience. he said, that the work OF
legislative committees is ineffective and is not re-
sponded to by the legislature; but IN his proposed
| amendment he puts it up to the legislature. although
he added that he might provide in the amendment
that the legislature could adjourn from time to time
leaving its work TO committees.
This is an entirely new plan in Texas Of solving the