The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

motion as to the vote by which the
house refused to concur in the senate
amendments to the bill fixing the rate
oftax for the school fund.
Mr.. Hill called up and moved to
table the motion offMr. Armistead as
spread on the journal to reconsider the
vote by which the pension bill was
passed.
Mr.. Upton moved a call of the
house, and the house refused to excuse
absentees.
Mr.. Cochran presented petition of
citizens of Dallas against the lease of
the penitentiary. Referre |.
THE GENERAL LAND BILL.
On motion of Mr.. Wurzbach, chair
man on the committee of lands and
land Office, the house went into con-
sideration of senate bill 26S, the gen
eral land bill.
The bill as engrossed was read by
the clerk.
Amendments were offered, dis
cussed and disposed of as follows:
BY Mr.. Swan: Add to section 5
proviso to the effect that any actual
settler in good faith on any such
lands in any county in this state
where the lands have been appraised
in accordance with sections and 3,
act of 1881, and appraisement has been
filed, shall be permitted to purchase
not less than 100 nor more than 800
acres of the land upon which they
have settled, so as to include their
improvements at the appraised price,
but shall pay rate of interest fixed by
said act, and shall be permitted to
pay all or any part of the purchase
money thereof at any time. Such
purchase shall in all other respects
conform to the provisions of this act;
prov ided applications to purchase be
made in six months after this act
takes effect, together with first pay
ment and one years interest, and afii-
davit and proofs of being actual set
tier in good faith with intent to
purchase; provided, that such prefer
ence right to purchase shall not ex-
tend so as to include any minerals,
but the same shall remain the prop
erty OF the common schools.
Mr.. Swan said the object of his
amendment was to have the state
carry out her contract, and spoke in
support of his amendment.
BY Mr.. Cundiff: Substitute for the
amendment and the bill providing at
length solely for the sale, as opposed
to the lease system, and to sell the
land at $3.50 per acre, in such quaint
ties as may be desired ny purchasers
The question was further discussed
by MesSrs. Swan, Cundiff, Hill Robin.
son, Barrett, Frank Durant, and Mr..
Hill again, when Mr.. Brown said he
would TRY his hand" and raised it fol
the previous question.
Mr.. Nash in the chair.
The Swan amendment was adopted
and the question recurring on the
| Cundiff substitute, was lost.
Mr.. Kendall offered an amendment
which, however, after discussion hi
| withdrew.
BY Mr.. Moore, of Eastland: In sec
ton A, page 2, line 10, strike out the
words nor less than SO per acre fol-
land"
BY Mr.. Hill: Substitute for amend
ment, which Mr.. Moore accepted, sub
stituting So as the price of the land
Substitute discussed by Messrs. Moore
Hill, Taylor, Cotton and Robinson
and adopted.
By Mr.. Browning: Amend section
4, making price of unwatered lands
$150, and price of watered lands 500
per acre. Discussed by Mr.. Brown
ing.
Mr.. Tilson moved previous question
The house refused the motion.
Speaker Gibson in the chair.
The Browning amendment wa
| adOpted-ayeS 90, noes 81
BY Mr.. CheDoweth: Amending
section 16. to change the price fol
leasing pasture or agricultural landl
not timbered, for stock or ranch pur
poses, from to 6 cents per acre.
By Mr.. Douglass: To substitute 1,
cents for cents. Lost.
Chenoweth's amendment was table,
ayes 46, noes 40.
By Mr.. Cotton: Striking out afte
word "selp' in section 8, down to tn,
word designated" embrasing affida
Wit of actual settlement. Lost.
By Mr.. Patton: Amend by adding
the following after section 8, in lin
IL, page 5: provided further, tina
every person acting as agent or attor
ney for another in the purchase of am
of said lands, shall file with the per
son authorized to sell, a legally exc
cuted power of attorney, from hi
principal or other, or other instru
ment of writing from court of com
petent authority to invest him will
power to conSummate a contract.
Adopted.
BY Mr.. Taylor: Amendment Z
section 8 by inserting between
the words SELF and with" tn
words, land if such application
is for land classed as agriculture
land, he shall accompany it AM
Strike out the word designating,
and insert for it the words land in al
cases shall designate" Lost.
BY Mr.. Elliott: Add at end of sec
ton Is. Provided, that if any pun
chaser of said timbered lands, befor
final and full payment, shall cut, sci
or destroy, or permit any one else +
cut. sell or destroy any more timbe
than is necessary in clearing and i'm
proving said lands, and for fire-woo
and building purposes, he shal
forfeit all claim to said LAND
And in case of any violation 0
the provisions of this act, it shal
be the duty of the proper county Q
! district attorney to institute suit
lie the district court of the county il
which the land is situated, in the nam
of the state against said purchaser, t
have such forfeiture duly adjudge
and executed and a judgment entere
for the state for such damages as ma
be established on the trial Of sal
cause. Adopted.
By Mr.. Nash: 70 amend section