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be diverted from in the future. Several of the cities of Texas
have adopted the referendum, or direct legislation in municipal
affairs, and Fort Worth will do well to follow their example.

Salaries.
There should be some equitable arrangement of the salaries
of the officials and employes of Fort Worth. It is a known fact
that some of the subordinate employes receive salaries that are
too small to permit them to enjoy more than the bare necessities
of life, and while this matter has been up before the City Council
before, I sincerely trust that in the coming budget a more equit-
able adjustment of salaries can be made. The responsibilities
and duties of officials increases year by year, and the cost of
living has largely increased in the last few years; and if this
continues and no increase be made in the salaries of the subordi-
nate employes, it will work a hardship upon the efficiency of
the administration of affairs in this city.

Taxation.
Fort Worth's real estate has borne the brunt of taxation for
many years, and at present the valuations for taxable purposes
have about reached the limit. That there is a large quantity
of personal property in Fort Worth that escapes taxation there
can be no doubt. If a table of the insured values of personal
property in the city could be obtained I feel sure that it would
show several millions of property that has not been reached by
taxation. Whether this can be remedied or not is a question,
but under the law, personal property, if possible, should be made
to bear its pro rata of the burdens of municipal government.
I do not believe any radical steps should be taken in this line,
but the board of equalization should endeavor to get as far as
possible a fair valuation upon the personal property in Fort Worth.

The outlook for the future.
Fort Worth is growing more rapidly than ever before in its