The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, November 14, 1958 Page: 2 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 16 in. Scanned from physical pages.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Mathis News Feature - Editorial
Page 2 — THE MATHIS NEWS — Friday, Nov. 14, 1958, Mathis, Texas
EDITORIALS
Plant Some Beauty...
Today the Mathis Chamber of Commerce will sell
trees and shrubs at cost to Mathis residents to make
beautification of our city as convenient as possible.
Sturdy, healthy trees that stand from nine to 12 feet
high. are promised. The shrubs — bougainvillea and
pyracantha — will also be large and hardy.
This is a real opportunity to supply your yard with
shade and beauty at a low cost.
Not only residences, but business houses which have
the yard space are urged to take advantage of this
special sale for the betterment of their own property —
which ultimately will enhance the entire city.
Just one look at our Junior High School campus is
convinving enough of how easy it is to achieve beauty
through shrubbery and trees. The PTA’s planting pro-
ject last year plus the school board’s grass planting deal
this summer has combined to give the old school a really
new look.
The Junior High campus is something the whole town
is really proud of.
CAPITAL
SiTATE
ffiqhliqlrhs
Sideliqhfs
bu Vern Sanford
AND
PS
THE MATHIS NEWS
Published evekv Friday in Mathis. Texas
PUBLISHED BY THE GUTHRIE PUBLISHING CO.
$3.00 Per Year
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
JOHN HADEN -
MANAGING EDITOR
ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MASTER. J£N^1 ^ AcT op CONffiRESS ON
1945 AT THE POST OFFICE AT
Mathib. San Patricio County,
3 1379 public- any erroneous reflection upon the character.
JVaX'd™ ORr5™PT*?,o'?'o» ANT “U>M. »" .S“«I"S
appear in The Mathis News, will gladly be corrected it it is brought to
the attention of the publishers.
Ten Short
Years Ago
BESS_
Nov. 12, 1958
Hilmer Person, 19-year old farm-
er near Mathis and a member of
the Mafthis chapter of "’the Future
Farmers of America, will be among
the 25 Texans to receive the Amer-
ican Farmer award, highest FFA
honor, at the national convention
of the organization in Kansas City
next week.
Mi^ Jimmie Jo Edmondson, a
sophomore student at the Univer-
sity of Texas, has recently been
chosen a member of the Orange
Jackets, an honorary girl’s service
organization of the U. of T.
Bouquets of pink and white car-
nations in novel arrangements and
blue and white pompom chrysan-
themums decorated the home of
Mrs. Gerald Luther when Mrs.
Luther, Mrs. W. E. McDonald and
Mrs. Glenn Dorris entertained re-
cently honoring Mrs. Joe Dicker-
son.
Miss Ruthie Sutherland, bride-
elect of Billy Gene Key, was com-
plimented with a kitchen shower
given Monday afternoon at the
home of Mrs. Wayne Koepsel.
Hostesses were Mrs. Wayne Koep-
sel, Mrs. Wilson Williams, Mrs.
T. L> -Harville, Mrs. J. Will Curlee,
Mrs. Dumas Curlee and Mrs. Jesse
Williams.
Marilyn Ann Humble’s fourth
birthday anniversity was celebrat-
ed -with a party given by her mo-
ther, Mrs. W. C. Humble on Nov.
........
FROM THE
■■■■
Mathis
Merry Go
Round
BILL KENNEDY, editor of The
Woodsboro News,, visiting the Ma-
this press box Friday night......
ENGLER BROS, getting the new
post office building underway.
MRS. CLAUDE HUGHES selecting
Christmas cards... SKIPPER
SHARPE radiant upon her corona-
tion as the football sweetheart . . .
Mrs. M. B. COVINGTON leaving
for Maryland to welcome the new
grandson into the family . . . .
ELTSSAN’S DEPT. STORE’S en-
tire sales force taking the public
relations course last week . . .
STONE BROS, supplying the high
school drive education class with
a shiny new Ford .... DICK
HARBIN, BUBBA STONE home
for the weekend to see the foot-
ball game....CHRISTMAS TRIM-
MINGS beginning to appear in
Mathis stores — won’t be long I
FILES OF
THE MATHIS NEWS
2 at their home.
