Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
By
The PoH6cal
A-.,y..


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 all
the states royalty and oil tax &C
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 Ia
stances to collect any royalties. that
accounts have been fraudulently
made, that production taxes have not
been reported correctly 10 the state,
and that large sums are still due he
state.
The clamor of the royalty owners
caused the state to join hands in
trying to check the actual produr-
ton of oil by the companies wro
operated while the field was run
ming wild. Already Compt. George
II. Sheppard has collected a third
OF a million dollars Of unreported
taxes.
The audit will be a tremendous
job, but Gov. Sterling and MI. Shep-
pard believe 1t will pay for itself
and bring the state much money
besides.
A permanent policy OF making go
cents. rather than n cents, the limit
OF state taxes was embodied in the
tax-limit bill which has been pass
ed by the legislature. The bin can
not now apply to the rate for 1892,
but will take control Of the rate fixed
next year for 1888, and the rates OF
all future years, until changed by
legislative act.
The difference in taxes amounts
to that between $50. 300, 1000. theoretl-
cally ccllectible under the constitu-
tional limit, and the maximum OF
S27,6O0,000 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
a. AdNo.
Fixing OF adjournment for Tues
day brought this bill under the
final To-day" PROVISION. and gave
Gov. Sterling 20 days after adjourn
ment in which to dispose finally Of
1t by approval or vote.
House members we're uncertain
what he viii do about II.
Evidence OF the merit OF Comm.
Cone JChnson's suggestion that the
safe must ADOPT 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 .et for more than
$3.000.000 Of 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
der. Grd minimum, WAGE for all
workers on highway contracts.
The department Is well Organized
10 keep from laundering under such
a dehlge Of rush work. But no three
commissioners. without Giving the
rest Of their time voluntarily, and
In the present case practically with
out pay, to investigation and in
Spection Of the highways could have
any adequate conception OF the MAJ
tiers with which tAey deal.
Violent language and apparent \
bitter feeling in legislative debate
seems To be q safety valve and little
else. Members will fight rough and
tumble over n matter. and then
Serenely help one another's efforts
In the next thing that comes along.
There Is a protective element In
it. If 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 &C on, milo naTe-calling. end
severe criticisms Of actions and bills
are commonplace, but there lave
been few cases OF actual deep en-
nifty, or koStilitieS lasting Longer
than a single measure. This is prob
ably well. A spirit or lmDeTScnallty,
and Of refusing TO sacrifice every
thing else in the interest OF a single
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 and
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 and
confusing seasons. As a starter, the
department has refused to support
any local bills creating a special
zone.