davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
THE wEAvER-sPARKs ROW AND
GEO. w. JONES sIDE-sH0W.

The late disgraceful row in the
House of Representatives is well de-
scribed by q correspondent of the
Charleston Necs and Courier. The
climax is thus described:
His confidence (Weayer's) became
q swagger upon successive adyanta-
ges and his tone grew moro sarcas-
tic, bullying and exasperating Al
every step. One of those who had
interrupted him was Mr.. Sparks, OF
Illinois. Mr.. Sparks is an irascible
old man and invariably loses his
temper whenever he gets IN earnest.
He wasyery much in earnest. to-day
and thus his good temper was con-
spicuously absent. Having thought
a little over some remark he had
made. he again interrupted Weaver
by way Of apology. Heunderstood,
he said, that the gentleman from
Iowa had mistaken the application
of what he (Sparks) had said, but il
was not intended as personal 10 him.
ArsWesver heard him through, then
said that he had not misunderstood
Mr.. Sparks. and had no idesfhaf he
meant 10 insult him. This was well
enough bmt SIr. Weaver went on TO
saw that had Mr.. Sparks used. snch
language to him and were he within
the reach of hiss arm, either within
the bar of the House OF out. he
would have certainly chastised him.
His braggadocio and the covert
sneer at the apology" rendered wac
all that could have been needed 10
have fired anybody -sB
Mr.. Sparks was boiling over in a
flash. lie seemed 10 rise 10 more
than his usual height as he retortsd.
with searching sarcasm, -Your arm
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

JUDGE HUGHES. i'll the matter of
appointing receiver for the Pied
mont & Arlington Life Insurance
Company, took occasion to say:
~ think that the mere fact of the
life insurance company is pI5md tdcie
proof that its operations have been
conducted IN a fraudulent manner,
and if the failure is not explained by
some casualty, such as widespread
pestilence or sudden financial con-
vulsion or physical calamity, | think
it is per Sc proof of fraud. Twill not
pretend to say that it creates pre-
sumption of moral turpitude III the
managers of the company but it GER
tainly does of constructive fraud,
that is to say, of that tinRncial i'm
becility of recklessness or eXtrava-
gance of or that gross negligence,
which is equivalent in its conse-
quences to fraud, and which the
court is bound to regard as construc-
tive fraud. Would the court be JUS
titled in allowing trustee appoint
ed by such a company in the verv
deed in which it admitted its insol-
vency, to remain in custody of the
effects and to administer"
This question Of Judge Hughes, is
not applicable alone olife insurance
companies, for many depositor
and creditor has been basely
wronged, whore courts have not in
terfered and spoiled the schemes of
bold class of robbers.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

The cotton fair to be held at At
lanta, Georgia, in September next is
securing attention not only in the
Southern states but in England. A
large fund is being collected, and
the exhibition will be not only of
raw cottons but of fabrics mado of
cotton, and OF machinery used in
handling and manufacturing cotton.
There is to be an annex specially de-
voted to English contributions, in
which the British may display the
particular goods in which they excel.
If the exposition shall be successful
it will be repeated at New York the
following year, and, perhaps, become
O permanent institution. 1t is an in
dication of that awakening TO ma
terial enterprise now observable in
some of the Southern states, par
ticularly Georgia and South CARROLL
ma, which is an omen of more
thrifty and prosperous era in that
section. Senator Brown is Mt the
head of the enterprise.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
ELECTION NOTICE.

Whereas, the Commissioners Court of Travis
county, Texas, at meeting held on the 4th day
wit: The petition Of James V. Bergen, j. s.
Littlepage and twenty others, to this court, ask.
ing the court to order an election to be held In
S SSesG Siasn the p following % %s e. s
Hes to-wit: - fah - as
Beginning at the mouth Of Onion creek;
thence up said creek TO the Intersection OF VII,
hanson creek; thence mp Williamson creek 10
the crossing Of the Austin and San Antonio
road; thence with said road to the bridge across
Colorado river, atAustini thence down the Col
point of beginning. And which election fs by
said petitioners asked to be ordered for the pur.
pose OF enabling tho freeholders Of said sub
hogs shall bs permitted to run at large in said
sub division In said county, came on TO be heard
and considered, and said petition being signed
of Travis county, and being IN due form, and II
being thereupon ordered that election be held
on Saturday, the 18th day. Of January, 1881
throughout the said sub division OF Travis
holders OF said sub division of said county &c
determine whether hogs shall be permitted I,
to be held and conducted and returns thereo
made In accordance with the law regulating
general elections 80 far as said laws are appH
cable.
Now, It is therefor ordered by the undersigned
uthority, that an election be held at HergOtz'
store, in the subdivision of Travis county afore
said, to determine whether hogs shall be per
mitted to run at large In the territory above dc
scribed by the freeholderss OF Travis county
living therein, and ]. 3. Littlepage, William
Shapard and Tin johnson are appointed mana
gers Of said election at the time and places
mentioned IN said order.
In witness whereof have hereunto Sc
my hand and seal Of the County Cour
H.. s. Of Travis county, Texas, on this, tn
10th day Of Decemher, A. d. 1880.
3. T. FULMORE,
County Judge Travis County, Texas.
delA SaDt -eIt.lt-s-. -sf.lrl.f
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
TRAVIS ,oUsrY EIHAHces

