Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
Capital
BY
TIE PeHical
Analyst

AUSTIN, Oct. 3.-Gov. Sterling
interest has been enlisted in the
states share Of hidden oil" Of the
east Texas field, and the losses the
state Is meeting by reason Of failure
TO pay the production taxes on the
oil. Gov. Sterling has asked the
legislature TO order an audit OF al
the states royalty and oil tax ac-
counts, dealing with the payments
made by producers.
The executive has been told by
state officials who visited the east
Texas field that the farmers of the
section have failed in many III
stances to collect any royalties, that
accounts have been fraudulently
made, that production taxes have not
been reported correctly to the state,
and that large sums r still due he
state.
The clamor OF the royalty owner
caused the state TO Join hands In
trying To check the actual produc-
ton OF oil by the companies WIZ
operated while the field was nm
ming wild. Already Compt George
III. Sheppard has collected a third
oil a million dollars OF unreported
taxes.
The audit will be a tremendous
job, but Gov. Sterling and Mr.. Shep-
pard believe 1t will paw for itself
n BRING the state much money
besides.
A permanent policy Of making so
cents, rather than " cents, the limit
OF state taxes was embodied in the
tax-llmit bill which has been pass
eI by the legislature. The bin can
not now apply to the rate for 1892,
TT VIII take control Of the rate fixed
next year for 1888, and the rates OF
j future years, until changed by
J. slative act.
Tne difference in taxes amounts
TO that between $50. SOC, 900. theoretl-
cally collectible under the constitl-
tlonal limit, and the maximum OF
S27,6OO,OO0 under the new statutory
limit.
\ When Gov. Sterling left Austin
over Friday and Saturday, he had
not disposed Of the peddler's tax re-
peal bill, that had been on his desk
several days.
Fixing Of adjournment for Tues
day brought this bill under the
final Today" provision, and gave
Gov. Sterling 20 days after adjourn
ment in which to dispose finally Of
1t by approval or vote.
House members were uncertain
what he will do about IL.
Evidence OF the merit Of Comm.
Cone Johnson's suggestion that the
STATE must adout a policy o. having
its highway commission serve full
time was given in the four-day
September meeting Of the commits
sion.
Over 40 delegations were heard.
contracts we're let for more than
q 100000 CT construction: main
tenance a~llotInents Of 81. 563 900 we're
made, and approximately 100 other
orders. ranging from the preparation
o. plans on major projects. to federal
designation of a highway from
Pharr, TEX, 10 the Canadian hor-
DER, ard minimum WAGES for all
workers ON highway contracts.
The department is well organized
to keep from laundering under suca
a deluge Of rush work. But no three
commissioners without Giving the
rest Of their time voluntarily, and
in the present Ease practically with
out pay, to investigation and in
Spection of the highways could have
any adequate conception Of the mat
ters with which they deal.
Violent language and a1parentR
bitter feeling in legislative debate
seems Ia be a safety valve and little
else. Members viii fight rough and
tumble over matter. and then
serenelv help one another's efforts
in the next thing that comes along.
There Is a protective element in
1t. II a member really gets mad At
somebody and obStructs the othe
fellow by points Of order or obiec-
tons he Is inviting similar injury
to his own bills: so that the word
battles gc on, nild namc-calling, end
severe criticisms Of actions and bills
are commonplace, but there. lave
been few cases OF actual deep en-
nifty, or hoStilitieS lasting LONGER
than a single measure. This Is Prob
ably well. A spirit of imperscnalitv,
and Of refusing to sacrifice every
thing else in the interest OF a sinele
bill. however important, seems neces-
Sary to preserving the usefulness and
success Of a lawmaker.
The game department wants
authority, BY constitutional amend
ment, to itself fix bag limits ard
open seasons on game, and to have
authority to revise these when found
desirable. Now the legislature has 70
fix the seaSons and limits: and the
state Is a patchwork Of differing aud
confusing seasons. As a starter, the
department has refused to support
any local bills creating a special
zone.
DuiLu Health