The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-07
What the Lawmakers are Doing at
the Capital City-The Senate
and the Penitentiary
Lease Problem.
The House Graphing With the Intrica-
cies Of Railway Legislation and
Making Slow Headway.
The Appropriation Bill Receives An.
other Finishing Touch-PetitiOns
for Prohibition Pouring in.
Capital Chr0niclings: Crisp Notes on
Current Events - Rambles in
the Departments.
Galveston: A Vessel in Distress Those
COunterfeilers Receive Attention.
San Antonio: General Diaz Won't Lin.
ger-L0cal and Personal.
Fort Mekavitt: A Lady, Temporarily In.
sane, browns Herself.
Breezy Bulletins From Many other
Texas Towns,
Telling the Tale of Yesterdays Haps.
Eighteenth Legislature.
SENATE.


SENATE.
AUSTIN, March 6.-[Special. Petitions
were.presented by Mr.. Johnson, of Shelby,
from citizens of San Augustine and Sabine
counties on judicial districts.
Mr.. Martin, from the committee on in
ternal improvements presented minority
report fayoring the repeal of the law passed
at the extra session OF the Seventeenth leg
islature repeating all laws granting land
certificates to railroads.
Message was received from the governor,
asking permiss ion to withdraw his message
sent in few days ago appointing notanes,
as he desired to correct errors therein.
Granted.
The penitentiary lease was laid before the
senate, with Messrs. Terrell's and Goochs s
amendments, pending yesterday.
Mr.. Houston took the floor, and in a
lengthy argument urged that the lease be
ratified.
Mr.. Gooch, in an able speech, insisted
on revoking the lease, saying that when he
first came to Austin he did so believing
that he would favor it, but on reaching here
sthu ullti u ilHNSotisullOu VI
its provisions, it did not commend itself to
his isjudgment, and therefore he opposed its
ratification. He contended that he had
studied the question closely, and he be.
lieved 1t far better for the state to revoke
and take charge of the penitentiaIies.
Mr.. Davis, in very able speech, insisted
it was an improvident contract and should
be revoked. He favored wiping out the en-.
tire thing, even if faithful state officers
did make it. He alluded to growing po.
litical power which he believed was headed
by the lcssees, and he considered it danger
ous, and urged that it be knocked on the
head He alluded to them being present in
the lobbies, for the purpose, he said, o.
stopping legislation. He said that for the
state to control the penitentiaries will i'll
sure better care of the convicts and il
prompted by the dictates OF humanity.
Mr.. Terrell took strong, grounds agains
confirming the lease, holding that 1t wal
totally defective, not requiring even th,
confinement OF single convict within til,
walls. He urged resumption, and elo
quently contended that it was wise ant
humane, and to the interest of the state
financially and morally.
Adjourned till O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The pending business was on the lease o
the penitentiaries.
Mr.. Peacock said he was one of the com
mttce on penitentiaries, who in committee
voted against the minority report, because
he believed the term OF lease too long, but
as it had been amended by reducing the
time, he would now support it and vote fol
it. He endorsed the past administration o.
the state government, which had labored
to place the greatest number OF convicts
within the walls possible. He could sec nc
difference between leasing gconvicts and hir
ing the convicts to planters by contract fol
term of years, as advocated by the oppo-
nents of the lease. He claimed that If the
state resumed it will cost $126,0 over and
above income of hire of outside convicts tc
maintain these within the walls. He
thought il q good contract for the state.
Mr.. Davis moved the previous question'on
the amendment, seconded and the main
question ordered.
The question recurring on the adoption o
Mr.. Gooch's amendment, providing that
this prohibition shall not extend to working
at industries for manufacturing nor tC
building penitentiaries or relormatories, il
was adopted.
The question recurring on the adoption
of Mr.. Terrells amendment prohibiting the
employment of convicts on the new state
house or in cities, II was adopted.
The question recurring on the adoption
OF Mr.. Traylor's amendment to strike on,
ratified" where 1t occurs in the resolution
and insert provided" was lost--yeas, u
nays, 10.
Mr.. Davis offered to amend by providing
that the lease may, ut any time, be an
nulled, and the state resume control of Tho
convicts.
Pending the discussion, General Diaz wa.
announced, and was invited to seat will
the president, and formally introduced Il
the senate.
On motion of Mr.. Gibbs, the senate tool
recess OF five minutes.
The question recurring on the adoption
of Mr.. Davis amendment, MIR. johnson, O
Shelby, moved call of the senate. Sec
onded.
The senate being full, pending length,
discussion, Mr.. Gibbs moved to adjourn
Lost
Mr.. Martin took the floor to give his rea
son for opposing the lease, but yielded to /
motion to adjourn until tomorrow.
Kendall asked for "a suspension of IN,
rules TO take up the report of the specia
committee, underline resolution of inguir,
as TO whether the spirit and letter OF Iii,
law limiting purchases Of school land ha!
been violatea. The report of the commit
tee was received, and Kendall presented /
bill In point to make void all sales Of sucl
lands made In contravention Of the law O
1879, amended by the act of April, 1881
The bill was made tho srocial order 10,
Wednes 'ar 'n'''' "u' h. 'r ..h
Burns ~ .'. ,.l. .}.,.s. ,,,.ur
der TO ,oAy Lp tnu s.Sst..~,o oia ,.lvvidinl
more ample compensation for county treas
urers. Adopted. Under a suspension O
the rules the bill passed the house, with al
emergency clause, which makes II tax,
effect from and after Its passage. .
The special order was the railway com
mission bill.
The second and third sections wer,
adopted.
Foster, of Limestone. offered an amend
ment to section I, providing that tn,
clerk Of the commission shall subscribe tt
an oath and enter into bond. Adopted.
Frank offered substitute 10 the section
providing that the commission shall hav,
the inspection Of railroad companies ant
shall inform themselves ns to the compli
ance Of railroad comr anies with the proyis
ions of their charters, and providing tha
nothing herein provided shall excuse an,
company from any OF the liabilities or Per,
alties of the law OF tho state for neglect 0
any Of their duties by virtue of the actini
OF such commissioners. Adopted
20 ton offered an amendment 10 the SUI