County Judge Fillmore Las an
in this issue Of the
SfAIEsMAS, proposing to sell $780,
900 Of per cent. $50 Travis county
bonie. Tie object in offering these
bonds to investors, is 10 raise funds
to take in $4,000 of the 0per cent.
$50 bonds, issued in 1875 for build
ing court house, Jail and jailer's resi-
dence. Last July these bonds had
been in existence five years, and the
right to call in having thus been Sc
cured, and the county being in
funds to do SO, $4,000 of the
bonds were taken up, and an annual
interest account of -s2leo was thus
cancelled. This. left outstanding
@Te9, 600 of these 10aper cent. bonds,
upon, which the annual inter-
est . account is $4,000. The
taking in of 100000, and the
substitutiOIlA therefor of 100000
9 per cent. bonds will at once reduce
the annual interest account $500.
The per cents, as stated, are to be
$50 bonds, and before the five years
are out the $50, 900 remaining Oper
cent. bonds will have been called in
and thence forward there will be a
gradual reduction of the debt to the
extent of at least $4,000 each year
The reduction could be more, but
the people of Travis county have
been paying q very heavy tax COM
pared with other counties in Texas,
andltis the policy ofthe present coun-
ty administration to reduce taxation
25 per cent, and this will be possi-
BILE in shert while. But some one
may doubt, aRd say all this may be
so, if the per cent. bonds should
be sold. The 6 percent. bonds will
be sold at handsome premium.
There are no better securities known
than Travis county bonds, and O
million dollars worth of them could
be placed at par. A Travis county
bond is even better than a United
States bond, and if per cent. gov
crnment bonds are worth 10 pei
cent. premium, per cent. Travis
county bond ought to be worth
more. We have not a doubt bu;
there will be propositions sent in
aggregating ten times the amount OF
the bonds offered for sale, and that
the bidding will be at good figures
1t is thought that in one year
outside of the taking in of $4,000
of the 10 cent. bonds, $4,000 more
Of them will be called in with sur
plus money in the county treasury
This would leave, in 1882, only
$4,000 of the 10 per cent bonds
outstanding. What county or coun
try can show a cleaner .financisl
record than Travis county?
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
THE LAND COMMISSIONER MAKES
A VALUABLE REPORT.


Commissioner Walsh's report has
just passed through the hands
of the printer. Its modest length,
compared with the voluminous doc
uments that usually emanate from
heads of departments, shows that
brevity may be applied to what il
lustrates q vast deal of work. We
have time just now to make only a
few extrats. Mr.. Walsh makes this
recommendation:
Some legislation is needed which
will make the county surveyor moi
directly responsible to the state for
his official acts than is possible un-
der the present law, If deemed i'm
polite, or too late 70 make radical
change In The existing system, pro-
vision might be made for the ap-
pointment or employment by the
State of q competent and practical
surveyor or surveyors, who, in cases
of emergency or dispute in any sec
ton of the state, could be- sent i'm
mediately to such point to represent
the state. Several questions are
now pending before this department
which could be more economically
settled by this method, than to wait
for wears until private necessities
and judgments Of the courts have
forced a solution Of the difficulties
At an enormous expense and harass.
in0 Iitigation to the people. A no.
table instance is given by E Paso
and perhaps other counties east
of n. on the line of the Texas
g. Pacific Reserve. These land;
were sectionized by the surveyors
of the company, aud II Is charged
bv the surveyor of FL Paso county
that by making each section on the
oronnd. from so 10 100 yaras IN ex-
cess of the legitimate cali, the re-
ssrve has been widened between
fonr and five miles This charge is
~ soIne extent sustained BY the
work returned TO this Office, but Is
strsnuously denied by the surveyor
NJ the company. In consequence
| chiefly. of this undetermined ques.
ton I have suspended the issuance
81 nafeuts in this section and re-
fnsed TO approve the valuation OF
/ the school lands Of Fl Paso county
This checks the revenues Of the
state from patent fees, and with
6oIds the school lands from market
Ts,is dispute, and others Of similar
/ imnortance IN the Pan Handle cal
Tor some representative of the State
free from al influence Of parties Al
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

