, 1935-04-19
What The
Legislature
Is Doing

AUSTIN, April 10. R-The first
OF q series OF bills to aid enforce
ment OF existing tax laws and bal
ance the states budget was passed
to the senate Thursday by the
house after an amendment to in
crease the oil production tax was
rejected. The vote was 1873 70 2.
The bill would plug loopholeS In
the oil production tax law by max
ing subsequent purchasing liable
for the tax and giving the state
comptroller additional men TO en-
force its provisions. 1t will be fol-
lowed by bills TO bolster collection
Of beer, cigarette and other taxes.
Representative A. X. Daniel Of
Crockett proposed the oil tax in
crease. His amendment was ruled
out Of order and q motion TO sus-
pend the rules to permit its con-
sideration was defeated. "a TO 81.
failing to obtain even a majority
vote.
Oklahoma recently raised Its
tax to five cents per barrel and
Texas is sitting idly by and get
ting but two cents while this rich
and irreplaceable natural resource
is leaving the state" Daniel said.
Texas ought 70 receive a fair tax
on its natural resources"
The bill was considered under
suspension Of the rules in con-
formity with a suggestion made
Wednesday BY Walter ". Woodul,
lieutenant governor, acting as gov
ernor.
The house also passed by an
overwhelming vote the beer tax
correction law. II would abolish
the beer stamp and levy the tax
on the first sale. Manufacturers
AMI wholesalers would be bonded.
Sponsors said the stamp tax was
universally abused and that the
state was losing thousands Of dol
lars in revenue annually. Numer-
Gus instances have been found
where stamps were reused and
some where beer was sold without
stamps. IT as estimated the change
would yield approximately $780,
600 additional yearly.
The house refused 70 decrease
the wholesalers license tax from
500 to $50 and the retailers license
from $50 10 SIS. Similar fate met
attempts to increase the per bar
rel tax from $50 10 81 and SITS.
Bills to clarity the motor fuel
and cigarette tax laws were de-
layed temporarily 70 permit
amendments.
The senate approved submission.
81 to !. Of a proposed constitution
al amendment TO authorize legisla-
ton for temporary committal OF
mentally sick to state eleemoSy-
nary institutions for not more than
90 days without necessity OF the
patient being adjudged insane by a
jury.
The senate also adopted house
resolutions TO designate March 4
as Roosevelt" day and to petit
ton congress to equalize the pro-
cesSing tax and promulgate tariff
regulations TO protect American
cotton from foreign competition.
Senators agreed to start consid-
Grafton Tuesday Of q revised house
bill to halt wastage Of natural gas
in the Panhandle field and 70
equalize rights for producers and
owners.
The bill as rewritten by Senator
Clint Small OF Amarillo held ap-
proval OF the senate state affairs
committee.
j. M. CTex) Moore OF Henrietta
was designed cowboy artist OF
Texas" by senate adoption OF a
house resolution. Paintings of the
70-year-old cowboy and former
Texas Ranger have "perpetuated
and glorified the achievements Of
the western cowhand." the resolu-
ton stated. to such an extent he
could be called the dean OF all
western landscape artists"
The senate also adopted a house
resolution urging congress 70
amend the interstate commerce act
TO prohibit movement of cigarets
In interstate commerce into any
state unless the cigaretS bore tax
revenue stamps OF the state. and to
enact a law TO prohibit counterfeit
ing Of cigaret tax stamps.
Illegal sale and interstate traf-
fic In non-stamped cigarets, the
resolution stated. resulted in an
annual loss Of more than $780,
mn - rrm~aM