San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-03-29
FROM AUSTIN.
Legislative Notes.
AUSTIN, March goth, 1883,

!
think that the pToverb, There's skel
eton in every mans house." can approprl
ately DO used to illustrate the Legislative
proceedings Of the past week.
Just exactly what that skeleton is, an
unable to determine, but eyerv. bill tina
comes up for consideration in either hous'
seems 10 have q bone or some other indi
gestible substance in it that causes members
10 dissent and offer substitutes and amend
ments.
The most important measure that the
House has dispo led of, especially to those d.
rectly interested, was the Appropriation
bill, which appropriates S3,64o,39o for the
maintenance of the State government for
the next two years. The penitentiary lease
has at last been considered in the Committee
room Of the House. The Committee stood
eight for ratification, four against and one
noncommitted. It will be remembered
that the Senate ratified the lease some two
weeks since, with amendments, the most
Important of which are; that the lease be
made for ten years instead of fifteen, as
agreed upon by Gov. Roberts Penitentiary
Board. next, that convicts can not be work.
ed on public buildings or on railroads ex-
cept during the construction of the roads.
The House Committee of amendments
permits them to be worked upon railroads
at any time but prohibits them from being
worked in towns or cities. There is di-
versity of opinion as to the legality of the
Legislature modifying the lease, and no
doubt will leave several legal nuts to be
cracked by the lawyers. Some members
contend that the law only permits the Legis-
lature to ratify or rerolc the lease in toto,
without giving them authority to amend at
all; again if the House don't dispose of the
question this session (Which it will hardly
do) the lease will be considered ratified
The eagerness with which Cunningham d
Ellis propose to accept any and all amend
ments indicate that they intend to test their
constitutionality.
The pending business for several days
past has been Senate bill 269. Gan act to
provide for the classification sale and lease
of lands heretofore or hereafter surveyed
and set apart for the benefit of the common
school, university, the lunatic, blind, deaf
and dumb, and orphan asylum funds"
A new county has been formed from
portion of Live Oak and several other con-
tiguous counties called John Upton county.
From the Statesman it appears that con-
siderable dissatisfaction exists on the part
of the citizens of Comal Co. in regard to
Judge Pfeuffer proposing to reduce the
civil and criminal jurisdiction of said
county.
The Governor has made the following ap-
pointments: John B. Lubbock, brother of
Treasurer Lubbock to be Fish Commission
er vice r. r. Robertson resigned; DIR. r.
NJ. Swearingen to be State Health Officers
DIR. NJ. Salm to be oculist at the Blind Asy-
lum.
A. L. Adams, member of the House from
Wood and Rains counties, died last Thurs
day.
The citizens of Austin gave grand ban
quet last week at the Raymond House to
the members and officers of the 18th Legis-
lature.
A new paper called the 'Texas Farm and
Ranch" will appear in April, edited by
Prof. s. G.. Sneed, late chief clerk in the
Comptroller's Office. 1t is to be As column
paper devoted to the agricultural and stock
raising interests of Texas.
The Postal authorities have at last decid-
ed to inaugurate the letter carrier system
here.
The railroad to convey building material
to the Capitol grounds is being rapidly built.
The Senate holds but one session a day,
while the House holds three. Senators are
getting restless, and are somewhat averse
to staying here on two dollars day, in fact
both houses would like to receive little
more pay but then they are here from pa
triotic motives. j. E. LAMB.
Ernn, noIlaS