The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-09-23
THIRTEENTH DAY.
AUsrN srntemb,.r % IS


AUSTIN, September 90, 1875.
Convention called Ia order at Q O'Clock
A. N.
Prayer by Rev. T. B. Lee
eDn motion of Mr.. MILL, Mr.. Cline and
Mr Morris were excused for the uay.
VDn motion of Mr.. Chambers, Mr. McKin-
neyl was excused on &C count of illness.
hr. Henry of Smith, submitted report,
THAI the Legislature shall consist of SEN
ATE and House of Representatives to be
sty led 1.-THE Legislature of the State of
1eHkas;" the Senate to consist of thirty
members, and the House of Representatives
MIN ETY. members. until the next app0rtion-
melht, when, or at any superintendent there
aitelr, both hosses may be increased by the
Leg lislature, the Senate not to exceed thirty
threfe members, and the House of Repre-
sent atives one hundred members; that the
Sen Rtors shall be chosen for four years, and
that after the first election under each APP
port lionment, be divided by lot, into two
class ses. The seats of the Senators of the
first class shall be vacated at the expiration
of the first two years, SO that one-half of
the Senators shall be chosen bi-ennially
thel eater; the length of term of the mem
bers shall be two years from the time of
their election; the Legislature shall
NEE every two years at such time Us
may be provided by law, and
at Other times when convened by the Gov
ernetr. The first session under the new
Constitution to convene on the . day of
=. 1876. No person shall be Senator I'M
less he is a citizen ofthe United States, and
at The time of his election qualified elector
of this State, and shall have been a resi-
dent of the State for five years next proceed
ing his election, and the last year thereof
sl'aent of ,he district for which he shall
be Chosen, and shall have attained the age
OF uhlrty years; no person to be Repre-.
SEM l1tive unless be is citizen of the Uni
ted states, and at the time of his election a
quatiied elector of this State, and shall
hav oeen resident of this State two years
preceding his election, and the last year
the4eof resident of the district for which
he dhall be chosen, and shall have attained
the iage OF twenty-one years; each house to
Judge OF the qualifications and election of
ats own members, but contested elections
shall be determined in such manner as shall
be provided by law. The Senate shall
eledt one of its own members, at the be-
ginning and close of each ses-
sion, who shall be President pro tempore
and who shall perform the duties of Lieu
tenant-Governor In any case of absence or
disabihty-of that officer, and whenever the
|
vacant. The House of Representatives
shall, when it first assemblies, organize tenn
porarily, and proceed to the election of a
| Speaker from its own members. Each
house shall choose its other officers; two
| thirds of each house shall constitute a
quorum; each house to have its own rules,
and, with the consent of two-thirds, may
| expel member, but not second time for
the same offence; each house shall keep a
| journal of its proceedings and publish the
same, and the yeas and nayes of the mem
bers of either house, on any question, shall,
at the desire of any three members pres
ent, be entered on the journal. When va.
cancies occur in either house the Governor
shall order an election to fill said vacancies
and should he fail to do so within thirty
days after it occurs, the returning officer of
the district in which the vacancy occurred
shall be authorized to order the election
| Senators and Representatives privileged
from arrest, except in cases of treason, fell
ony or breach of the peace. Neither house
shall, without the sonsent of the other, ad-
| journ for more than three days.
CHE Euenang Meas was furnished the pro-
ceedings to publish on yesterday evening,
but failed, as usual, to publish all of them,
and left out the report of the Committee
ON Legislative Department, male by Mr.
Henry, entirely; and as the proprietor of
that paper has some one always on hand
to carry off the journals as fast as they are
made to the Office, there was no chance for
this reporter to make a statement of the
above report, except through their courtesy
Ia thing they do not, or did not, possess
furnishing us the above portion only, and
refusing to allow US the use of the remain
der IN ,..r'a.l ID tv
Mr.. Cook of Gonzales, for Printing Com
mittee, reported that they had contracted
with j. ID. Logan s. Co. of the E'cening
Meas for the daily. journals, and that the
proprietors of said paper are to furnish each
delegate, daily, with copies of the same,
each paper costing two cents and a half per
copy, or eleven dollars and twenty five
GEMS per day. Report adopted.
| Mr.. Russell of Wood gave notice that he
| would submit a majority report from Com
mittee on Legislative Department.
Mr. Mccormick, for the Committee on
Penitentary, submitted report that the
convicts have not been property fed,
clothed and lodged; that they have been,
in many instances, subjected to cruel and
/ shocking punishments; the food was often
insufficient; that since the report of the
commission sent to Investigate the peniten-
tiary, by the Governor, matters had some
|
in the present State of convicts, scattered
about everywhere on railroads and planta-
| tions, they can be secured proper treatment
Several sections had been prepared by the
committee, looking to proper discipline and
proper treatment. They recommend house
of correction for all under eighteen years of
/ age. They are opposed to the creation of
the two new penitentiaries. CThe report is
quite lengthy, and the committee appear to
have labored assiduously to arrive at correct
information and just conclusions.)
Mr.. Mills offered resolution that as the
Convention had reduced their own pay
three-eights of the amount paid 70 members
of the Legislature, that lit is the sense OF
this Convention that all State officers un-
der the new Constitution shall be subject to
a like reduction The resolution was re-
ferred to the Committee on State Affairs.
The Eceaiag Nees says: ssMr Mills
/ moved to adopt the report. ~ That gentle
man SAYS this is incorrect; even If he bad,
moved the adoption of the resolution" he
knew better than to call it 3 'report," as
the Nears has it.
Mr.. Robertson presented q resolution,
that the Commissioner the Land Office
be requested to furnish the President Of the
Convention, tabular statement of the num-
Der of acres OF land, the titles to which are
on file in szid Office, issued BY the King OF
Spain, the VIce-Royal Of Mexico, the Re
public of Mexico, the State Of Tsmaulipas,
and State of CoahuIls aud Texas, previous
to the second day Of March, 1888.
On motion of Mr.. Flemming the Conyen-
ton adjourned.
FOURTEENTH DAY.
Il AUSTIN, September 21, 1885,
Convention met ct the usual hour. Pay
er by Rev. W. II. d. Darlington.
Mr.. West reported favorably the ordi-