The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-11
Eighteenth Legislature.
First Days Proceedings
SENATE.
AUSTIN. Jan. 8. 1888.

AUSTIN, Jan. 8, 1888.
Lieutenant-Gover Story called
the senate to order shortly after noon.
The roll was called, and Rev. DIR.
Amort offered the following prayer:
%, Lord, our Father, which art in
Heaven, Thou who art the creator
md preseryer of all things, we thank
Thee for the light Of this morning;
we thank Thee for health and life
and strength; we thank Thee that in
Thy providence Thou has brought to-
gether this body this morning. We
pray Thee that as they enter upon the
duties before them they may have the
fear of God before their eyes; that
they mas have that wisdom and Judg-
ment and discretion that shall enable
them to Io that which shall be for the
best interests of the commonwealth
and for the glory of God, for Christs
sake. AMEN"
The credentials of all senators but
two were presented and the oath of
office administered.
LIEUTEfASr-GovERNoR's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen % the senate:
Upon your ssSmbling at the capitol OF
the state 10 enter upon the discharge vi
the high aud respons BILE duties imposed
upon y,u by The people Of Texas, take
great pleasure In ongrntulating you upon
the very favorable and satisfactory con-
diIIon IN which we hpd the pubic ahairs
OF the country. You come as the CHOSEN
representatives OF n prosperous and hap
DIV people, blessed with M abundant crop,
peace aud plenty, and an eraof prosperity
UNPARALLELED ~ the history oil the State.
-. .NsaNa lxF IN. "a
by the enactment OF wholesome laws
10 the progress aud material deyel-
opment OF this. the grandest common
wealth on the American coutinent.
Much credit II due our predecessors Tor
the advancement already made from
ruined credit, bankrupt treasury, an
almost overwhelming debt, oppressive
taxation aud tyrannicAl government.
We have within tue last ten years re-
stored good government, relieved the
people from oppressive burthens, re-
dueed the debt aud raised the credit OF
the state, until, within the scope OF Its de-
mAnds. II 10 equal To that OF any govern
meuL on earth; aud yet we hnd In the
light Of experience much remalns To be
done To attain that grandeur aud magntn'
eence TO which We, as n people, have n
right 10 aspire.
We have u territory truly vast In extent,
upon which the God OF nature has show
cred ais richest blessings; our laws are
con pAraIively good, and reasonably we'll
enforced, our society 10 god, our educa-
Gional facilities increasing and We trust
with proper Legislation, vii, soon approach
efhciency.
DO not claim the right to. nor would
assume rs an official. occupying the num-
Die position that do, to suggest apOlicy 10
the legislature OF Iexas, but may be
pardoned, nj least by you, IL | express
the hope that the senate Will proceed Al
once " It'll n determined effort 10 secure
needtul changes In both the organic aud
statutory laws of the stat3. Such, Tor in-
stance, As an-amendment TO the judiciary
article OF the constitution, which
time and experience have demon-
strated are absolutely necessary Tor
the good of this people, also
the repeal OF all laws upon the stat
ute DO Jks authorizing the sale OF the
school. university and Ast lum lanes OF the
state, anu that PROVISIONS be made TO
lease out these lands 50 AS To secu the
greatest possible good to the fund to
which they seyerally belong. Whatever
doubt there may be In the minds of some
rs 10 your authority under the present
constitution TO provide Tor the leasing OF
the public school and university lands
instead Of their sale, rs now provided by
law, there can be no such doubt as IL
your authority under the constitution to
take every acre of the asyium lands from
the market.
IL this is done aud An amendment TO the
constitution Is submitted TO vote of the
people, authorizing the levy and collec-
tion vi n special school tax seperate from
the general revenues, our lee school sys-
TEN may be perfected, and at the same
time the burthens OF taxation fol revenue
purposes be reduced to the actual necessl-
ties OF the state government. With such n
change In our constitution and laws, and
with The University OF Texas, the chief
capstOne of the only free school system
worth preserving, properly endowed, as
it should be done Oy this Legislature, our
school systeln will be an honor to the
state and the pride of her people, and in
the near future become the most efficient
OF any to be found In the Union.
An earnest desire on the part OF previ-
Gus Legislatures TO secure the largest pos
sible appropriation out OF tue general
revenues for the benefit of public free.
schools has prevented the reduction OF
the taxes to the actual NJ o. ssities OF the
state government, and in this effort 10
secure Que dollar for school purposes un-
der our present constitution, three dol
lars have been required to lie idle In the
ireasury, and thus the large cash balance.
about which SO much has been said aud
written, has, In great measure, been
created, and while an unnecessarily
large cash balance may never be desira-
BILE In state treasury, ours Will yet
prove 3 great blessing to the people OF
Texas IL properly expended under laws
which should be enacted by this leglsls-
ture. Th' re are, doubtless, many demands
30 De made upon this cash balance. which
sc granted would rebound to the good OF
Texas. But It seems to me that no one
Interest deserves u greater share than the
demands ot humanity loudly calling IRON
every county In the slate Tor an enlai ge-
ment OF the lunatic asylum aud n hange
in the laws governing that institution, Ms
well as an extension In It's designs and
o tjects. To Gay there are not less than
llOO unfortunate insane people In the
state, while but 1874 are confined In the
asylum. Hundreds Of others al Q confined
IN c0uutv jalls, while not a lew are penned
M like wild beasts In dens prepared for
them, where through many long years
their sad aud necessarily neglected coDdl-
ton has bern n Disgrace TO ouI civilization
and horror 10 the community In which
they are condued. Humanity demands
that this unfortunate class Of our people
be cared tor. protected aud furnished
homes AT the expense OF the STATE, if ne
cesSary Tor lie, or until restored, In an
asylum where there IL some hope for
restoration to health. As far back rs A.
ID. 1878, the iegisi .ture OF Texas demand.
ed Nuch u change In the laws OF the siate,
but veto by the governor then defeated
the measure. The cash balance In our
treasury answers the principal objection
then urged 10y the executive OF the state
10 the passage OF that bill. l. not this an
opportune Time Tor the legislature to
rarpond to the demands Of humanity,
anu to wipe out the disgrace so lOny rest
ing upon the state by reason OF our tail-
nre la the pact To make ample p DIVISION
f.r arsa md M ~ N m nj hal rlo
cla-s OF our peoplef We are able 10 res
pond TO the demands OF the times anu
should not falter In the discharge OF ous
duty.
As the natural result of laws now upon
our statute books, private enterprise 10
pushing forward the car of progress &c
every direction, and ten thousand emf
grafton agents working In the In
ierest OF many millions OF invested
capital are bringing TO our shores a
mighty Hide OF immigration from every
quarter OF the globe, TO increase our civ
ilization, magnify our wealth, energize
our hrpes, and develop our natural re-
sources.
Shall the state be less energetic and
progressiyef Rather let her keen pace
with this progressive age, aud hesitate
not to make even radical changes In her
laws. when necessary, TO secure to the
Citizen the fullest protection demanded
by his condition In lie, be 1t what IL
may. 1.
Trusting that you will. with the aid or
tho coordinate branches OF the govern
ment, be able to secure to the country all
deedrul reforms, I now declare the SEN
ate In session aud ready to proceed TO
business.
Mr.. johnson, of Collin, offered the
following resolution: /. That the
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