The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-29

the general law, instead of by special
act, was taken up and passed.
The commirtee to accompany the
remains of Hon. n. l.. Adams to the
home of the deceased in Wood coun-
ty reported the performance of their
duties, making special acknowledge
ment of the courtesy extended to
them by the International railroad
company in furnishing special coach
for the purpose.
The committee of free conference
reported on the bill to redistrict the
state into judicial districts. Laid over
to allow it to b e printed in the jour
nails.
THE LAND BILL.
The house resumed consideration of
senate bill 269. the general land bill,
pending question being the amend
ment of Mr.. Browning to strike out
the words ''for stock and ranch pur-
poses" in section IL of the bill.
Mr.. Nash in the chair
The Browning amendment was
lost, as wire others proposed.
Mr.. Chenoweth offered an amend
ment to make the price of lease of
pasture lands ten cents per acre, and
supported his proposition by argu-
ment in a most eloquent address. He
contended that there was a gross inc
quality between the prices as fixed
for the selling and for leasing of these
lands. Under the latter it would cost
the stockraiser S1.20 to Craze an ami
mai three years, while under the rate
| fixed for the sale system, the cost
would be SO, estimating the minimum
interest at ten per cent on the pur-
chase price, say of ten acres-Suffi-
cient to maintain each animal. Re
ferring to what would be the condi-
ton of these lands when returned to
the state as a barren waste, he argued
that the minimum prices, both for
| selling aud leasing, were too low, be-
sides being incompatible. He be-
| lieved the lands were worth from So
to 81 per acre, and that ten cents for
leasing was necessary to fix proper
equilibrium. AS between the duty
of protection of the interests of our
poSterity on one hand, and guarding
| against the dangers of landlordism by
mOnopolieS on the other, like Tele-
machus sailing between Scylla and
Charybdis, we had to guard against
the voice of the seductive siren Turing
us to shipWreck and disaster.
| In this connection he drew strong
picture of the unfortunate condition
of ireland, which he largely attributed
to the peTniciOus landlord and rental
system.
! Abiding to a statement that one
hundred and fifty thousand head of
cattle could be maintained on one and
"a half millions of acres of pasture
land, so as to realize in five years 81,
SOL 900, he cited Hunt, Driscoll and
other cattle kings as authority for the
correctness of his estimates. While
desiring a fair adjustment as between
the interests of the land owner and
parties leasing these lands for paStur-
age, he was opposed to making the
state a landlord under sstich a system
as had worked me ruin of Ireland,
sharpenedtSe knife of the assassins of
Iha.htX Park and stained with blood
| the fair lilies of France.
Mr.. Browning offered substitute
to make the price cents.
Discussion was more or less partici-
pated in by Messrs. Brown, Cravens,
Chenoweth, Browning, Frank, Lind
sey, Rogers, Foster, Robinson of Jack,
Jones and Patterson.
\ call of the house being demanded,
suspended further immediate consid-
Grafton of the bill.
EX-Lieutenant Governor f. S.
StOckdale was invited to seat in the
bar of the house.
Committee reports were sent up
without reading.
Mr.. Moore of Mcclellan, presented
petition of citizens against the crea-
ton of the new county of Winkler.
Referred.
Mr.. Stagner called up house bill No
295, to amend article 1859 revised
statutes, so as to allow twelve months
time for claims of state officers to be
presented to the comptroller. Bill
engroSsed.
Speaker Gibson in the chair.
Mr.. Frank called up substitute
house bill $50, fixing fees of county
officers. The substitute offered by
the committee was adopted, placing
the bill on its second reading.
The land bill required by reason of
suspension of the call of the house.
The Browning amendment was
lost, and the question recurring on
the Chenoweth amendment, it was
lost.
The section was adopted without
amendment, as follows:
Pasture lands, or agricultural lands,
not timbered, may he leased in suitable
quantities for stock and ranch pur-
poses, for not less than cents per acre
per annum, and for periods not eX-
ceeding ten years, by such agents and
under such regulations as the board
may prescribe. The regulations shall
provide for competition. Leases shall
be made in the localities where the
application for sale and lease, the sale
shall have the preference.
House adjourned till p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Speaker Gibson and a quorum.
Mr.. Lindsey called up the bill to Or
ganiZe the county of Mills, but the
house refused to suspend the pending
business. Same action on request
of Mr.. Browning.
THE LAND BILL.
The house resumed the land bill, the
pending question being section II.
Mr.. Ayres offered amendment to
strike out the words "build and fence"
Adopted.
BY Mr.. Foster, of Limestone: To
strike out first of the section down to
''remain," and make it read, "all lands
leased shall remain subject to lease"
etc. Adopted.
BY Mr.. Townsend: To add proviso
that no enclosure bordering on or
along or across any stream of water
shall have width of more than four
sections of land, and that space of
at least forty yards be left open be-
tween all such enclosures. Adopted.
The section as thus amended was
adopted, so as to read as follows:
Section II. All lands leased shall
remain subject to purchase for actual
settlement in bodies not to exceed $40
acres; but before said purchaser shall
be permitted to buy leased land, he
shall swear that he intends to actually
settle on it, and until he does actually
settle thereon, the lessee shall
remain in possession; provi-
ded that when the lessee
has but one watered section leased
from the state in the same vicinity,
such section shall not be subject to
sale and settlement during the term
of the lease: and provided further,
that when sale is made of leased
land, then the lessee shall be entitled
to have a pro rata of any rent which
he shall have paid in advance re-
fundedIto him by the treasurer of the
state, upon warrant drawn by the