The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-14
THE DEPARTMENTS.
Things Seen and Heard Around the
Offices.

lCSIlohc VI LdAeS VIII De very Small DN
the time the new comptroller takes
charge of the department.
The comptroller yesterday approved
the bonds of forty-nine tax collectors
Approval was withheld on two be.
cause the collectors had failed tC
settle.
The Little River Cooperative asso.
citation. Patrons of Husbandry, filed a
charter yesterday with the secreta-
ry of state. The capital stock is
$4,000.
Yesterday, in the general land of.
flee, Maddox Bros. & Anderson, Gun
ther and Munson, and the Matadors
Cattle Company filed the field notes OF
half a million acres of land.
Col. Spaight is engaged in condens-
ing the last twenty-five pages of his
book, SO as to make it fit the binding
Which was purchased some time ago.
lie says the printers are waiting to
finish the work as soon as he is ready.
The principal business in the de-
partmentS now is routine work and
preparation of reports. Tax collectors
are daily making final settlements and
new bonds are being filed and APP
proved.
| The Denver fire insurance company
OF Colorado, whose disastrous failure
was announcedin yesterdays STATES
MAN, applied for admission into this
state last summer and was politely
refused by the commissioner.
The original issue of six per cent
bonds, amounting to $1,647, 600, are
! nj hnlnnninor 70 .l,
| the state, and are locked up in the
treasury vault. These bonds do not
| fall due, nor can they be redeemed be-
fore the year 1906.
Gov. Lubbock has notified the board
of education that, according to their
instructions, he has purchased $780,
OOO worth OF six per cent state bonds
for the benefit OF the school fund. The
premium on said bonds amounted to
S2OO,OOO, expenses OF purchase, tele-
graphing, commission, ETC., 1914 .6U.
Total, SIU0,644.60. The accrued inter
est on the bonds to date OF purchase
was $8316.66.
In the secretary of states office yes
terday charters were filed by the fol-
lowing corporations; The Women's
benevolent association of San An
tonio-oDject, to furnish place of re-
fuge for fallen women, and do general
work of DenevOlence; directors: Mrs.
Fanny OStrom, Mary A. Maverick
and Fanny T.. ID. MechIing. The
Erath cattle company, OF Llpan, Hoou
county, to do general rancn business;
capital stock SzUO,OOO, in shares Oh
SlUO each; the lncorpOrators are
Addison Putnam, jr., George Ii.
Beadle, and Addison Putnam, sr.
The adjutant general is preparing
his next annual report. In it he refers
to his former report regarding the
state militia. lie recommends re-
organization of the troops so as to
have a new enrolment every two
years also to coniine active militia
and volunteer guards to definite
number OF companies and regiments.
He recommends that at least one en-
campment be had yearly of part OF
the militia troops While in camp to
be subjected to strict discipline,
and FULLY drilled in exer-
cises of the various duties
of soldier, both in camp and field.
Colonies and captains OF regiments
are to be required to make careful in
spectlOnS OF their commands quarter
ly, and that all officers, general, field
and company, he required to report to
the adjutant general the results OF
these duties as well as all others prop
erly connected with their military
service. He further recommends a
modification OF the present law so
that military companies cannot be
called out except by the governor, and
when so done To provide the means to
pay for these services, reducing pres
ent rates, however, in so doing. He
suggests an appropriation sufficient to
pay the expenses OF, these encamp-
lnents, for rent of armories, and expen-
Ses of inspector general or such officer
as may be detailed when attending to
the duties of inspector. He recon-
mends the continuance Of the from
tier battalion for the coming
two years, with some modi-
fication in the present organiza-
ton, and some changes in the law
under which they are organized; these
notifications looking to increase of
efficiency OF said forces.
The following ruling has been deliv-
cred by the comptroller:
1t has been the uniform ruling of
this department that when the as
sessment roll of a county has been
once affirmed by the commissioners
court, and signed and delivered to
the assessor, that the jurisdiction OF
that body ceases as to changing val
ues of property. This final action is
in the nature of a judgment or decree
of court and is not subject to revision
by the same court nor any other court.
Section 3 of the act of March 22,
1879, does not conflict with the ruling,
as that section is applicable to what
may be regarded as erring in calcutta
ton, description and matters Of like
character. When the question OF
values has been determined by
one court having jurisdiction, said
courts have exercised the sound
discretion allowed 10y law to be
exercised, and the discretion OF
another court should not be permitted
to set aside the DEGREES OF the first
court on the same subject matter.
This is the distinction between the
power given in section 3 to correct
errors and the negation of power fixed
10y article Ais.
Were the rule adopted to alter
values by new boards of equal. ltion,
it seems such action would he to over
throw action taken Ivy the sound dis
erection of one board only to substitute
that of another board, and conflicts
and controversies would arise to un-
settle all assessments, While not in
terfering with the action of the board
of equalization as to the jurisdiction
over county taxes and assessments
relating thereto, would say that the
jurisdiction of the board as to chang
ing values so as to affect state taxes
cannot be recognized at this depart
ment.
During the past few days the COM
missioner of insurance, statistics, and
history has received letters from Mr..
Oscar &. Murray, general passenger
and freight agent, under instructions
of Mr.. John Sealey, general manager
of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe
railway, and from Col. George Jordan.
vice president and general manager OF
the Houston and Texas Central rail
way, signifying the wish of these two
companies to take 5000 copies each
of the commissioners book, entitled
- Resources, Soil and Climate OF
Texas" for distribution in the interest
of immigration.
He has also received the following
letter from Messrs. Taylor, Babcock Il
Co., the capitol syndicLte:
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 4, 1882.
'NIr. A. W. Spaight, Commissioner Of Insur
ance, Statistics and History:
Dear Sir:-Having examined the
advance sheets of your work descrip-