The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-01

Cl1eIhO W SuIIluS anu IcDhllnS IdJtS |
~ railroad companies; and house bill
10. 15O. to prevent determinations in
reight by railroads.
Favorably ON house bill No. 27l, to
Imend article 4170, chapter s. revised
allowing railroads to con-
'truct bridges over rivers, make turn
pixies, street crossings, ETC., and requir- |
ng them to restore streets, etc. to the r |
proper condition.
Favorably on house bill No. 90, re- |
Iuiring railroad companies to keep
proper schedules of rates posted at |
stations.
Reports received.
Mr.. Cochran, for finance commit
tee, reported unfavorably on house
bill No. 1873, to enable counties to buy
land and improve same for manual
labor. The report was received.
Mr.. Woods, of Lavaca, chairman of
committee on privileges and elections,
asked further time, which was grant
ed, to report on the case of Hickey
conteSting seat of Mr.. Duff, OF Bra
zoria.
Mr.. Caven, chairman of committee
on agricultural affairs, reported
Favorably, with amendment. on
house bill No. 215, making it penal to
allow stock to run at large in counties
and subdivisions.
FavOrably, house bill No. 282, to es-
tablish uniform weights for wheat,
corn, ETC., with amendment, making
thirty-two pounds the weight of
bushel of cotton seed.
Reports received.
Mr.. Browning, chairman of COM
mittee on stock and stock raising. re-
ported favorably house bill No. 2l3,
making it an additional offense for
delay in removing cattle from an
others premises.
Report received
MIR. Patton, chairman Of committee
on towns and corporations, reported:
Unfavorably, house bill No. III, to
authorize commissioners of counties
to control highways alleys, ETC., in
cities
Unfavorably house bill No. 80, pro-
viding for forfeiture and surrender of
city charters, because the subject is
embraced in house bill No. 81.
Favorably, house bill No. Il, relating
to surrendering of charters by cities
and towns, and authorizing commits
sionerS to take charge of the property.
Bills sent from the senate were then
taken up and referred to proper com
mittees.
SPECIAL ORDERS.
House bill % (Mr. McBride's), pro-
viding for payment of all claims due
teachers of public free schools, audited
as valid claims under acts of legisla-
ture approved August Z, 1876, or
April, 1879.
The bill was discussed and passed to
engroSSment with amendments pro-
posed by the judiciary committee to
which it was referred, to read as fol-
lows:
Section l. Be it enacted by the leg.
| iSlature of the state of Texas: That
the county commissioners court of the
several counties in this state, are here.
by authorized and required in cases
where claims audited rs valid claims
under an act of the legislature of TeXas
approved August 2, 1876, entitled
An act to ascertain the amounts due
teachers, for services rendered in the
| public schools from September l, 1873
to January l, 1916, and to provide fol
the payment of the same" or under
the act, approved April %, 1879, EN-
titled AN act to ascertain the amount
due teachers for services rendered il
the public schools from September 1
1873, to August 81, 1876, and to pro
vide for the payment of the same"
and where the same, or any par
thereof remains unpaid, to cause the
issuance OF d warrant upon the treasu
ry OF such county, in favor of thu
holder of such claims for the amount
of the principal due upon such CLAIM
or claims.
Sec. 2. That if there is not sufficient
money in the treasury of such county
belonging to the general fund, to pay
off the balance due upon said claims
then said commissioners courts ar
hereby authorized to and required t
levya special tax, not to exceed five
cents on the 500 value of property fo
one year, upon the taxable property
within said county, TO be collected a!
other lakes, to pay off said claims.
| In the discussion of the bill Mr.. Nc
Bride explained that it related to NJ
indefinite claims, only those already
audited and due.
Mr.. Lakewood spoke in favor O
the bill.
Mr.. Barrett was opposed to tn,
amendment of the committee, strik
ing out the allowance of interest t
the claimants.
Mr.. Swan favored the bill, and sale
the state was no pauper to refus,
every man his due, and it didn't wan
the services of teachers for nothing.
Mr.. Nash was in favor of the bill
but not to pay interest.
Mr.. Labatt was in favor of allowing
interest.
Mr.. Chambers, of Tarrant, spoke il
opposition.
Mr.. Foster, of Limestone, said thes,
claims were contracted when business
was done in very loose manner. HI
was not in favor of taking any hastN
action. He argued that there wer(
certain other unjust claims which
would be subject to payment if thi!
bill passed.
Mr.. Patterson argued that the bill
would open these old claims to pay
ment, and practically do away with
the old law, as it would be difficult il
not impossible to ascertain boundarie.
of the old districts affected by the
bill.
Mr.. Browning argued that the ole
law provided for the same that this
bill does. He thought the counties
ought to pay the claims.
Mr.. Chambers, of Tarrant, argued
that if the legislature can make the
counties pay it can and ought to
make the state pay them.
Mr.. Frank think the counties
should pay them. There were but
few of them, and he was sure the
few counties interested would pay
them.
The vote on the engrossment of the
bill resulted: Ayes, SO; noes, 26; alb
sent, 20.
The bill restoring and confirming
civil and criminal jurisdiction to Par
ker, Uvalde and Red River counties
was finally passed.
House bill IL, as to certain alternate
sections of land surveyed by railroads
and other corporations for the benefit
of free public schools by virtue of any
certificate, valid or invalid, declaring
them to belong to the free public
schools, was considered as the next
special order.
Mr.. Swan argued as to the injustice
of the bill, that it would take the land
off the market, and would virtually
repudiate the contracts of the state
and rights of soldiers to effect entries
under their certificates of inability in
the service.
Mr.. Hill said he was surprised to
find opposition to the bill. Any one
in ~ al. L. Oh h