The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-04-07
uHAr rnR LEaIsIAruRR HAs DONE.

At twelve o'clock on the first instant, tne
legislature adjourned sino die, after sessi' n
lasting from the 18th of January last I'M u
mersbe bills weFs introduced in the Two
houses. the bulk of which fortunately dh
either IN committee OF on their ROUNDS from
ono house TO the other though some DIS
that failed of passage ought to bsve peeoh =
laws. But we DO not propose now 10 con-
slider of the legislatures octs Of omisslor'
meaning TO briefly consider some "fits pre- m
inent AID important work, From Honorable
Mr.. Woods, representative from kaufman
county, who WAS in the city yesterday, we
obtained the caption and an outline OF tne
most i'm oortsnt measures passed by Inc leg
islature. What is known as the common sense
Indictment bill, introduced by Senator DO
man. became a law. 1t simplihes the forms OF
indictments stripping them of their YER
biaoe and decentralization aud requiring that
thew be couched only in plain ordinary Ian
onape that even the most uniformed can
comprehend and understand. 1t does away
with the technicali.ies that have heretofore
80 beclouded indictments and so hedged In
criminal plesdings, conforming the criminal
pleadings ia our state in great measure to
those obtainsble in Alabama. This bill was
violently assaulted by numerous lawyers in
and out of the legislature, presumably be-
cause the technicslites of .he law we're such
valuable aids 10 advocates in their defense OF
. their clients. A bill entitled the orphan bill
the conception OF Mr.. Finlay, of Galveston
also became law. This bill empowers and
authorizes Incorporated. towns and cities to
levy a special tax for the establishment OF
ornhan homes, for the little waits that
may be in their midst, and Tor
their reclamation from the streets
and cutters and the temptations and vices
that surround them. that they may be educa-
ted and trained Alright to become useful and
honorable men and women when they grow
up. This is law that must commend itself
to the right thinking people in every commu-
nifty, and win their approval lard endorse
ment Senator Buchanan, of Wood, intro
duced bill to prevent the pleadisg OF IN
sanity caused by drunkenness from bsing an
excuse and palliative for crime. Senator
Buchanan, of Wood, also submitted bill
for the establishment of a state university,
which became Law. This bill leaves the
location of the university TO vote OF the
people, and appropriates 100000 out OF the
university fund for carrying the provisions
of the bill into execution, the construction OF
suitable .buildipga, etc. 1t has been the
policy of Texas even from the earliest days oil
the republic to have splendid university
and for its endowment and support largo
quantity of land was set apart, which has in
part been marketed from time 10 time, until
now the university fund is quite a respecta-
bic one, and the legislature just adjourned
has taken the initial steps toward the exc
cution of this policy. The governor, in ac'
cordance with the provisions of the bill, has
already appointed the university regents, and
after the people by vote have selected Its site,
we may expect 10 short time to see the
buildings going up, and the state university
inaugurated, contamination that must be
pleasing to the heart of every Texan An
other bill authorizing and empowering the
county commissioners of each county TO
which an unorganized county is attached for
judicial purposes, TO make such county, or
any portion of it, an election preci9ct, also
became law. This was in reality, but 80
amendment to the election law, bat il was n
wise provision for the people in the spsrsely
settled counties that have not population suf-
fcieut for organization. They are citizens of
the state, pay taxes ind are justly entitled to
a voice in all elections, and this amendment
TO the 81 clion law gives Them the opportuni-
~ 10 express their will at the ballot box.
The creation Of the thirty-third, thirty
fourth and thirty.ilfth judicial districts with
provisions FOR the appointment Of a judge
and prose cutting attorney for each one was
another bin of special importance 70 the un-
croanizsd counties, for these districts en-
brace them all and give them The facilities
for having sessions Of court, and for the
maintenance Of the civil Law. The school
law wa, also amended, Increasing The scho-
lAsiic sgs from eight 70 sixteen, 50 IS to
conform 10 the United States law on The
subject which enables each state TO draw IL
pro rata OF school funds from the sale Of
Che public lands devoted 10 thai puposo.
One-fourth Of The general revenue was also
appropriated for the support Of The
public schools. The bsll-punch law was re-
psalsd, having beea found 10 be = failure and
farce, A0dtbe old system Of license return
cd %. Thsslicsnss FOR re.sl liquor dealers
Is fixed At $500 f1r The siAia. counties and IN
corporAted towns and cilies being authorized
e.ch. 70 levy one hall Of The same or $500
for the two, making the total tax $500 which
mus Al be paid IN advance The tax la~
also reduced the sdvalorsm TAX 70 forty cents
on DE one hundred dollsn instssi Of hfty
csnss As heretofore. Appropriation were
made 10 The extent Of s0aIs 5000 for ths
rearrangsmsni and enlargement Of he tiino
49, l. -