interest, AMI not preiudiced for or
against the railroad company.
Again he says:
The State, now, has on the market,
219,903 acres of university land,
407, 7,6l5 acres of asylum lands, and
nearly 100000 acres Of school,
lands. The sale of these lands un-
der the present system Of deferred
payments and interest, 10 assuming
such proportions as to call for a
prompt remodeling Of tho present
plan, and q consolidation of the
entire business into one bureau.
This, Of necessity, must be connect
ed with this Office, as hero alone can
access be had to the maps, archives
and records, but its chief should be
an independent bonded officer, who
should make his settlements directly
with the Treasury, and leave to the
Land Office proper the business of
mapping spatenting, etc The pres
ent system is cumbersome and inn
poses more work on the Treasury
and Land Office each, than, under an
amended plan, would devolye upon
the proposed bureau.
In defence against vile system,
he says:
Experience in the investigation
of forgeries has exposed some
defects in our system of convey
ancing, and the Authorization OF
instruments, which render easy, il
they do not invite, land frauds. AT
present no witnesses are required to
decd, if acknowledged before some
officer. The signature and seal of a
notary public, although outside the
state. and entirely unknown, is re-
spected without further evidence.
The certificate of authorization is
permitted by law to be written on
printed blanks, and pasted, or 9TH
erwise attached to the instrument
No provision is made for the in
spection of notaries' records and
seals. No mode is provided
by law for preserving the sig
natures of grantors or witnesses, and
| consequently, when deed has been
recorded, and the original lost or de-
stroyed, the signatures can not be
impeached. The requirement OF
law that each outgoing notary shall
turn over the records of his Office to
his successor, seems to be ignored
or misunderstood. The remedies
would seem to be to require two
witnesses, and thus increase the
chances of detecting forgeries. The
official acts of authenticating Off.
GERS in another state, should be veri-
fed by the Secretary of such state
under his official seal, and authenti.
eating officers, within-the state
should be required to file with the
Secretary Of State their official sig.
nature and the impress OF their
seals" f
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

the trial of the Trsversers. The At
Iorney General, Mr.. Low, resumed
his address to the jury, speaking for
one hour. He said the principles
taught by the members of the Land
League had been called American
principles, hut thry might be more
properly described as Red Republi-
cans or Nihilism. He expressed the
hope that when this new gospel was
abandoned those whom il was now
his duty 10 pros. cute, would turn
their talents 10 better account for
Ireland's sake. He concluded with
forcible peroration, for which he
said he hoped the jury would be
true 10 their cousciences and
return their verdict satisfactory
TO the country. The disorder.
he said, must be put down, no mat
ter at what cost. As he resumed
his seat there was no manifestation
fany kind. The government short
hand reporter was then placed - q
witness 10 read his notes made at
the public meetings attended BY
Traverses. This occupied the rest
of the afternoon. The court granted
counsel for Traversers that copies of
the extracts be supplied TO him. Tho
court further requested Mr.. Low 20
supply whatever defense required,
and said the Crown should render
defence every possible facility. Mr..
MacDonough contended that speech
es delivered by two of the Travcr-
sers since the information was had
should not be read. The court de-
cided against him, iakinga note Of
objections. The court then ad-
iourned until Monday.
LONDON, December Sf.-A dis
patch from st. Petersburg to the
Globe says, the district governor of
Orenburg has resigned, because the
central authorities refused 20 pro-
vide the sum of 500,U00 roubles to
relieve the distress ofthe Kirquiseas.
and other inhabitants of the prov
ince who, because of successive bad
cattle years, are starving to death
by hundreds. All ministers were
again present at the cabinet council
| to-day.
ATHENS, December Sl.-The
Chamber of Deputies to-day passed
TO its first reading bill for the loan
of Sl2, 100000 The Drachmes Bud
get committee has unanimc sly
passed resolution in favor OF
the prompt proposition for carry
ing out the decision of the Berlin
conference. The mayor of Athens
has telegraphed TO the Lord Mayor
of London that the magnificent and
complete statute OF Minerva Ficto-
rious, of the master piece of Phi 3as,
has just been discovered.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
ANOTHER CHANCE.
$1,000 ACRES
CapitOl Lands for Sale