Guests were Bobby Bauch, Kay
Greenwood, Julie and Gerald
Braunstein, Ronny Baze, Denny
and Debby Parrish, Betty Lynn,
Sandy and Brodus Jr. Caffall, Bill
Adams, Dorothy Layne Latspeich,
Kathleen Stone, Donnie and Shar-
on McEachern, Jeanette Mallett,
James Cypert, ’ Tommy, Sara and
AUSTIN — It’d be hard to find
a Texan who hasn’t been involved
in a lively discussion recently as
to whether the next Legislature
should or should not pass a state
sales tax or income tax next year.
Most folks are pretty strongly
pro or con — no lukewarm feelings.
Property taxes are another mat-
ter. People may gripe about them,
but they don’t often get stirred
up about them.
But the latest report by the Tex-
as State Tax Study Commission,
“Our Property Taxes,” under-
scores the importance of this levy.
It is Texas’ biggest money-maker
for state and local government. In
1958 property taxes will bring in
an estimated $629,000,000 to the
state and all the various local tax-
ing units.
More interesting, the Tax Com-
mission’s study of assessment and
collection practices and problems
indicates that this figure is pro-
bably only a fraction of what is
legally due.
Shortage of personnel plus the
mountainous difficulties of locating
and evaluating all the items in-
volved add up to inequalities and
haphazard methods.
Under Texas law, individuals and
businesses are supposed to pay
property taxes on all real estate—
land and buildings. In addition,
both businesses and individuals are
liable for taxes on all “tangible
personal property” —cars, air-
planes, boats, furniture, jewelry,
business equipment, fixtures, inven-
tories, etc. Also, on all “intangible
personal property” —money, bonds,
stocks, mortgages, etc.
In practice, many of these are
just plain ignored by officials and
citizens alike. Many cities make
no effort to collect property taxes
on cars. As to money, the Com-
mission report observes, “If money
in the bank were taxed on January
1, relatively few persons or busi-
nesses would have any money on
deposit that day.”
In other areas where more vi-
gorous efforts at collection are
made, results are spotty. Research-
. TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION =
Allen Bishop, Betty Gayle, Mickly
Dale and Scotty Kimberlin and
Martha Lou Brooks, Shirley and
Judy Whitley. In addition to the
children 12 mothers attended the
party.
ers found that the same piece of
property would net widely vary-
ing tax bills in different counties.
On one example the range was
from $616 in Harris County to
$1,132 in Travis County.
They also found that some peo-
ple claim homestead exemptions
for more than one house. At
$3,000 each, these add up to un-
known thousands in untaxed value.
Exemptions plus low assess-
ments take a big bite from the-
oretically possible tax collection.
In a study of 3,037 house sales,
the Commission's research staff
found the legal tax due to be
$95,019. Actual taxes levied were
$2,706, only 3 per cent of what
strict application of the law would
have produced.
Even though many tax offices
are undermanned, Texas has 1,500
assessor-collectors. Sometimes a
county, city and school district
each will have an official doing
the same job in the same area.
Result: total cost of property tax
administration in Texas exceeds
$15,000,000 a year.
City Recommendations — Texas
League of Municipalities has a
series of recommendations — most-
ly in regard to money — for the
next Legislature.
Topping the list was an appeal
to the lawmakers to authorize
cities to raise money through some
new tax sources. League also ask-
ed for thorough study of inequi-
ties in the property tax laws and
revision where needed. It suggest-
ed that payment of property taxes
on motor vehicles be required be-
fore issuance of new license tags.
Cities also asked the Legislature
to step out of the field of regulating
pay, pensions, and hours of city
employes. Local citizens have to
pay the bill, said the League, and
ought to have the say-so.
Cost of High Living — It’s not
the income; it’s the outgo that
has put Texas treasury in the red,
says State Comptroller Robert S.
Calvert.
Calvert told Gov. Price Daniel’s
Executive Study Committee that
all tax sources except oil are ex-
pected to bring in some $74,646,044
more revenue in the 1960-61 bi-
ennium than for 1958-59.
But, he pointed out, inescapable
increase of needs in just one area—
public schools — will just about
absorb all this extra money.
Some Changes Made — Final
outcome (from unofficial returns)
of voting on proposed constitutional
amendments resulted in these
changes:
1. Appointees to vacated county
judge and justice of the peace
posts may serve only until the
next general election — not for the
remainder of a four-year term.
