The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-15

legislature thirty days eafore the coh-
vening of the next Legislators.
Pending consideration of the amend
ment, Speaker Gibson calling Mr.
Cochran to the chair, took the flor
and introduced a substitute for the
bill and the amendments.
The substitute provides for appoint
ment by the governor of state engi-
neer, to hold Office two years at sal
airy of $1,000 per annum, who is to
have for secretary a competent
draughtsman at a salary of $500. The
Office to be at Austin. 1t prescribes
their oaths as to non-interest in rail-
roads, and defines their duties. The
bill prescribes at length against dis
examinations and eXtortions by rail-
roads. fixing penalties for any viola
ton of the provisions of the bill. 1t
simply provides further that maxi
mum rates shall be uniform and just
without attempting their classified
ton in the bill; and with the eXcep-
ton that it provides for a state engi-
neer instead of a commissioner to in
spect the railroads, is in its general
features similar to house bill No. 225,
with the classification struck out and
amended.
Speaker Gibson spoke in support of
his substitute. He said members on
the floor who had served with him in
previous legislatures would testify
that he had labored earnestly two
sessions to get though the legislature
some measure that would answer the
demands of the people on this subject.
He had noticed that on two former
occasions similar bills voted for day
after day with no other result than
defeat, and representatives had to re-
turn home without doing anything.N
So he offered his substitute at this
time as "a compromise lest the pending
bill be defeated after it would be too
late to offer his substitute, and the re-
suit would Ice that no measure of re-
lief would be adopted at this session.
He did this becSuse he doubted if the
majority would support the bill which
had been under consideration and be-
cause he was anxious to have some
action taken in this matter, which
was of the highest Importance.
Mr.. Gibson concluded by saying he
was not welded to his peculiar views
as expressed in the provisions of his
bill; and after reviewing its features
and complimenting the members of
the committee for their disinterested
and earnest efforts in framing the bill
which they had printed, he express
ed the desire that the house would
not vote upon his substitute until IL
could be presented so the members
could determine whether it was cal
culated to give satisfaction better
than that of the committee.
MIR EnStar Of imnafnna 0OOfQnd.
ed that it would be impracticable to
print, and that the order to do so
would only tend to delay. Consider
ing the author of the substitute, he
could not allege that it was intended
to defeat the object of effecting some
legislation on the subject, but such
he feared would be the result. He
made an excited reference TO
the lobby as impeding the
work Of the committee
"by ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain" He did not approve
the action of the house to-day, for
which the members would be answer
able to their constituents. His inn
passioned illusions naturally caused
some sensation in the lobby. rs we'll
as in the house.
Mr.. Mckinney replied warmly, vim
dicating the committee. who. he said,
were not responsible to the gentleman
from Limestone.
AS Speaker Gibson s.substitute viii
appear in the journal of the house
this morning, Mr.. Hill Withdrew his
substitute.
a communication was read from
Gov. Ireland, calling the attention of
the house to the fact that the appro-
priations for the support Of the gov
eminent expired March 2, and refer
ring in connection Herewith to arti-
Gle 3, section 4, of the constitution.
At the request of Mr.. Chenoweth
house bill 443 for the relief of the
heirs of j. w. Thompson, who fell az
the storming of the Alamo, March 6.
1886, was taken up and passed TO en-
grossment.
On motion the house adjourned.