The Board, having rcJeeted ail'bids odered
December 10th, 1850, for the purchase OF above
lands, considering said hids In the selection oi
sss;ain Leagues a P.ssdislsI I e tSs pSsle do
I'll IL n, Febriary 1sp 1851, for TIE pur-
chase Of dfty thousSnd scfess of the land 10,
served, located and surveyed FOR the purpose h
payi lag fer the construction OF new public build
ings fer tie state Of Texas under an act of the
Legislature. approved February Mth. 1879.
These lands comprise three millions and flfty
thousand acres OF me farming and grazing
lands, eituated n the following counties Da..
lam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Farmer
Castro, Bailey, Lamb, Cochran and Hockey, thE
section known as the panhandle OF Texas, and
have been selected and surveyed under the di.
rection Of Coz, N L. Norton, 0omnissioner ol
the state, into league tracts. hapsand piats o.
SAID surveys can be seen At the General Land
Oflice in Austin.
These ATTY thousand scrcs are offered for sale tc
pay the expenses Of the location and survey
speeiry the bcendsriss 81 ihs my thou
aud ecres upon which they IBID, which
must be selected nom the whole In one coutin
uous compact body ~ near - possible, and a q
prieo OF not less than aity esots per aero 4
walsh, commissioscs tGsnersi Land osies,
Austin, Texas. and cndorsed .sbids Cor purchase
Of Afty thousand acres OF Capitol landi;" must
be accompanied With the written guarantee OF Al
least two responsible parties that IN case tbs
bidder Il awarded tAs aaad Ct hs Nd, be will
price bid within twenty days AFTER the Gwlrd By
the Capitol Land Board. 'f-ifA
The board reserves the risht 70 reject any and
all bids, and 70 make the award 70 that biddel
selecting lands, the sale. Of which may b
deemed no't advantageous g o. tes e 'ss,s Ws,sa
conmsssioner General Land onies aud secre-
tary OF Board. -deciS tilfebl
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

vour arm, ] should have no more
fear OF that thar | had of the Green
back party at the election. / ad-
dressed myself 10 q man who ap-
pears 10 be lacking in the instincts
Of g gentleman"
The confusion became so great
that the last words of Mr.. Sparks
could not be heard, except by those
in the immediate vicinity. Mr..
Weaver commenced to say that his
fighting weight was ono hundred
and eighty pounds. He thought
Mr.. Sparks was excited and had
better sit down. Sparks was Eow
boiling over with rage, and finished
by repeating that Mr. Weaver was
no gentlema1. To prove that he
(Weaver) was gentleman, Weaver
retorted that Sparks was liar.
The House from disorderly mob
became hushed in q moment, In the
midst OF which Sparks, shaking his
fist at Weaver, roared out: "You
are both a liar and Q seoundrel."
The shock of so unwonted an un-
parliamentary encounter brought
both floor and galleries to their feet
in an instant. A roar of voices,
amid which were cat-calls, cries of
order, laughter, Kisses and yells sue
ceeded. Weaver's face flushed a
bright red. Then the receding
blood left his face paler than before.
He Immediately stepped into the
aisle and walked rapidly toward
Mr.. Sparks desk, where the latter
squared himself for physical re-
sistance. 1t was q thrilling moment.
just as Weaver reached his waiting
antagonist and, as he let fly his
right arm as if to grasp rather than
strike his antagonist, several men,
bers precipiated themselves upon
him from behind. Then Sparks
made an effort to get over his desk
and at Weaver. when he too, was
seized. By this time the whole
House was a bowling mob. The
scene that ensued beggars descrip-
tion. Yells of "Let 'em fight" "Put
'em out" "Give him one for luck"
and choice epithets such as the at
tentIve listener may pick up at Sun
| day beer garden row were freely
banded about. Several members
rushed in to aid rather than prevent
a fight. Conspicuous among these
was the lank form of Jones, of
Texas, who had been prompting
Weaver most of the time. He ran
down, pulling off his coat as he
came, and struck at Sparks over the
heads of half a dozen intervening
members. His arm appeared to be
ten feet long as lie did so, but it
wouldn't reach. Jones was grabbed
and borne back, and the combatants
were separated. In the meantime
the reporters, pages and clerks had
been driven from their places. The
3Assoeiated Press reporter had gath
cred up his sheets and fed, while his
table was knocked over in the
| mcleen
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
THE FARM EVIL.

