The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-03-15

Mr. Traylor called up the bill equalizer
ana increasing the fees OF tax collectors. an
the bill passed.
The bill authorizing councils of cities an
towns Of over 1000 Inhabitants that hay
assumed control of public free schools I
appoint Il board of trustees, passed.
Mr.. PoDe called up the bill providing 10
appointing presiding officers OF election
by county commissioners, and to proYid
ior two sets of ballot-boxes. Passed.
The joint resolution requesting member
OF congress to urge the settlement of claim
for losses caused by the Brenham fire Il
1856 was engrossed.
The resolution relating TO adjournmen
aud hiking preference of certain bushes
over the regular order was taken up.
Pending discussion the senate adjourneC
till 3 O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The pending business, the resolution re
latlng to adjournment, was taken up witt
Mr.. kleberg's amendment, and both. lost.
The joint resolution amending the con
stitution providing for the election ol
n superintendent Of education was laid be-
fore the senate. A call of the senate was
ordered ana four absentees reported.
The bull amending the law so as to pro-
vide for an EARLIER count of votes cast at
elections was taken mp and passed.
The bill to provide for payment of tray
cling expenses of the quarter.master of the
ir n Ter battalion passed.
Mr.. Patton, from the committee on state
affairs, reported unfavorably the bill topro'
vide Tor geological survey of the state.
Favorably-A Joint resolution, instruct
ing the attorney. general to institute suit
against the Houston e Texas Central rail-
way company, for money due the school
fund from the Washington county railroad,
with amendments providing that he may
employ assistance.
The seRate being full, the joint resolution
providing forthe election of a SUPER ntend-
ent OF education was taken up. Adopted
yeas, 81; nays, 8.
The bill providing punishment for per
sons who pull bell-ropes of moving railway
trains was lain before the senate, amended
by including wilfully molesting the brakes,
ana passed.
House bill to diminish the jurisdiction of
the county courts of Matagorda, Camp,
Houston, Live Oak, Donley, Mason, Kerr,
San Patricio and Young was taken p,wlth
committee amendments.
Mr.. Pfeuifer moved to amend by includ-
ing Comsl county. Adopted.
Mr.. Kleburg moved to amend by lnclud-
ing Wilson and Atascosa counties.
Adopted, and the bill passed.
Several house amendments to the consti-
tuition were ordered printed.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Nash moved to sus pend the rules and
take up the bill reported by the committee
on fraudulent school land sales. Nash, as q
member of the committee who prepared
the report, which is a well-written and ex.
haustive document, in TACT, one of the most
complete that has been presented at this
session of the legislature, stated that the
bill was a matter of supreme Importance
that delay would be dangerous to the pub
lie interests, and in clear and concise
manner reviewed the object of the bill, set
ting forth the necessity of its immediate
passage.
; Patton-"I think it very important, be-
fore the vote is taken ppon this, as | con-
ceiye, one OF the most important bills that
has or wi come before the legislature, that
we should lay before you.a synopsis OF the
provisions of the law which has been vio-
lated, as well as brief synopsis of the evil
dence that was taken before the investiga-
ting COMMITTEES. The evidence adduced
facts c, the most startling character, and
the most gigantic frauds ever perpetrated,
and frauds, too, participated in by minors,
ma ried women and non-residents OF
the state and persons incapable
OF making any contract whatever in every
iisz,-lis.s examined ilAo the lands and have
regard to c assifration or valuation. Com
missioner Walsh Tone of the witnesses be-
fore the committed said that he took the
lands of one county the name OF which l
now suppress for certain purposes off the
market, because the reports OF the surveyor
ere ia Sc, inasmuch as he represented sec
tions of land'which were watered, to be dry.
One county surveyor testified that he had re-
a Ja1 II flao without
ing whether the commissioners OF the land
office had ever approved the appraisement,
and. in fact, without knowing whether any
annraisement had ever been made. The
witness further said he knew he had yio-
lated the law, and his only plea was l. no
rance of the law, he presuming that par
ties who made the application had con,
formed with the law. One witness testihcs
as follows: Ee supposed that files had
been made through him in oOo names
ne wrote 10 distant state and got names
and filed on them, at the same time
fling on some sections in his own
maine. seven in his wife's name,
and seven in the name of one of his children
a minor" Mr.. Patton continued at some
length, reading from the testimony of wit
nesses, showing the gross violations of the
law. ,n
Scott argued against the bill, and con
in its effects, and only IN the interest o.
lawyers.
Hill-"It seems that circumstances altS
cases WHY a man should on one day have
a mental reservation in regard to the man
dates of the constitution, and on another
h, We none, is an inconsistency which is in
explicable. There is no need of man say
ing that the bill is in the interest Of the law
Ii Is not a bill Of lawyers, but it will be The
grave of some people who have attempted tC
defraud the state of Texas"
Alter some further discussion, as an evi
dence of the efficiency OF the committee
the bill passed, without any amendment
whatever, by almost a unanimous vote
ayes, 81: nays, 4-Abbott, Scott and Rodg
efs voting in the negative.
The special order was the railroad com
mission ~ and the question to strike oui
t..v 81 Uniting roads at intersectini
siatIv..s to fix rates without reference The
schedule on the balance of the road.
Robertson. of Williamson, said that he
could not nor would not support the bill
as he considered il worse than the old law
and spoke at length against the bill.
Hill said that while he was not welded
TO the committee bill yet the motion be
fore the house. if carried, would defeat al
legislation on the subject.
Chenoweth insisted that the proviso
reason the committee put it in the bill wa
for a C, mpromise TO several gentlemen whC
desired il.
Patterson moved the previous question
Carried.
Upton moved a call Of the house. TwS
members were found absent.
Nash moved 20 excuse the absentees
Carried.
The question being upon the motion /,
strike out the prOyisO. il was csrried-ayes
5: noes. 81.
The question recurring upon Ayres
amendment 10 strike out the entire section
il was lOst-ayes, ~. noes, 2.
As amended, the section was adopted.
Section l3, relative 10 Determinations b
railroads. etc, was next considered.
Mckinney argued that the law as i eT
listed, was sufficient 10 meet the wants o
the people.
Section 13 was adopted.
After the adoption of an Emendmen
offered by Mcbride, correcting its phraze