The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-25

6 and II, by striking out all after tn,
word reserved in line q and insert
the following:
For the purpose for which saiG
land was originally set apart and de
signated by said acts; provided, that
nothing herein contained shall sus
pend the operation of the general lane
office in the issuance of titles on sur
veys already made in accordance witt
law, or purchases of land already made
in pursuance of law"
Mr.. Matlock moved the adoption OF
the amendment.
Mr.. Harris-There seems to be two
amendments. l move that the amount
be divided.
Mr.. Gibbs called for the reading OF
the bill.
Hr. Harris moved that all the
amendment after the word recover
be stricken out.
Mr.. Terrell-We have no printed
bill, and 1 should like to have it read
as it is before the motion prevails.
Mr.. Shannon-Owing to the fact
that great many senators seem moi
to be able to understand this bill anG
amendment, l move to postpone con.
sideratiOn of it to day certain and
have the bill printed-say Wednesday
morning Immediately after roll cali
and from day to day until disposed of
Mr.. Martin-There is already a
special order for Wednesday.
Mr.. Shannon-TueSday morning
then.
Mr.. Pfeuffer-I think the bill as il
came from the house ought to be
passed, without any amendment
There must be a great deal of fear
about somebody losing their rights
an acre. 1t is well known that rights
that have been given cannot be taken
away. A few days ago we received
the information that nearly 50 square
miles had gone under the old act. II
it is true that the public lands are go.
ing, as report says, we ought to
pass this bill without dilatory post
ponements, in order 70 keep the lands
out of the hands. of Spectators.
Mr.. Gibbs-I agree with the senator
from COmal. 1t there is one thing
here that the senate is pledged to, il
is the repeal of that 50-cent act. The
senate has trifled with this bill from
day to day, and now proposes
to print it. Three days ago
there was two and a halt
millions of these lands filed on, that by
prompt legislation we might have
saved. think the senate shonld act
upon the bill without further post
pOnement, suspend the lands from
sale and answer the demands of their
constituents. l am opposed to any
thing except square vote upon it.
Mr.. Shannon.-My only object
in making the motion was to
give senators an opportunity to
examine and understand the effect
of the amendment. am as anxious
to pass this bill as any senator upon
this floor. want these four-bit lands
taken from the market. These lands
lying north of the Texas and Pacific
railroad reservation were proposed to
be sold for specific purpose pur-
pose of paying the public debt, and
providing school fund. For this
purpose it was dedicated. 1t is claim
ed that there are several million acres;
it is claimed, also, that there are sew
eral million acres of outstanding land
certificates in the state more than
there is land to meet them, in event
of this reservation being continued
for the purpose for which it
was originally made. 1 do not
| wish to place the state
of Texas in a condition that it will
be either legally or morally bound to
meet any of this land script, and if
we withdraw or remove the dedica-
ton of the grant it becomes to all in
tent and purposes part and parcel
of the public domain of Texas, under
the control of the legislature of the
state; and parties holding these
certificates will have not
only a moral, but a legal claim against
the state to have enough of that land
to satisfy these certificates. Now,
these lands have been dedicated.
There is no question as to our right
to withdraw these lands from the
market. That bill proposes to leave
it open to future legislation. The
amendment proposes to secure that
land for the dedication for which it
was originally made. AS long as it
have no claim upon it; but when
ever we withdraw the dedica-
ton, they have claim against
that land, in my judgment.
This is the reason that l favor the
amendment offered by the senator
from Cooke. Suppose the legislature
is asked, after that land is taken from
the market, to appropriate it to some
other purpose, acknowledging that it
has entire control of it. Then the
question will come up for US to deter
mine, will it not be better for us to
first pay our honest land debts
than to appropriate the land for pur-
poses that were not considered when
the original dedication was made?
think we had better retain the dedi-
cation. AS to the second part of the
amendment, l do not know that it
amounts to anything one way or an
other; but the first division of the
amendment, it does occur to me, we
ought to place upon the bill. 1t can
injure no mans ideas about it, unless
it is his intention to appropriate that
land to some other purpose than that
for which it was originally dedicated.
Mr.. Kleberg-The house has acted
very promptly in carrying out the
wishes of the people in passing this
bill, and has sent it to the senate for
like action upon it. What will be the
impression that this senate will make
upon the people of Texas by such
procraStination? 1t cannot be any
thing else but trifling with the dear
est interests of the people. If we are
going to take any action in reference
to these lands, let us do it now, and
not delay this measure by postpone
ment or adjournment. 1t is but a
short act and everyone understands it.
AS understand. the gentleman from
Travis simply desired the clerk to
read the bill, with amendment, that
the senate could vote on them
intelligently. l hope the senate will
consent to no further postponement
of the bill, neither adopt the amend
ment proposed by the committee.
Mr.. Chesley-I think there is
Misrepresentation on the part of some
of the senators with reference to the
purpose of the bill. The bill does not
repeal the law. 1t is simply to sus-
pend the sale, or Withdraw the lands
from the market, and l fail to see
how the passage of the bill
can operate to throw them open to
parties holding certificates to locate
them upon. 1t seems to me that, as
this bill has come up from the house
after mature deliberation, it should
be passed; and leave it to future legis-
lation to perfect it or modify its pro-
visions. We have much of the ses-
sion still before us, and terms of the
bill may be easily changed to suit the
wishes of the legislature, if it should
think modification necessary. I'M
derstand that there are parties who
have made files on these lands, but have
NOT 90 vaf aon11irad vaStad rights and