The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-02-27
TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

amendments, repOTteu IhNoIhoiy
Joint resolution to be submitted M
amendments, as follows:
The legislature ir time Of peace,
shall not create debt exceeding half
million of dollars.
The legislature to regulate the rate
of interest, provided the rate does not
exceed twelve per cent.
/ District judges shall be elected by
the people every four years the next
legislature to re-district the state, and
courts to hold sessions at least twice
each year
The district court to be deprived of
/ its probate Jurisdiction, which Is con-
/ ferred on inferior courts to be desig-
mated by law.
The legislature to have control of
public roads.
The legislature to designate the
qualifications of jurors.
The following bills were introduced:
For the relief of certain railroads.
[This grants to all companies that have
constructed ten miles of road and that
have not already received aid, sixteen
sections of land per mile in making
proper application.
To abolish certain criminal courts.
This provides for the repeating of all
laws creating criminal district courts
in the state, except the district of
Houston and Galveston, and that cases
now on the docket shall be transferred
to district courts.
The adverse report of the committee
on bill to amend the penal code was
adopted,
The bill regulating public roads was
taken up. Unfavorable report of COM
mittee not adopted, Bill passed.
Mr.. Swift called up bill for the relief
of the scholastic census takers of 1871,
1872 and 1873, inclusive. Passed.
Mr.. Flanagan moved to take the bill
creating the county of Franklin from
portion of Titus. Amended so as to
require the ceded territory to pay its
portion of the present debt of Titus, if
required by the parent county. Passed.
Mr.. Russell introduced resolutions
calling on the governor for statement
of the total debt of the state; amount
of debt January Is, 1874; amount of
first bonds, when due, and to whom.
The resolutions were adopted, but
subsequently they were recOnsidered
and the resolutions were referred to
the finance committee.
Mr.. Ellis submitted a resolution call
ing on the governor for certain inform
alton in reference to bonds. Substi-
tute by Flanagan adopted. The whole
matter referred to finance committee
to report to morrow.
The senate adjourned.
House-Among the unfinished busi-
ness, the speaker announced In order,
THE INTERNATIONAL BILL,
which was discussed at length.
Mr. Epperson said In view of the
present excitement prevailing and the
Importance of the measure, and the
necessity of deliberation in its settle
ment, move that it be postponed to
Saturday.
Mr.. Rosborough-I am not in the
habit of speaking to this house. pre-
fer to sit in my seat and list0n TO 9TH
ers, but find it necessary to reply to
the gentleman from Marion, who has
made thrust at the thirteenth legis-
lature. There are members of that
body in both houses now. /, with
about twenty others, found that two
thirds vote would be had to pass the
obnoxious measure. The lands of the
state were passing rapidly into the
hands of railroads. We proposed q
bill which was submitted to the people
and ratified, and the state got out of
the clutches of the Texas Pacific. Let
the learned gentleman do as much
now. When future generations shall
examine these journals in connection
with the bill before us, they will pass
4 L.; .,.l, rt n
cursed" He discussed the power of
the legislature to tax for payment of
the bonds, taking strong grounds in the
negative.
Mr.. Smith, of Grmes--I hope the
motion will not prevail. This ques-
ton has been before the legislature
more than Il year, and before the
country, and has been discussed In all
its bearings. Now il the time to have
it decided, The time to adjourn is near,
and other matters are urgent.
Mr.. Storey had not thought 10
raise my voice against the hill, but the
discussion takes SO broad q range that
l find 1t necessary. He took ground
against the proposition that the legis-
lature had authority to grant a money
subsidy. He was, however, in favor
OF a pOstponement If the house could
arrive at settlement of the difference.
Mr.. Stephens made u speech defend
ing his portion of the state. AS re-
preventative of the frontier, in oppO-
sition to the measure, he had been
taunted with voting against the tax,
on the supposition that his county is
not taxed-being on the frOntier-aId
that the rest at the state is taxed to
protect it. If the state, in 1873, freed
us, of the frontier, from the tax amount
ing to net more than eighteen or twenty
thousand dollars, il was bccausc they
had concluded not to spend two or
three hundred thuu-HIlt! IN tar defense.
We had to defend ourselves, and can
do it again, If the people require it. If
il is more desirable, the people can do
nate their taxes Ia this corporation
rather than to tlie frontier. | oppose
further postpnnement.
Mr.. Haynes-l oppose postponement
upon the ground that j have no conf
dence In anything proposed by the
railroad party, and therefore move to
table the motion TO postpone.
Mr.. Kimball asked Mr.. Haynes to
withdraw his motion to table for q few
minutes. Granted.
Mr.. Kimball-Mr. Speaker, / only
rise TO set the character of Judge Fer
ris properly before the house of repre-
sentatives, as some may not know him
sufficiently. There has been rather a
free use of his name made IN the heat
of discussion. am neIghbor of Judge
Ferris, and have known him for thir-
teen years. His character, both as a
private citizen and public m All, stands
unimpeached. His unfiipching in-
tegrity, and his ability as lawyer, are
so well established that the gentleman
who made the attack, will have TO be
come little older and a little wiser
before he can detract much from his
name. | will be pardoned for stating
that his recommendations for seat
Oh the present supreme bench, were
such rs any lawyer in the state would
have been proud Of They were large
ly signed by both houses of the legis-
lature, and | believe by the entire bar
Of his section of the state. I have
no doubt that this had something TO
do With his selection by the governor
for the eminent position so satisfacto-
rily allied by him. though i am not
sure that this Is the one.
Mr., McLeary-I wish TO say have
no desire TO occupy the pdsition- OF