The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-03
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE


At twelve o'clock on the first instant, the
legislature adjourned sine dio, after session
lasting from the 1lth Of January last. lDnu-
merebe bills wers Introduced 10 tho two
houses, the bulk If which fortunately died
either IN committee OF ON their rounds from
ono house TO the other though some bills
that failed OF passage ought to have become
laws. But we do not propose now 10 con-
slider of the legisla ure's acts of omission,
meaning to briefly consider soma Of its prom
inent a. important work. From Honorable
Mr.. Woods, representative from Kaufman
county, who was in the city yesterday, We
obtained tho csption and an outline of the
most important measures passed by tho leg
islature. What is known as the common sense
Indictment bill, introduced by Senator Ho-
man, became a law. 1t simpliies tho forms Of
indictments, stripping them Of their YER
biage and circumocu,ion and requiring that
they DO couched only In plain ordinary Ian
gusge that even the most uniformed can
comprehend and understand. It does away
with the technicslilies that have heretofore
90 beclouded indictments and so hedged In
criminal pleadings, conforming the criminal
plcadings 10 our state In . great measure TO
those obtsinsble in Alabama This bill was
violently assailed by numerous lawyers in
and out Of the legislature, presumably be-
cause the technicsliues of :he law were such
valuable aids 10 advocates in their defense of
their clients. A bill entitled the orphan bill
the conception Of Mr.. Finlsy, of Galveston
also became law. This bill empowers and
authorizes incorporated. towns and cities to
levy special tax for tho establishment of
orphan homes, for the little waits that
may be In their midst, and for
their reclamation from the streets
and cutters and the temptations and vices
that surround them. that they may be educa-
tod and trained Alright to become useful and
honorable men and women when they grow
up. This Is \ law that must commend itself
tothe right thinking people in every commu-
n'ty. and win their approval land endorse
mont Senator Buchanan, of Wood intro
diced bill to prevent the pleading OF in.
sanity caused by drunkenness from being an
stcu,e and u palliative for crime. S,na,or
Buchanan, of Wood, also submitted bill
Tor the establishment ola state university,
which became law. This bill leaves the
location of the university to vote Of the
people, and appropriates 100000 ont OF tho
university fund for carrying tho provisions
Of ths bill into execution, tho construction of
suitable buildings, etc. 1t has boon the
policy of Texas even from the earlies, d,ys Of
the rerubllc to have a splendid university
and for its endowment and support a large
quantity Of land was set apart, which has in |
part been marketed from timo 20 time, until |
now the university fund is quito respects
bic one, and tho legislature just adjourned
has taken tho initial steps toward tho exc.
eution of this policy. The governor, in &C.
sordancs with the provisions Of the bill, has
already appointed the university regents, aud
after the people by vote have selected its site,
We may expect in short time TO SOC the
buildings going up, and tho state university
contamination that mus, be
pleasing to the heart Of every Texan. An.
other bill authorizing and empowering the
county commissioner. Of each county to
which an unorgsnized county i; attached for
judicial purposes, to make such county. or
any portion of it, an electioa preci'ct, also
became law. This WAS In reality, but An
amendment. to tho election law, but il WAS a
vito provision for the people in the spsrssly
settled counties that have not population sui.
Acieut for organization. They arc citizens OF
the state, pay taIe, and arc justly entitled to
. voice in all elections, and this amendment.
to the oil ction law gives them tho opportuni.
~ TO express their will q. the ballot box
The creation of tho thirty-third, thirty
fourth and thirty. fifth Judicial districts with
provisions for the appointment Of Judge
and prose cutting attorney for each one. WAS
smother bill of special importance 20 the un-
organized counties. for these districts en-.
brace them all and give them the facilities
for having sessions Of court, and for the
maintenance Of tho civil law. The scho1l
law wal also amended, increasing tho scho- =
lsslicsg, from eight TO sixteen, so as TO
conform 70 ,ha Uni,ea States law on the
subject, which enables each state to draw IL
pro rata Of school funds from tho sale of
tho public lands devoted TO ,ha. puposo.
Onc'fourth Of tho general revenue was. also
appropriated for the support Of the
public schools. The boll.punch law was 70.
pealcd, having boes found 10 be failure and
q farce, and the old system Of license ro!urn-
ed TO. The.licsn,e for retail liquor dealers I
10 Hxsd at $500 for the state. counties and In.
eorporased towns and cities being authorized
each, to levy ono halt Of tho came or $500 |
for the two, making the total tax 5000 which
must all bs paid IN advance. The tax IA.
also reduced the advAlorem tax 10 forty ccnu
on Tho one hundred dollars instead Of Atty
cents ~ heretofore. Appropriation, were
made to the extent Of some $4,000 for the
rsarrangcment and enlargement, Of tho Hind
ss,iuu, and NJ aomo 800 600 far ths co,- |