The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-05-11
THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SEVEN
1EENTH LEGIsLAIURE.

THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SEVEN
1EENTH LEGISLATURES.
The special session of the seventeenth
legislature adjourned on Friday-a lucky
Friday for the general mass, under an esti-
mate of the income from its labors and the
outgo from the treasury. That many of
the members worked vigorously let
it be conceded, but that as a
body they were equal to the
emergency of the call faithful chronicler
would stultify his record if he said so.
True, they were asked to do great deal,
but they closed by achieving but very
little to their own credit Or the states
veal. They were not novices in the legisla-
tive forum, nor in the needs of tie
country and the people. They were
therefore supposed to be less fertile
in errors of omission and commission, and
TO pass beyond the limited area ora narrow
Jurisprudence so as to conform their ac-
tons with the perfection of the spirit of
faithful legislation rather than to 20 astray
through loOpholes ofingenious device. Did
they justify the expectation? Alas, they com-
menced most ungraciously, and in peevish
moment rendered to the chief executive the
extreme discourtesy, not to say insult, OF
declining to read his message the map, the
programme under whose alignment they
were summoned to the tabernacle TO work
by. This was the act of the house, where
silly speeches of greater length were more
appreciated in the midst OF the other smoke
that emerged from enormous pipes, cigars
fore commenced bottom end up
and started to legislate on matters at the
heel ofthe message and of minor moment
rather than on the supreme question that
should have employed thci- irst and most
earnest at. ri.5n. They begun by discuss
ing what railway company should
charge TO- passaug fare when
thenIsaIn,s had their rockets lined
- 4 tickets 3r Trip passes,
for Nc a. lie great subject of re-
tcting the state ct Icyas They conse-
YIN entity egregiously bh.nIered in each
base. They degrajcd th. '.rutty of their
kbody by paipa5le preci4itau.y on a sub
iect.matter they we're coulessediy ignorant
about and passed an enactment without
hearing from the other side. They
annihiIated by one quick, rest
less. reckless sweep rights and
privileges the people had accorded so
gladly, and whose exercise had converted a !
wilderness into blossoming garden for |
them and their constituents. They glorIed |
i'm 4 contemplate triumph of chicanery |
over intricate interests they were
not capable enough to compre.
bend of themselves and not |
decent enough to have explained by others
before they injured them. The spirit of
iustice succumbed to the promptings of
sunnosed political capital. The discourtesy
10 the governor was the correlatiye to the
outraee ON the great institutions it was as
much their duty to protect and care for as
any others I'm the scope oftheir possibilities
Nor was il inconsistent with a body that
had pursued such a.retrograde course in
the cause of progress that they should
s,anehter.the cause of education. Despising
the benefits that come of increased citizen
chin and the means that induce the inn
,,i,,ation. Il Is indeed logical that they r.
tnsed 70 recognize the advantages of a mi
xarsitv which even the fathers In our
ro,,ghest DAYS had so fully provided Tor and
-. .,,,esI,nely urged. Hence IL was natura'
zoo ,bat tbev sbould have declined 10 pay
tbo bones. debts due long since 10 that
sn.,;,,,ion nv, the penrr, revenue account
-, !, ,I,o,, ms in dis.rsss INT now was
,,i.,l,or;c with a neash balance And
,l,s;r .vcuss was wholly on the imita We
linz ,-bs, tbov inpeniouslv oontended that
ar, ,.,r,,,o., scbools sbouid FIRST be cared
o. -, H., lrne,r mat The trouble Was
nj m The i1snfI,ciepev Of provisi,n. but
a.. ia.saovscv IN sdnin,s,ratio, and OIL
mi. ~, ,,,s,,,s hat copls have been rene.