The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-01
NO. 80.

TWO separate joint resolutions fo
house joint resolutions Nos. 1. 10, /
and IL, amending sections and Ii o
article Z of the constitution, relativ,
to the state and school tax. The com
mittee merely reported two separat,
amendments. embracing same PROPOSE
tions as the original substitute, with
Mr.. Cochran's amendment. The re
port was received.
Mr.. Nash, chairman of committee
on state affairs, reported with refer.
ence to substitute for house bill No.
81. 1t is the pension bill, which WAS
discussed and re-committed the day
previous. Report received.
Mr.. Foster, of Grayson: Resolution
that hereafter house bills, on two and
three readings. have precedence at
evening sessions. The resolution lies
over under the rules.
BY Mr.. ROsenthal: Resolution ten
derlng the use of the hall to Gen.
FitZhugh Lee for the purpose OF de-
hvering his lecture on the battle of
Chancellorville, at p. IN. the 2Sth
instant.
The resolution was adopted.
REGULAR ORDERS.
Substitute for house bill 10, 125 aud
others, on the third reading and final
passage (the general election bilD, was
taken up as regular order.
Amendment offered by Mr.. Frank,
to strike out section 1896, providing
that officers of election may com.
mence counting the votes before the
polls are closed, was adopted.
Also. amendment by Mr.. Scott, that
the returns of the county shall be de-
livered in person to the clerk of the
county court.
After further slight amendments
the bill was passed to engrossment.
The house resumed consideration of
the special order of the hour, the
school tax amendments to the consti-
tuition, as reported above by Mr..
Armistead, chairman of the commit
tee on constitutional amendments.
The first amends section 3 of article
Z of the constitution, fixing the ad
yalorem tax at twenty-five cents, poll
tax 81, and sets apart one-fourth of
the revenue from the occupation tax
for the benefit of free schools.
The second amends section IL of ar
ticle 2, so that the legislature may pro-
vide for convenient school districts,
and authorizing by vote of two-thirds
OF the qualified electors the levy of a
supplemental tax not to exceed twen-
ty-tive cents for school purposes.
Speaker-The question is on en-
grossment.
After discussion, participated In by
Messrs. Ayres. Hazlewood, Wurzbach,
Cochran, Townsend, Frank, Nash,
Scott, Foster of Grayson, Caven,
Etheridge, Taylor, Graves, Burns,
Durant and Mckinney, the resolu-
tions were adopted, with an amend
ment, proposed as compromise by
Mr.. Frank, limiting the supplement
tai district tax to fifteen cents, and as
thus amended the bill was ordered en-
crossed. The final vote on engrOss-
ment was ayes 78, noes 9 votes.
Mr.. Caven, who had not voted, vOt-
ed no. on the second proposition, be-
cause he was opposed to the district
system.
House adjourned till 8 o'clock p. IN.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Speaker Gibson III the chair and a
quorum present.
Mr.. Patton, referring to house bill
No. "a, the bill amending the Sunday
laws, said a motion was made to re-
consider after the bill went to the
senate. He now asked to call up the
motion, and lay the motion to recon-
slider on the table. Carried.
Mr.. Davis of Camp, was excused for
the day. Mr.. White was excused till
tomorrow.
Petitions on prohibition were pre-
sented by Mr.. Frymier, of Houston,
Acker, of Lampasas. Referred.
Mr.. MCCARTHY presented petition of
citizens of Gonzales. describing the
boundaries of the city of Con-
zaleS for municipal purposes. Re-
ferred.
By Mr.. Frank, for Mr.. Browning
Petition of citizens of Callahan coun-
ty, praying the state to resume con-
troll of the penitentiaries. Referred.
Mr.. Foster of Limestone: Petition
for the creation of the new county of
Richland.
BY Mr.. Mcdaniel: Petition of citi-
zens of Hill and Navarro for same
purpose. Referred.
Mr.. Cotton, of Hamilton: Petition
of commissioners court against the
creation of the county of Mills.
REGULAR ORDERS.
Senate bill No. 40, to amend article
1S0 of the penal code relative to dis.
turbing Sunday schools and other re-
ligious assemblies, passed to third
reading as it came from the senate
without amendment.
Senate bill No. Al. providing for the
payment of fees to county judges,
justices of the peace, sheriffs, consta-
bles, district and county attorneys
for services rendered in examining
courts in felony cases. Passed to third
reading without amendment. 1t is a
substitute for house bills Nos. AZ, 81
and IS considered with it.
Senate bill No. 103, to amend sec
tion 7 of the act giving effect to sec.
ative to removal of county sites, pass.
ed to third reading without amend.
ment.
Substitute for senate bill No. 108
to provide for fees of attorneys in col
lecting claims against defaulting tax
collectors, was next considered.
Mr.. Hill offered an amendment II
the title, to make it an act for the re
lief of z. 4. Moore. Mr.. Moore was
county attorney Of Travis county.
Mr.. Finch opposed the bill bitterly,
though he said he had no feeling
against Mr.. Moore. He opposed the
measure on constitutional grounds
and spoke at length against the
claims of Mr.. Moore, aiming to ridi.
cule the memorial of that gentleman
to the legislature setting forth hi:
claim for services to the state in col
lecting over $4,000 for the state. TC
allow this claim, Mr.. Finch con
tended, would be to pay fees which
the attorney general had collected.
Mr.. Cravens expressed his surprise
that Mr.. Finch's patriotism had SC
suddenly effervesced, in what under
other circumstances might be consid'
cred an able effort. He was espe-
cially surprised, as that gentleman
had remained silent when so many OF
the great interests of the state had
been discussed. We were here fol
better purposes than personalities
There could be no extra compensation
in the bill, because no original com
pensation had been allowed. The
State was too grand and generous 1
power TO refuse the remedy sought by
those who served her to get compen
sation.
"a message from the senate an.
nounced the passage of house concur
rent resolution No. 35, instructine
our representatives in congress to use
their efforts against the removal OF
United States troops from the Ric
Grande frontier.
Mr.. Patton argued that the measure