The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-07-27
Two DAYS IN THE SENATE.


TWO DAYS I'm THE SENATE.
It is not often that public journalist is
called on TO discharge a more disagreeable
duty than that which, we feel, devolves
onsus by reason of the proceedings of the
Senate on yesterday and the day before on
the bill for an extension of time to the Texas
and Pacific Railway Company. The bill is
entitled can act for the relief of railroad
and other internal improvement compa-
nies;" but everyone knows that it means
no more aud no less than relief to the Texas
and Pacific. We had hoped that the day
was past, never to return, when majority
would. be found in either house of the Texas
Legislature ready tn do the bidding of
railway corporation in disregard of the
great interests of the State. We have been
in the habit of denouncing the corruption
of the Twelfth Legislature, and lately it
has been fashionable to expatiste upon the
reforms that would follow the asoendencY
of the Democratic party In the State. Es-
pecially has it been our boast that since the
adoption OF the present Constitution, and
the fair representation of the agricultural
interest in the State Legislature, would the
great corporations that have been SO long
in the habit of seeing their wishes put
into the form of laws by subservient leg
islators, be required to be on their good
behavior. But the scenes of the past
two days in the Senate show very
clearly that one railway company at
least has abated none of the loftiness of
its pretensions to have Its will obeyed, and
that a majority of the Senate has been
found as obsequious as the gay and festive
gentlemen who made the Twelfth Legisla-
ture so famous In our annals. A philoso-
pher. especially IL he had charitable eye
for human infirmity, might find some ex-
cuse for the recklessness and the excuses
of the Twelfth Legislature. Nor are we
disposed to judge too sternly the conduct
Of memters of Legislative body who, in
the excitement Of contest, suffer them
selves to forget the restrictions which, for
wise and beneficial purposes, they have inn
posed on themselves, and pursue an object
with incorporate zeal. 1t is to be re.
marked, however, that it is only when the
interests and wishes of some great and
wealthy corporation are involved that the
modern legislator is moved to any display
of ardor and enthusiasm.
From the presiding officer of deliber-
alive body the public, whom he represents,
have right to expect fair treatment. He
il the guardian of the public interests and
the public honor. He is solemnly charged
with the duty to observe and enforce the
rules of the body over which he presides,
and he ought to be the last man to consent
to their Infringement or violation; nor will
the public hold gmltless the presiding
officer who forgets the dignity of
his position, his duty to the people, and his
own self-respect, in his zeal to promote pri.
va.e and particular interests. 1t will be
long before those who witnessed the pro-
ccedings in the Senate on Monday and
Tuesday of this week will forget the ap-
parent satisfaction with which Lieutenant
Governor Hubbard abused the powers OF
his Office to promote the purposes of the
Texas and Pacific Railway Company. He
seemed to enjoy the opportunity to pros
trate the honorable body over which he
presides at the feet Of this corporation,
while railway lobbyists and their lackeys
looked on with faces wreathed with smiles.
It was melancholy spectacle, and 1t need.
no power of prophesy to predict that the
day IL not fsr distant when this gentleman,
who has been so highly honored by the
people, will be Of opinion that their conf
dence and their appreciation is worth NOR,
than the interested Communications Of rail
road Lobbyists, or anything else that they o.
their masters can bestow. gaia
On Monday there were several specia
orderA which had precedence Of the rail
road bill TO which We have alluded. These
special orders were all postponed by ma
jority vote. TWAS admitted by the Pfesi
deat Of the Senate that a two-thirds yot,
was necessary to suspend the rules in ordel
70 take up the railroad bill. Amotion was
made 70 suspend the rules to take up thi.
bin, and the motion failed for want OF the
two-thirds vote. The special orders having
been postponed, the President announced
that the Senate would proceed to the con.
alteration Of bills on their third reading.
The railroad bill was on its third reading.
Senator Smith. Of Grimes, made the point
Of order that bills on their second reading
took precedence Of bills on their third
reading, Senator Smith read the rule oi
the Senate In support Of his point of order.
The President was obliged to admit that
the rule Of The Senate was as Senator Smith
claimed Il TO be, but said that different
practice had grown up. Senator Smith in
sisted upon sn enforcement of the rule,
and the President said that the Senate
would proceed 20 the consideration Of bills
On their second reading. There were mors
than ah1adred bills on their second reading
all Of which had precedence of the railroat
bin. SEEING that in the regular order o
business. the railroad bin could not probs
big be reached during the week, Senator
Hobby came boldly to the front aud moved
20 postpone the consideration Of all bills o.
sheir second reading. The point Of ordc
was made by Senators Smith, Storey ans
others that this would be to chsnge th
regular order Of business, and required
tNo-thifds vote. The rules Of the Senat
were read: "order Of business shall no