The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-31
LAW W-MAklNG LEGION.
A Quiet But Very Effective Session
Of the Senate Yesterday.
But In the House Matters Were
at White Heat.
Another Austin Journal Arraigned and
an Investigation Ordered.
Message Received From the Governor
Containing a Communication
From the Penitentiary LeSsees, Throw.
ing up the Sponge.
The House Finally Comes 30 the
Scratch.
Current Comment at the Capital.
Current Comment at the Capita

sENATE.
AUSTIN, March 30,-[Special. mfr. Ey.
ans, from the committee on public print,
ing, reported iavorably the bill to have the
daily proceedings of the senate printed for
distribution.
Mr.. Traylor, from tho committee on
claims, reported iavorably house bill forthe
relief of certain survivors of the Dawson
massacre.
Mr.. Randolph introduced bill reducing
the criminal jurisdiction OF the county
court OF Madison county.
The land bill, as amended by the house.
was made the special order for 8 O'clock
and from day to day till disposed of,
Mr. Pfeuiler called up the bill 10 prevent
the spread of smallpox and regulating vac.
cination Its provisions require all chill.
dren to be vaccinated before entering any
of he free schools, and that the state tgff
nish pure vaccine matter.
Mr.. Davis moved to amend by striking
out the caption, enacting and emergency
clauses Adopted and the bill killed.
Mr.. Traylor called up the bill to settle
and adjust outstanding land certificates by
permitting location OF one-tenth of the
quantity.within or without the reservations.
Mr.. Taylor moved to amend by reducing
the quantity to one-eighth. Adopted
and tine senate refused to engross the
bill.
Mr.. Jones called up the bill relative
to assignments for the benefit of creditors
MrJones moved to amend by providing
that no person making an assignment shat
be discharged until he pays 33i per cent. ol
his indebtedness. Adopted, and the bilf
passed.
Mr. Matlock called up the bill fixing the
salary of chief clerks of the treasury and
land office at $1,000
Mr.. Matlock moved to amend by striking
out section l and inserting that the chief
clerks of departments shall receive such
salary as may he provided by law.
Adopted, and the bill passed.
MIR. Getzendaner called up the bill TO au-
thorize the draining of public roads by
ditching adjacent property. Passed
Mr.. Jones called up the bill providing
that citations may be served on officers and
agents OF companies and associations bv
giving them ten days in which to answer.
Engrossed.
Mr.. Pope called up house bill amending
election laws so as TO provide separate sets
of ballot boxes. Passed.
Mr.. Gibbs called up house bill regulating
the appointments of public weighers.
MIR. Davis moved TO amend by striking
out all the counties exempt from the pro-
visions of the law. Adopted.
The question being on engrossment. the
senate adjourned till tomorrow.
HoUsE--MoRNING SESSION,
Chenoweth arose to a question of priyi-
lege, and said that scurrilous article hint
ing at corruption OF the members layoring
the lease, recently published in a paper Of
this city, which reflected upon the honor
and integrity OF the morbeis OF ,lis house,
had just been called 10 his attention, and
offered the following resolution
WHEREAS, There appeared in recent
number of the Texas Siitings n newspaper
published in the capital city of the state,
an editorial IN which certain charges of dis.
honesty and bribery were made against
certain members in the 18th legislature, in
the matter OF the pententiary lease, there
fore be it
Resolved, That the speaker be required
to appoint committee of five members TO
investigate the truthfulness of the charge
made by the Texas Siftings, and to send for
persons and papers TO compel the attend
ance OF witnesses, to administer oaths and
do all things necessary in the premises to
a Tree investigation of the aforesaid charges.
Almost every member in the minority
expressed their approval of this resolution
IN forcible language, and their supreme
contempt for the paper Just mentioned.
Several of the opponents of the case said
that they thought that the article referred
to was contemptible, and hardly worth the
notice OF any respectable man, but that out
OF justice to the minority, they would vote
for the resolution, that no one doubted the
honest purposes of the minority, and be-
lieved them us honest as those who voted in
the majority.
The resolution was adopted So.
nays, I, Those voting in the negative be.
lieved that the Texas Siltings was unworthy
OF the notice OF the 18th legislature.
The speaker appointed as the committee,
Foster, OF Limestone; Sharp, Parsons,
Steele and McAlpine--all opposed TO a rati-
ication OF the lease.
The speaker announced that the question
was the adoption of Nash's motion TO re-
consider the vote by which the minority
lrelecting) and majority (iavoring) the
lease was adopted, and to lay that motion
on the table. Carried.
The question recurring upon the adop-
tion OF the minority resolution TO amend,
revoking the lease, Hayelwood contended
1t would be unwise aud inexpedient for the
state 10 resume contro! OF her penitentia-
ries, as an immense appropriation would
have to be made for the purpose, thus i'm.
posing greater taxation upon the people.
Brown spoke briefly in opposition TO the
lease.
Labatt contended that as the lease had
been made by the board apponted by the
18th legislature and approved by such wor.
thy men as the old alcade Governor Rob.
erts, Lubbock and Goree, this legislature
should ratiy IL.
Hill opposed the lease, aud ,housht the
state could manage and con,rol th, peni.
tentiaries rs well as the lessees and with
much more profit to the state.
Chambers, OF Collin, advocated the lease
with much emphasis, walking up and down
the aisle, contending that for the state TO
resume would be suicidal.
Frank insisted that the question was,
shall this legislature fatiiy the lease as
made by the penitentiary board or reject IL
The amendments reducing the torn of
years was not part Of the question and
could not be considered. AS for his part
he hoped and trusted that the lease would
be revoked.
Swain thought that IL the state resumed
she would have an elephant on her hands.
and tbat a resumption by the state would
work greater hardship on the conyicts
than the system pursued by the lessees.
Durant said the lease system was an i'm.
position upon the people of Texas and
should be abolished.
Adjourned until 3p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Consideration Of the penitentiary lease
was resumed.
Upton agreed that as the board mad leased
out ,0i0 convicts 10 other parties before the
present lessees took charge OF the peniten.
tiaries, that resumption would not release
the state from their original contract, and
that these con, lets contiled within the
walls would consume the profits arising
from the labor OF those who worked outside
Of the penltentiaries. ''
Cochran spoke strongly In favor OF a re.
vocation, and opposed any lease which the