The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-12
LAWS MADE FOR 81 A DAY.
IMPORTANT WORK DONE M THE LAST
LEGISLATURE or TEXAS.
Veto by the Governor TINT Leaves No Ap-
preparation for either the Public schools
or TO Pay the Interest on the Public Debt.

A Veto by the Governor TINT Leaves No Ap-
preparation for either the Public schools
or to Pay the Interest on the Public Debt
AUSTIN, Texas April 25.-Thc sixteenth
Legislature adjourned sine die yesterday. nftor
laborious session Of eighty yseven working
days Nearly one-half Of this time they have
received under the now Constitution, only %
a day. A sense OF duty impclled them. how
ever. to continue their labors. even at n loss
and it is no doubt mortifylng to many to realize
that their work was still left unfinished when
they adjourned. The magnitude of tho task
before them may bo appreciated when II Is
known that n revision OF all laws passed since
the Independent existence OF Texas. besides
tho enactment Of others dcclaratory Of the
Constitution had to bo considered. In addition
TO this, many spccal measures claimed undi-
vded attention from representatives OF differ
cnt sections. thus bcgetting confusion III cal
cuated to produce beneflccnt effects. Despite
these drawbacks the universal verdict is COM
plimentary TO the wisdom and sobriety Of both
Houses.
The most important measures receiving tho
approval OF tho Governor have been the set
ting aside of $3.50 900 acres Of public domain
for the purpose OF building new state Capitol;
repeating the act granting pensions TO veterans
OF the war Of independence; the bell punch act;
act authorizing counties and cities TO scale and
fund their indebtedness an amendment to the
Constitution, to be voted upon by the people at
the next election. requiring payment OF poll tax
as n condition precedent to exercising the right
tor privileged of suffrage; act requiring
| the Governor to countersign land certificates
| This act was passed during an intense excite
ment over the decision Of Judge Woods. In the
Circuit Court Of the United States. enioning
the Commissioner OF the General Land ONCE
from issuing patents to land claimed by one
Mercer. said land lying in about ten Of the rich
est counties of the State. This decision ls re-
garded here ns q usurpatlp2n 3i auihorl,y 10y
| school for the training OF negro teachers pro-
viding for the issuance OF five per cents 10 re-
| tire outstanding bonds; tax bill. levying
| among other duties one per cent. tax on gross
| earnings OF all railroads doing business In the
| State and ono cent on every full rate and nVe
| mills on every half rate message sent from any
| telegraph Office in tho State organizing force
! for the suppression OF lawessncss and crime.
| and a general appropriation bill.
| Compromise was evident in every clause OF
| the Appropriation bill. All sections were IN
! favor Of cutting down expenses IN the state de-
| partments. but the airugge over the appropria-
tion Of $3.50 0o0 .or frontier projection was long
| were finally set aside for this purpose. all sides
agreeing that the general Government shopld
| reimburse the expenditures OF Texas In this
| behalf On the item appropriating all Qccupa-
| tion and poll taxes. and one-iourth oil the gen
eral revenue Tor ne malnten1ianGe ten nee, Oh ifse
| Speaker OF the House and President OF the
| Senate were called upon to cast the deciding
| vote on several occasions. Texas IL the poorest
State per capita In the Union. and this appro-
| pration Is greater. proportionally. than that
| made by any other State Government, IL was
| finally carried. however. and the Governor
| promptly vetoed this item. as well as another
| setting aside 100000 for payment OF interest
| on bonds and 800 900 AZ a sinking fund, This
| is the first time the privilege granted by the
| Constitution OF vetoing any part OF
| bill has been exercised, and II created
| some surprise and not little Indignation. The
| veto message is quite long, but almost conciu-
| sive. The Governor says that the subtraction
| OF 1900 900 from the tl 900. 900 received from
| all sources will create a large deficiency; that
| education By the State and payment OF interest.
though ..stae and doairatlg. are euhordi-
| nate TO efficient government, which can only be
| maintained by payment in full OF those en-
| ploycd to enforce tho laws An attempt TO
pass the items over the Governors veto
failed, and the two houses adjourned, leav-
ing the public schools with no appropria-
tion and the Treasurer with no authority TO
retain money for tho purpose OF paying
interest on the public debt. II is rumored that
an extra session will be called in June when II
is thought the Legislature will reduce the ap-
| pr0pration 10 public schools sufficiently "a
meet the views OF the Executive.
Fears OF a general failure Of crops have been
| dissipated by an Unprecedented rainfall the
first Of any consequence for six months, all over
the State. Four and a half inches iell in three
days in the western part OF the state and the
streams are higher than formany years. Wheat
| and oats are nearly ruined. but good corn and
| cotton crOu will be made.