The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08
Wlllth Legislature.
Eighteenth Days Proceedings.
SENATE.

ITayeT WIS OIIereu Dl tnt chhPldlh.
On motion of Mr.. Peacock. reading
the journal was dispensed with.
Messrs. kleberg and Houston We're
excused, the former indefinitely on ae-
count of sickness, the latter Thursday
al Friday owing to business that re-
quired his absence from the capitol.
The sergeant-at-arms was further
excused on account of sickness in his
family.
No memorials were presented.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
Constitutional Amendments.-Mr.
Gibbs, chairman, reported favorably,
with committee amendment, senate
Joint resolution No. ~, relating to tan
alton.
Claims and Accounts. Mr.. Traylor,
chairman, reported adversely upon the
memorial of Mrs. NJ. \. G. Wilson,
asking an appropriation to liquidate
public debt certificate No. i6l. the
comptroller having authority To issue
new certificates upon satisfactory
proof evident of the original having
been lost or destroyed.
Judiciary No. 2.-Mr. Patton. for
committee, reported favOrably senate
hill No. 80. prohibiting physicians,
clergymen and priests from disclosing
confidential communications IN the
pursuit of their professional duties,
and placing such communications upon
The same footing ~ those between
attorney and client.
Mr.. AIatlOck, for same committee,
reported fayOrably senate bill No. la;
the object of which is to increase the
punishment for breaking down or in-
Turing fences where the amount of in
jury exceeds $50.
Mr.. Gooch. chairman of same COM
mittee, reported adversely upon senate
petition No. %, being memorial OF the
attorneys and citizens of Raines county
relating To the duties and fees of
county attorneys.
Also. upon senate bill No. 1SO, max
ing the penalty for theft of sheep,
hogs and goats, regardless of their
value, Imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary.
Also, upon nate bill No. l9l, in
hibiting under penalty hunting with
firearms on the premises of another
without his consent; bill on a like
subject having been reported favor
ably.
Mr.. Jones, for Judiciary committee
. No. |, reported favorably senate bill
No. is, which gives commissioners
courts authority to appropriate money
for roads without in any way increaS-
ing the taxing power of said courts.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Paeming introduced resolution
instruetiDg the committee on peni-
tentiaries t0 ascertain and report
what further appropriations will be
necessary To erect buildings To utilize
all convict labor within the peniten-
aiary walls.
Ma Gibbs: An amendment requir-
ing the committee to ascertain the
most humane and profitable manner
of utilizing the labor of those convicts
that cannot be confined in the peni-
tentiary. Amendment accepted and
resolution adopted.
Mr.. Fleming: A bill To amend the
law authorizing to payment OF taxes
of non-residents of counties to be
made To the comptroller. Referred.
Mr. Davis: A resolution adding the
name of Mr.. Randolph tn the commit
tee on penitentiarieS. Adopted.
Morning call concluded
house concurrent resolution TO ap-
pOint a committee To examine into
certain alleged frauds perpetrated
npon the state in the purchase of pub
lic lands.
Mr.. Davis noyed that the resolution
he referred To the committee on pub
lie lands.
Mr.. Fleming said: 1 second the
motiOn to refer. ! do not know what
The object may be, or what the cost
will be to make that investigation
but know that the governor OF the
state of Texas, in addressing the stock
convention assembled here in the city
of Austin not long since, announced
publicly in speech before that
body, that ut the time OF the passage
OF that act, it was known Ia him gnd
90 the state government that all per
sons, especially the stock men who de
sired TO buy that land, had mcles and
aunts and cousins, and they avallrd
themselves of that fact To purchase
larger bodies of land than the law al
lowed them to purchase. Now, If
these lands have been purchased, the
money paid upon them. and the state
has received that money, do not see
what good can be accomplished lay
that resolution. | do not mean III
this time To oppose the adoption OF
the resolution, because L do not know
80 what extent such transactions Us
that may have gone on, but us tC
whether parties have bought more
shan three or seven sections, rs the
ease may be. do not know. | do not
understand WHY it should be necessary
now to appoint committee to send
for persons and papers and spend the
money and time of the state in max
ing snch an investigation as that.
therefore second the motion of the
senator from Cooke, that the resolu'
tlon be referred To the committee on
public lands.
Mr.. Pfeuifer-i move to substitute
the motion to refer by adopting the
resolution. Lost. and resolution re-
ferred-yeas l6. nays 10.
Mr.. Chesley-I move to suspend the
regular order and take up house bill
No. I61, sent back in response t.
the senate bill suspending the
sale of public lands until ninety days
after adjournment. The house has
laid that bill upon the table. and
passed bill of their own suspending
Indefinitely the sale of these lands.
think the house bill should bC
acted upon ut the earliest moment, fol
while this shuttlecock arrangement is
going on between the senate and
house, these lands are being sold al
the time; and il is well known that
parties are rushing ut breakneck speed
To get rs much of this land rs they
can before the legislature acts upoI
the matter. | presume that 1t il
necessary that this bill be referred I,
the committeeon public lands. and asl
that il be taken up for the purpose o.
having it referred.
Mr.. Pfeuffer-I understand that un
der the rules, IL is not necessary that
bills originating in the house be re
ferred To the committee, but can b,
acted upon at once.
The Chair-Unless ordered by tn,
senate specially, the bill will he re
ferred To the coInmitte on publ,
lands.
Mr.. Harris-I move a suspension o
the rules in order To take up hoIls'
Till No. i07. Following is the text o
the bill
Section /. BE il enacted by the leg
islature of the state of Texas, Tha
all the school. university and asylum
lands heretofore authorized by an,
law Of this state to be sold, are hereby
withdrawn from sale.
Sec. 2. All laws and PARTS of law,
in conflict with this act are here
by repealed.
Sec. 3. Whereas. these lands are be