The Di1ie Farmer calls attention
to most fruitful source of failure
in the cultivation of Southern plan
tations and farms. Over-croping or
planting more acres than can be
properly prepared and cultivated,
is a great evil in the South, and evil
dcnces of it are to be met with in
every community in Texas. The
true cause of all this untidiness
about farms is, that farmers lay
out more work than they can per-
form in the field, and hence, in an
effort to catch up, their fences and
houses and stock are neglected, aud
superficial cultivation results in
poor crops, and less money and less
contentment and enjoyment Of the
home than where work Is
measured out exactly by the
ability of the farmer to per-
form it. Says the Farmer: The
great fundamental maxim of all true
agriculture, that production must
be in proportion TO tillage, is either
not known or forgotten upon such
farms, and in it's stead is adopted
the maxim that production is in
proportion to the quantity Of sur
face to which the rude and unshape-
ly counterfeit of tillage is given.
To obtain as much as possible from
the number Of acres q man can cult
vate thoroughly, and to attempt to
cultivate no more than can be made
to yield the maximum of profitable
production, should be the main OBJ
jeet ofevery farmers labor and skill y
Until farmers become satisfied to
cultivate smaller surface and bring
to bear OH all the varied operations
and processes of that cultivation
more practical science and expert
mental knowledge, the best means
of preparation, the best arrange
ments to guard against the vicissi-
tudes of the weather, the attainment
of the greatest quantity and best
quality of acreable productions, can
never be reached. A large crop oi
thorough cultivation is invariably
the most advantageous. 1t demon,
strates the skill and industry of ths
farmer, and the extent to which ag'
ricultural development can be car.
ried, beneficial to the farmer who
exhibits it in dollars and cents, and
beneficial in example to all who see
it. The beginning of another yeal
is at hand, and the farmer begins tC
lay out his work for the year. Le'
him carefully consider the danger
of over cropping and at the end o.
another season be richer and hap
tier than before.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06
NOTICE.
" CTR MAssHALs OEFIcE

AUsTrS, Texas, December 81, 1883. I
Whenever any ei,lsSa has been robbed oi
any article OF altiels:. II they WIN notify the
undersigned, either In person or by lettei
through the postofics, giving written descrip.
ton of thefr properly lesk that Il may 6e
identified, the attention Of the police fotee will
be at once called to IL, and they VIII be In.
structed TO use their best endssyors for its recla
nation and the arrest OF, the, thief-
Any annoyancea, saeh Is the lurh3Bg about
private premises Of tIampa or other suspicious
any improper or unseem1y Conduct II reported
at this ONCE will meet with prompt attention
and steps VIII be at once nken for their sup
preston. rtf BIN, THOMPSON,
Janl =. t-st.t 81 ~ City Marshal
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

a commercial traveller by the
name of N. L. McClave was arrested
Wednesday at San Antonio, on the
charge of soliciting trade without
having paid license. This is the
first arrest ever made in that county
under the law ttaxing commercial
,ratsiers. i { III ~
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

The NJ. *. & I. company have
made a. eontEaet with one. foundry
for twenty thousand tons of steel
rails, and have $25,0O0,000 waiting
q, be expended IN the extention of
their road Texas viii Eobbie up 4
big pile Of that money.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-06

A safe and -ure mean, o. reSf0fsn.. IT,
youthful eoior oi the hair IL fslruiEEsG liy
ParkeT's Hair Baisam, hieb l. drsersec~
y popular from u. superior cleanliness
EHINESTDs. = q. ALEX .0kEKSE,
Macon, Ga. WHITES: u have tested the
virtues Of COldsn,s 1ieblg's Liq1ld Ex-
frzet Of Beef ln debility. Weabness. de-
preston, dyspepsia, loss Of appetite and
nervous aiiiefions, and have. found Z the
best reEnedy l ever used. - Sold y J. ".
Grsham.