The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-25
ng and selling lands in this state for

relates to sheriffs' and other fees.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Judiciary Committee No. 1.-Mr.
Acker, chairman, reported: On
joint resolution No. 2, granting
leave of absence to Judge w. H
Burkhart, favorably.
Also, favOrably on senate bill No. Z,
to amend articles 245 and 247, of re.
Yised statutes, dispensing with c. unity
attorneys in counties where there are
resident criminal district attorneys.
On house bill No. %, to amend art
icle 636 of the code of criminal pro.
cedure, relative to the qualifications
of jurors in capital cases. Unfavor-
ably. No object.
On house bill No. Il, to amend ard
Gle 1883, chapter 3 to 10 of code of
criminal procedure, adopted February
81, 1879; favorably with an amend
ment in section 3, to strike out all
after.the word repeal" and further
amendments, so as to give grand
jurieS now in session the benefit OF
the act by its Immediate passage.
On house bill 119, to amend article
1892, revised statutes, adopted by the
sixteenth legislature, favorably. The
object of the bill is to fix penalty upon
engineers instead of company for fail
ing to ring bell at crossings.
On house bill No. II, to amend arti-
cleS 1888 and 1899. t. "a, oh. 4, revised
statutes, to prevent certain animals
from running at large in counties and
subsidies, unfavorably, on account OF
being in conflict with section % arti-
oil of tn tnfn ftrff
On house bill No. 116, to amend ar
ticle 401 of the code of criminal pro6e-
dure, unfavorably, as being unnecessa-
ry under articles 402 and 403 of the
code.
On house bill No. s, favorably by
substitute.
On house bill No. IL, to regulate
the sale Of Intoxicating liquors in
local option districts. Committee re.
commended that it be referred by re-
quest of the author of the bill. Re
feTred to Judiciary committee No. 2.
Judiciary committee No.2, Mr.. Hill
chairman, reported:
On house bill No. 81, providing an
annual pension for surviving soldiers
and sailors of the Mexican revolution
and the surviving Signers of the declara-
ton of Texas independence and
widows of same, that it be referred to
committee on state affairs. The re-
port was so referred.
On house bill &c, to amend article
743 of the penal code, relative to en-
beZZlement, so that anyone receiving
property knowing the same to have
been embeZZled shall be punished
same as embeZzler. Unfavorably.
The committee, through Mr.. Hill,
further reported unfavorably on house
bill 43, to amend article 3l8, revised
statutes; and house bill 20, to amend
article 2423, chapter to AZ, revised
statutes. The reports of both CON-
mittees were adopted.
Mr.. Nash, chairman of committee
on state affairs, reported on joint res
Olution to grant leave of absence to
Judge John L. Craig, of Clay county,
favorably, with substitute including
Judges L. G. Goodner, of Collin, and
John +. Grove, of Lee county.
Also, favOrably on house bill los, to
provide for disposal of breechy stray
animals. Reports adopted.
Mr.. Parsons, chairman of committee
on health, reported favorably on con
current resolution, requesting our
members of congress to vote against
any tax on quinine; and favorably on
like resolution, urging the general
government to establish a quarantine
station at st. Louis Island similar to
that at Ship Island. Report of COM
mittee adopted.
Mr.. Fisher. for his committee, re-
ported the appropriation bill to pay
mileage and per diem of members and
employees of the legislature duly en-
rolled. Report adopted.
Mr.. Caven, for majority of commit
tee on agricultural affairs, reported
favorably, with amendment, house
bill No. 128, to prevent interference
with labor contracts, Adopted.
A minority report was presented
signed by MeSSrs. Davis and Steel of
the committee.
Mr.. WurZbach in the chair.
Mr.. Merriwether was, on motion,
imperative business.
REGULAR ORDER.
House bill 2, Mr.. Labatt's, was
taken up as the regular order.
The bill to amend the one known as
the occupation tax bill provides for
graded taxation at the rate OF S3.65
per annum for the lowest tax and its
multiples for larger sums. This
makes one cent day, or its multi
pies as the tax increases. All occu-
patton taxes to be payable July l
each year, and any person commenc-
ing business during the year will only
pay for the Erection. Receipts and
stubs to have months and DAYS
printed on them, so as to be cancelled
and show when receipt is paid Oc-
cupation receipts to be transferable
whenever the firm changes or the par
ties sell out in bulk, voluntarily or by
judicial or asSignee's sale. Any col
lector can cOmpI tie the fractional tax
to be paid on remaining days, if it he
on the basis of one or more cents for a
day for each tax. Mr.. Labatt is OPP
posed to any occupation tax except
for police regulations, but thinks if
this tax is retained it could be made
more il telligille by his bill.
Mr.. Caven said as it was an impor-
tant bill, he would move that it be
postponed and made the special order
for Friday at IL: 30 a. m. Adopted.
Speaker in the chair.
Printed house bill No. 9, by Mr..
Swan, being next in the regular order,
was read, and, after several amend
ments, was passed to second reading
and ordered engrosSed. 1t relates to
the wool growing interest, as recited
in the act, amending section IL of the
act approved March %, 1879, relative
to the scab disease in sheep. Section
II provides that the following coun-
ties shall be exempted from the pro-
visions of this act, viz: Anderson,
Bowie, Cass, Chambers,
Collin, Colorado, Dallas,
Delta, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Fayette,
Fort Bend. Franklin, FreeStone,
Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Hill, Harris,
Hunt, Harrison, Henderson, Hood,
Hopkins, Jasper, Jefferson,
Johnson, Kaufman, Lamar, Lee, Leon,
Liberty, Madison, Marion, Montgom-
cry, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton,
Orange, Pamela, Parker, Polk, Raines,
Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Angus
tine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, SOM
Tarrant, Titus, Trinity, Ty-
Ter, Van Zandt, Wood, Walker, Wal
Ter, Wharton.
House bill No. "a, by Mr.. Wilson,
to amend article 1854, title Is, chap
ter 2, of the code of criminal proceed
ure, relating to fees of district or
county attorneys, was next considered;
and. after passing second reading, was,
with slight amendment offered by
Mr.. Wurzbach, ordered engrossed.
A message from the senate an
nounced that the senate had agreed to
the bill making appropriation for the
contingent expenses of the legisla-