2. Precinct, county and district
office holders may not announce
for another office without resigning
the office they hold.
3. Cities may elect their officials
for four-year, instead of two-year
terms.
4. Former Texas Rangers or their
widows may receive pensions up
to $80 a month.
5. State funds may be spent to
advertise Texas outside the state.
6. Legislature may pass a law
providing medical care assistance
for people receiving old age pen-
sions, aid to the blind, disabled
or dependent children.
7. Legislature may authorize the
creation of new hospital districts
in Potter, Wichita and Jefferson
counties.
On the other hand, when Texans
put their foot on the proposal for
annual sessions and $7,500 annual
salaries for legislators, it meant
lawmakers would face next year’s
tough taxing session with only 120
tlip Shut=
ROBSTOWN — The Ladies Aux-
iliary of the Robstown Fire Dept,
is looking for used or discarded
toys which they can repair and
repaint to fill the Christmas stock-
ings of less fortunate children this
Christmas.
—The Robstown Record.
SINTON — A community blood
to get along on $25 a day for the
first 120 days and then their pay
stops except when special sessions
are called by the governor.
Also turned down was a proposal
to set up pension plans for elective
officials of counties and precincts.
More Leeway Asked — Law set-
ting up the Texas Water Develop-.Jaiy:
ment Board is proving to be some-
thing of a strait-jacket.
This opinion was expressed to
the Board by J. E. Sturrock of
the Texas Water Conservation As-
sociation. “You’re doing a good
job, but your law needs to be
liberalized,” said Sturrock.
Board is authorized to lend local
governments up to one-third the
cost of building a water conser-
vation project. Suggested changes:
lower interest rates to the bor-
rowers, provision for lending more
“pay” days. Lawmakers will have than one-third of cost.
typing campaign will be held
Sin ton Dec. 2. It is free and any-|
one from 14 .to 60 is eligible tol
take advantage of the service,}
sponsored by the Jaycees. A com-’
munity list will be compiled fror
the campaign of blood donors- ir
case of emergencies.
—San Patricio County News
GEORGE WEST — The VFW
of George West is having blue-j
prints drawn for their new build-j
ing. About five months ago the
post purchased 5.81 acres of lane
for $1,200, half of which was dc
nated by Mrs. Catherine Morganj
member of the VFW Ladies Auxil-i
-Live Oak County Herald
BEEVILLE — Bids are being
taken on the construction of thfj
new building for the First Nafi
Bank of Beeville. The' buildini
expected to cost about or ov§l
$100,000, not including furniture of
fixtures. Some features of the nev
building will be two drive-in win-]
dows, coffee lounge, carpetec
floors, luminous ceilings. Oaks anc
other shrubbery will be planted
a limited grass lawn.
—Beeville Bee Picayune
ROCKETS IN THE NEWS
Golf pro likes luggage space in '59 Olds
Oldsmobile’s conquest of "inner” space gives you more room where it counts! For the man who travels
on his job, Oldsmobile’s increase in trunk capacity—up to 64%—means valuable extra luggage
space. In addition, you'll find more passenger room in every Olds model for '59. Make a date to
sDace-test the new Rockets.;; at your local authorized Oldsmobile Quality Dealer's; today!
DICKINSON MOTOR COMPANY
AT THE “Y*
MATHIS, TEXAS
%
■m
Wi
m
%
it
✓
J
s m
mm
11
••
m
Icnrrai
• S*FE •
Ov Heat your home
ELECTRICALLY
Electric heaters are safe. Completely automatic, there’s no wasted heat. Flameless
electric heat is clean, too — no fumes to coat your walls, furniture and draperies.
See the variety of space-saving styles: Unit, radiant, glass panel and fan-type heaters in
models which may be installed on the wall, ceiling or baseboard, as well as reverse-
cycle window conditioners. And, for all-purpose use—see the many handy portables.
Visit your dealer now — Heat Better Electrically
# CENTRAL
POWER AND LIGHT
_ COMPANY
©
m-m
m®
if
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Haden, John. The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, November 14, 1958, newspaper, November 14, 1958; Mathis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1045528/m1/2/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Mathis Public Library.