The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

House met at 9 a. M; Speaker Glib
son and quorum present.
Prayer by the chaplain.
Mr.. Graves offered Il joint reSolu-
ton to be submitted to a vote of the
people, to extend regular sessions
from GO to 120 days from its begin
ming. Lies over under the rules.
Mr.. Cochran in the chair.
The Gibson substitute railroad bill
being the special order, at the request
of Speaker Gibson it was laid over
subject to call.
THE GENERAL LAND BILL.
Mr.. Robertson, of Williamson,
moved to reconsider the vote by
which the Browning substitute for
section & was adopted.
Mr.. Hill spoke in favor of the mo-
ton and of the senate bill. He COM
batted the previous arguments of Mr..
Foster, of Limestone, rs to the appli-
cation of land regulations in Europe,
where, he said, the laws of primOgen-
iture and other provisions very differ
ent from the laws in this country,
goyerned.
M. Chambers, of Collin, one of the
islature, made an interesting review
of the history of these lands, and ar
gued that there was no necessity for
haste in selling Them He would
rather let the matter lie over for
more mature consideration by an ex-
ira session, or the next regular seS-
sion of the legislature, than see any
hasty, premature action taken at this
time. Mr.. Chambers is fluent and
sensible speaker.
Speaker Gibson in the chair.
Mr.. Graves Said the views Of the
gentleman from Collin accorded with
his own better than any he had heard
| expressed.
Mr.. Browning spoke in favor of his
substitute. An amendment would
be proposed, such as he would have
proposed himself, which he thought
would remove all reasonable objec-
ton to the substitute.
We reproduce sections five and six
as adopted Saturday:
Sec. 8. Substitute offered by Mr..
Moursund was adopted, as follows:
Surveys having permanent water on
them, or bordering on them, shall be
divided and sold in subdivisions of
not less than 100 acres, whenever it
can be done without thereby dimin-
ishing the value of subdivisions of
same sections not sold; and actual
settlers occupying any land affected
by this act shall have the right, for a
period of six months after the land is
placed on the market, to purchase at
the minimum price fixed by law, the
subdivision or subdivisions of sec.
ton upon which their improvements
are situated, not to exceed one sec
ton.
Mr.. Hill offered the following
amendment which was adopted
as proviso to the section;
Provided, that the provisions Of
this section shall not apply to tim
bered lands; and that persons who
were, on January 1, 1888, aetna
settlers upon timbered lands, and
, have since been actual set
. tiers thereon, shall have the
right, for a period of six months from
the time the land was placed upoI
market, to- purchase not less thai
eighty nor more than go acre
, upon which Improvements are sit
. uated; and, provided further
| that no more land shall be pun
: oh ased by any settler than is absolute
, ly required for his employment
r Said settler must pay for land pun
/ chased upon which there is NO timbe
, suitable for lumber or shingles 81 pc
J acre, and for the balance of the pun
! chase the minimum price fixed b,
! law.
e Sec. 6. Subtitute offered by MI
!, Browning was adopted as follows
|, The land when placed on the ma
j ket shall be sold in the county c
d land district in which it is situated b
: some person resident of the county @
" land district, authorized by said Ian
e board; provided that said land sha
t. be sold at the appraised value fixed b
o the board; provided further, that n
s person shall be allowed to purchas
d less than 160 acres, nor more than o.
IS acres, nor shall any fraction Of Sc
{ ton less than 800 acres be divided, an
n no application to purchase any of sal
IS land shall be considered unless II
II same is accompanied with the affid
e, Wit that it is purchased in good fat
d with view of actually settling.
lef Mr.. Cotton opposed holding Il
t; lands. If we wanted free schools v
Is must sell the lands to get revenue,
IF dig down deep Into the pockets of II
le people for theft support
10 NJ. X<>-+Ir |X@r-<- ..1.<.(.<.1.< ". <K4. 40