The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-07-20
CAPITOL CULLINGS.
Current Notes About the state
Departments Yesterday.

From Saturdays Daily.l
Up to date the comptroller has refun-
ded $2684. Is of the 5000 appropriated
dealers who have had their licence re.
voked by reason of local option laws.
The executive committee of the uni.
versity regents is expected to meet in
this city to-day, at which time
the bids for building the university are
to be opened. 1t is not known yet
whether any more than the three bids
entered heretofore will be in, but in any
event the contract will be awarded, it is
said.
The adjutant general reports every
thing quiet on the frontier. 1t is report
ed that Indian signs have been discover
ed on the border between New Mexico
and Texas, but as yet the savages have
not been found. General King fears the
war made upon the red men in New
Mexico may have the effect to drive them
into Texas, in which event they may
cause trouble.
The capitol board was considering the
sewerage question again yesterday. The
legislature appropriated $45, 900 for the
erection of system of sewerage from
the asylums to the river, but the board
finds some difficulty in securing the right
of way upon lines originally intended,
and new routes will be adopted. En-
gineer McFall was engaged IN examining
the proposed lines yesterday.
Up to date there have been three hun
dred and twenty-five drummer's licenses
issued from the comptroller's office
under the new law, which being in
gil, 275. If the estimate of the comp
troller as to the amount which will be
received from this source prove correct
1t will demonstrate, to use a common
commercial term, that "quick sale and
small profits" is a safe principle by which
to be guided.
The following correspondence ha:
taken place between the land commits
sioner and attorney general:
Hon. j. II. McLeary, Attorney General:
Sir-The act of July 8, 1879, for the
sale of the school lands of the state, pre-
scribed that the lands in each county
should be appraised by the surveyor, who
should receive one dollar per section fol
such appraisal, provided the compensa
ton should not exceed fifty dollars fol
any one county. The amended act OF
April 6, 1881, repeats the above direc
tions to surveyors and provides that com
pensation shall not exceed 800 per coun.
ty. Under this act you and 1, as direct
ed by law, issued instructions to survey,
ors, dated April IA, 1881, and in the first
paragraph thereof repeated the provision
of the law. On the 18th of May, 1881,
sent a circular to surveyors as..follows
"Where lands have been appraised
under former laws, new appraisement
is not necessary except for lands located
since the former report and to describe
such sections as contain or front upon
water" Disregarding this last circular,
some surveyors made entirely new re-
ports, embracing all the lands in the
county belonging to the school fund.
When these reports were found, upon
examination, to be identical with those
already received, approved and paid for,
returned them and declined to certify
the surveyors accounts to the treasurer
for payment. When changes in the
valuations were reported, or new surveys
were added, approved the accounts for
so many surveys as were changed OF
added. Exceptions have been taken to
this ruling, by surveyors interested, and
respectfully ask your official opinion
on the question.
Respectfully, W. c. WALSH,
Commissioner.