The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-02-18

portati0n Company Be tal-sn up. The bill
authorizes the company to build . narrow
gauge railway, and receive sixteen sections
Of land per mile for the same. Bill passed
Mr.. smith, OF Crimes, asked that Joint
resolution authorizing sale Of vacant lands
IN the Fisher and Miller colonies be called
up and referred Agreed to.
Special OEdeT-International railroad
compromise bill.
Mr. DaTis's substitute was pending. and
Mr.. Denman, in the name OF the gentle
man, asked TO withdraw il. The substi-
tute was Withdrawn.
Mr.. Hays presented amendment, for the
cou1pany 70 pay two per cent. on their gross
earnings, yearly, for thirty years, or until
the bonds are Cancelled.
Mr.. Epperson's motion to table was car
ried by Al 70 40 votes. i--7
Dir. stephens said he had studied this
question closely, and be had gu the time
been Strengthened more full ia the COMIC
ton that the charter granted the company
was unconstitutional Such questions are
reRared as unconstitutional BY courts of
many other States he admitted that our
! State Constitution was something different
from that of some Of those States, but he
regarded it as inhibiting the power Of the
government to grant money subsidies he
denied the power Of the Legislature to take
private property for else than public uses,
/ and he denied that a tax for the Interna-
tional Railroad was for strictly appblic use.
DC said that he could not afford to remain
quiet when heavy taxes were being imposed
upon the people. They are already oppres
sive, and insufficient to meet the demands
for carrying on the State government. He
4
Comptroller, and declared them uncon-
stitutional. There was one provision in the
charter which be wanted to call special az
tcntion to-that of limiting the bonded
! debt of the State TO So, 0OO, 600. 1t was q
kind of gag law which he did not like, and
which he bitterly denounced. BE touched
upon the fraud and corruption questions,
and said that the people would never sub
nit to the payment of the tax. he, him,
self, would oppose it, and he would do il
with all the ability that he could gather
around him.
| Mr.. Barziza said he rose to take posi-
ton against the international Railroad bill.
Il would surprise and probably estrange
many friends from him, but he had duty
to perform, and he should perform it.. BE
took the position, that in the passage OF
the bill at the last term of the Legislature,
referring TO the question in which the Inter,
national Railroad Company was concerned,
the original charter of the company was alb,
solutely repealed. He said that the con.
stitutionality of the bill, or any other ques
tons connected with it, were nothing il
argument, when that charter was, accord
Ting to the provisions of the bill passed last
year, placed at rest, as he regarded it, for
ever. His entire speech Of over a hall
hours duration was upon this position, an6
his effort was beyond all doubt an able one,
though it was based upon false position
Equity and justice arc all that had ever in,
tdnced HIM to take position in favor Of thu
company.
Mr. Brown, OF San Saba, spoke upon thu
question. Fs1 -,
1 speech on second page.
House adjourned until 10 A. N. to-day.