Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-03-22
CAPITAL CLICKINGS.
Pencil Picturings OF Affairs at Austin
as They are Focused by Gazette
Reporters.


issued by the state. The cost Of print
ing was about $1,000.
When IL became known Saturday
morning that the GAZETTE house re-
porter bad possession Of the roll Will
the "aycsu and "noea,p taken the day
previous on the penitcntlary leas,
question, he became at once the object
of attention from some Of the 'leis
urelyu gentlemen about the corridors
Of the capitol Failing to convince
the GAzETTE's obt,lse young man that
the only desire TO possess that particu-
lar document arose from mere idea
harmless curiosity on their part, n
second canvass Of the house was at
tempted; but alas, IL was too late.
The members became suspicious and
refused TO discuss the lease bill until IL
shall come up In the house. Mean
time the GAZETTE man has carefully
locked up and will preserve that roll,
10 be used possibly, In his proposed
forthcoming book to be entitled sixty
Days IN the Lobby
bill Is now before
the legislature TO change the charter of
the city Of Austin, ana this calls TO
mind the too common practice in leg
islntion Of passing local measures with
out proper consideration. Under this
practice great harlsliips are often foist-
ed upon whole communities by few
interested parties. For Instance, Il bill
affecting an entire community Is
drafted, introduced and, sometimes,
passed without being printed or read,
simply upon the statement of mem
Der that the bill is purely local and
affects only my town or county,
And this IL called Legislative courte-
sy.' The bill alluded to practically
re-enacts u charter forlthis city, which
was annulled tn answer to Il petition
of citizens; but the most Objectionable
feature in the new law Is that II pro-
vides for making every Office in the
city appninlive and places this vast
patronage Il dangerous power in
the hands Of the mayor. The argu-
inent In favor of this proposed change
Is the economic feature: that IL force
the aldermen to serve without pay ana
reduces the mayors salary to figure
merely nominal This idea would
not be Objectionable perhaps to the
people OF n debt-burdened city but
Ia the classic language of
a member of the house, there
IL a arge-sized bug Under this dainty
chip Austin hts always been cursed
by rings, and this proposed new
charter only seeks to pcrpctuate and
make even stronger that ring rule.
The candidate for mayor under this
new charter has already been selected;
he ~ II man who can Afford To serve
the city for the honor in the thing
While of course, as natural sequence
the officers TO be appointed by this
truly "honruryn mayor have
also been selected, there Is
still another potent factor
behind this bin which is purely local
and effects my city only.p The GA
zETTE, however, rcfrains from partic-
ulars, and viii not discuss the pioba-
bic cdnfrOH of the 100000 worth of
bonds 60 he issued for sewers atone,
the outstanding indebtedness Of eX-
tremely doubtful validity" nor has
II the least desire To question the pros
perity Of the quiet little plan 10 throt
Tie old gor pOpm by denying the peo-
pie the right To elect their officers and
rearing an autocratic power in one
single majestic individual to select for
them. A. the GAZETTE at present has
seven or eight hundred readers in
Austin, these illusions are made mere
thought may be taken up where the
GAzETrE abruptly left or
The politics Of the future are already
being discussed nc the capital. Among
the suggestions promulgated by the
ever busy quid Hufcs, Is Que which
names Hon. w. G., Walsh, general
land commissioners, rs tn next gov
ernor. lie Is extremely popular with
all the members OF the legislature, and
there are not n few who believe If he
desires the position he will be
one among the strongest men
In the next race, IL he
be not successful. The friends of Hon.
4, H. Gibson speaker of the house,
are already canvassing his chances for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS some OF the
friends OF the late railroad bin think
Mr.. Gibson has spoiled his chances Tor
future promotion by the prominent
part he has taken by the Introduction
OF his substitute bill. They claim
tina. the substitute was framed for the
purpose OF killing the bill, that 1t IL n
mere suhterfige TO prevent needed
railroad regulation, and for that rea-
son THE people, VIII not forgive him.
This II merely speculation In
futures, however, and most probably
arises from the ascerbities OF the
hour,
The members are becoming impa.
tent and want to 20 hume.n Most OF
the legislation now being enacted *
done without n quorum.
The penitentlary leases are all the
talk now, and are creating no small
amount speculation as 10 the final
result. Members are hearing from
their constituents, and prominent
senator remarked yesterday That II u
vote were To be taken over a0aiu in the
senate he believed the leases
would fail. AS the house stands
Mt present there is little
doubt hut that n majority
favor the abrogation of the lease but
that majority IL much divided rs 70
the reasons for such opposition. Some
desire the state To assume control now
Others think IL beat To make a short
lease OF say two or four years until the
state can get In better condition To re-.
sumo, while others desire To break the
present lease with view 10 making n
better ono at once. The l,ssees have
Inv prestigle OF the popularity of Rob.
erts and Lubbock, the approval
II not the aid OF Governor
Ireland behind them. he.
sides one Of the strongest and best
trained Hobbies ever seen al the capital
Under these circumstances and kai,..