The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-08-03

emn protest against the manner in which
this Uill progressed in the Senate. An
effort was made by the friends of the bill
TO suspend the rules and take il up out OF
its order, but the necessary twO-thirds vote
not being obtained, the effort failed. The
friends OF the bill, having failed in direct
manner 10 place the bill for consideration
before the Senate, were permitted BY bare
majority, and on one vote, ~ postpone all
bills on their second reading, OF which there
were one hundred and thirteen, bills on their
third reading being thus reached by this
character Of parliamentary tactics; six bills
were passed with great rapidity under the
operation Of the previous question, thereby
cutting of all amendments and discussion;
three Of these were not read except by cap
ton; eight bills on their third reading were
postDoned. and thus at 5 O'Clock in the
evening, after remaining in session all day,
this bill for the relief of railroads was
reached and called by its number 303. On
the following morning the Presidenf OF the
Senate decided that the one hundred and
thirteen bills on their second reading were
still postponed until bills on their third
HEeadiDg had been disposed Of Two Of
these were then taken up and, without he
ing read q third time otherwise than by
their caption, as required by the CDrstitu-
zion, were declared passed. This bill for
the relief Of railroads, No. 303 was then
taken up and, without being read third
time, rs required by the Constitution, was
declared passed, and this und er the oper-
ktion of the previous question.
A Senator at this stage of the proceed
ing rose In his place and announced that
the bill, not having been real on three sew
l,.ya 81 -
Gle 3, of the Constitution, aud the reading
not having been dispensed with by fou--
tifths vote, as permitted by the same pro-
VISION of the Constitution, it was lost
eTbe President of the Senate declared this
point not well taken, and the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of its legitimate
business. After several bills had been dis
posed Of, aud while the S nate had under
consideration House bill M. 377, and an
amendment TO the same was under discus
sion, Senator rose TO question of privi-
lege and proceeded to move to amend the
journals Of yesterday SO as to snow that
Senate bill No. 303 was read the third time
This the Senate refused to do by almost an
unanimous vote, one vote being in the
affirmative. A motion was then made to
reconsider the vote on Senate bill No 303,
which, again under the operation of the
previous question, was carried. The follow
ing point Of order was made by a Senate or
and promptly overruled by the President Of
the Senate: THAT the Senate was consider
ing House bill No. 377, and without any
motion OF vote to postpone that bill, the
Senator from Denton was allowed as a priv
Ileged question to introduce his motion to
correct the journals, and that being voted
down, u Senator was permitted by the Chair
to move to reconsider the vote passing Sen
ate bill No. 303, and all this without vote
postpOning said House bill No. 377 and
that the consideration of this bill No. 1903
was and Is out of order"
The President of the Senate declared the
point OF order not well taken, and the bill,
after being read, was passed by less than
twO-thirds of a full Senate.
We think it WAS the duty of the Presi-
dent Of the Senate, without any point of
order being raised by u, to have declared
this proceeding out of order until the Sen
ate, by vote for that purpose, saw proper
to have laid aside the House bill No. 377,
under consideration, and against his neg
lect aud failure To do 30 we enter our pro-
test.
Senate bill No. 303, can act for the re-
by n majority vote.
We iInpugn the motives of no one, but
against the reckless manner in which all
other business was swept aside by small
majority, and especially against the rulings
of the President of the Senate on the sew
ersl points OF order made we also respect
fully enter our solemn protest.
BURTON THOMPSON,
MCLEARY, sToREY
NCCULLOCH, TERRELL,
MCCORMICK, STEPHENS
The undersigned favors granting relief to
any railroadl company which has gone to
work in apparent good faith, and asks for
that relief upon its own merits. He an
nounced his intention not to support any
bill granting relief to all railroads, and thus
reviving charters about which he knows
nothing.
He expressly denies any hostility to the
Texas Pacific Railroad Company, aud re-
specially joins in protesting against the
manner in which the bill granting relief to
all railroad corporations, by extending
their time for one month, was passed
through the Senate. He impugns the
motives OF no actor in said proceedings.
FORD.