The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-29

act 10 incorporate tne MeTcnantS MUTUAL
Insurance Company" approved September
1s, 1866, approved May 8, 1873.
House Bill No. GIL, can act to incOrpo-
rate tine Mechanics Real Estate and Savings
Association of Dallas" approved May 10,
1878.
House Bill No. 25G, AN act to incorpo-
rate the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Cal
vert, in Calvert, Robertson county, Texas"
approved May ~, 1878.
House Bill No. 52j, IAN act to incorpo.
rate the Hebrew Benevolent Association of
Waco" approved May Il, 1873.
House Bill No COZ, an act to amend an
act passed at the present session of the Leg
islature. entitled an act to amend an act
entitled IAN act Incorporating the Calves
ton Artillery Company" approved January
80, 1941, approved May 70, 1873.
The following bills not having been re-
turned by me to the House in which they
originated, within the time prescribed by
the Constitution, have become laws with
out my approval, to-wit:
House Bill No. %, can act to create and
provide for the organization of the county
of Gregg, manned in honor of the late Gen
eral John Gregg, " passed April 12 1873.
House Bill No. 152, San act to author
ize the County Court of Hays county to
levy and collect a special tax for the pur-
pose of building jail at the county seat"
passed April a. 1873.
Senate Bill No. 272, IAN act for the re-
lief of Stephen F. ATinton, requiring the
Commissioner of the General Land Office to
issue certain land ssccrtifcatcstgto him."
passed April II, 1873.
House Bill No. 2S7, IAN act to author
ize and empower the County Court of
Bosque county to levy and collect special
tax for the purpose of buildinga courthouse
and Jail, and to validate az tax already
levied" passed April IS, 1878.
House Bill No 552, can act to incorpo-
rate the Bridgeport Bridge Company in
Wise county, Texas, passed April Is, 1873.
Senate Bill No. 20S, San act to appoint
queathed to the State of Texas for certain
purposes by Oscar L. Holmes, and to carry
into effect said bequest," passed April "a,
1878.
House Bill No. $50, "An act TO author
ize Thomas NJ. Cain and W. J. Agee to con-
struct a toll bridge across Sabine river"
passed April "a, 1878.
Senate Bill No. $40, "An act making an
appropriation to pay the contingent expen-
ses of the Thirteenth Legislature of the
State of Texas, '-passed April %, 1878.
House Bill No. 420, can act for the re-
lief of the heirs of William Garnett, de-
ceased" passed April 2G, 1878.
House Bill No. 254, 'An act TO authorize
the County Court of Upshur county to issue
interest bearing bonds to finish paying for
the building of the courthouse of said
county, and to levy and collect a tax to
pay the same" passed April 90 1873.
House Bill No. 800, IAN act to author
ize and require the Commissioner of the
General Land Office to issue certain land
certificates therein named" passed April
26, 1878,
House Bill No. $40, IAN act to authorize
James P. Dumas, and such other persons as
he may associate with him, and their sue
cessors, to construct over and keep a toll
bridge on, over and across ChOctaw Bayou,
in Grayson county, Texas" passed April
2G, 1873
Senate Bill No. II, IAN act to incorpo-
rate company to be styled the Palestine
Fire Company" passed April 20, 1873.
House Bill No. BAT, IAN act to incorpo-
rate the Leon River Bridge Company"
passed April 90, 1878.
House Bill No. Ali, AN act to create
the county of Waller" passed April 2S,
1878.
Senate Bill No. 2GS, 'sAn act to author
ize the County Court of Lamar county to
contract for the building of courthouse
and jail in said county, and to issue and
sell the bonds of the county for that pur-
pose" passed April %, 1878.
Senate Bill No. 212, San act making
new appOrtionment of the Representative
and Senatorial Districts of the State of
Texas, passed April "a, 1878.
Kousc Bill No. 602, IAN act to release
certain taxes to the residents of the coun-
ties of Montague, Wise, Parker, Hood,
Erath, Hamilton, Lampasas, Burnet, Blanco,
Kendall, Bandera, Medina. Frio, Nc1Iul-
len, Duval, Starr and all the counties
lying west and southwest of the same, "
passed April 30, 1878.
House Bill No. 81, an act supplemental
to "An act to incorporate the Western Mar
row Gauge Railway Company" approved
August J, 1870, and an act supplemental
thereto, approved October ID, 1871, passed
May ?, 1873.
House Bill, No. -, IAN act to incorpO-
rate the city of Corsicana, in Navarro
county, Texas" passed May ., 1873.
House Bill No. 594, ''An act to incor-
poratc the st. Louis and Mexican Gulf
Railroad Company, and to grant land to aid
in the construction thereof" passed May 3,
1873.
1t will he perceived that many of the
foregoing acts, which have become laws
without my signature, and by force of the
Constitution, provide for the levy of local
and special taxes. Many similar acts have
been passed and become laws at this scS-
sion, more than at any, or perhaps at all,
previous sessions of the Legislature to-
gether. In my annual message / called
your attention to the large sum in the way
of taxes cXacted by the county authorities
during the last fiscal year-mOrc than the
total for the support of the State govern
ment in all its branches, and the public
schools-which has disappeared without
adequate result to the public to show there
for. These special taxes seem to me only
a emulation of the same evil, no provision
Of law having been adopted which is likely
to secure a due expenditure of the sums to
be collected Hereunder
Again, among the acts which have thus
become laws without my signature, are
many for special bridge or ferry privileges.
or to forbid the sale of spirituous or intoXi-
eating liquors within q certain distance of
some school house or village, or giving some
claimant land certificate.
These special ferry or bridge privileges
seem real mOnopOlies with a prohibition
against every other enterprise of this sort
within distance of from one to eight or
ten miles. They seem contrary to the letter
and spirit of the Constitution, but the State
is being rapidly overlaid with them at every
crossing of creek or river. The acts for
bidding sale Of liquor are spotting the whole
face of the State. They vary greatly as to
limits, and it will soon be difficult forpcople
to know without mourning the expense of
the employment of a civil engineer, whether
they are within or without tabooed circle.
Each individual case among these classes
of Legislation is perhaps of too trifiing i'm
portance for special objection of the EXecu-
tive. 1t is only in the aggregate that they
become seriously hurtful to the public.
have thought it possible that in the
deluge of private and special legislation, es-
pecially at this session affecting the Houses,
the number and bearing of these acts has
been overlooked. Respectfully,
EDMUND J. DAVIS, Governor.