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

pass this bill. The house passed bill
a few days ago withdrawing the uni
versity, asylum and public school
lands from the market, and the people
demand that we take the fifty-
cent lands from the market.
Now, if the constitutional objection
is correct, can we pass this bill after
having passed the one withdrawing
the other lands from the market? /
believe we can pass this bill without
acting in contravention of the consti-
tuition. am in favor of the amend
ment for this reason: This bill with
draws these lands from the market,
which is proper and right; it also
withdraws it from the purpose for
which it was originally dedicated.
These lands were originally set apart
and reserved one-half for payment of
the public debt, the other half to go to
the public schools. If we pass this
bill as it is, will it not open up the
reservation for the location of certifi-
Gates? We have taken it out of the
reservation to which it originally be-
longed, and do you not then place it in
the hands of the legislature without
appropriating 1t for any other specific
purpose, and do you not open it up to
the location OF outstanding certifi-
Gates? / believe that unless the
amendment is inserted, we open up
the reservation and anybody who has
certificates can place them upon it.
MIR. Shannon-I made the motion to
postpone because several senators
wanted it printed. | withdraw the
motion to postpone.
Mr.. JoneS-The people from all
parts of this state wish the tifty-cent
lands withdrawn from the market.
do do not see any benefit to be gained
by hedging the bill about with numer-
GUS amendments. Any modification
In reference to the suspension can be
made by future legislation. / favor
the passage Of the bill as it comes from
the house.
Mr.. Chesley-I move that the
amendment proposed by the commit
tee be laid upon the table.
Mr.. TERRELL think that the chair
man of the committee to which the
bill was referred, contemplates an adj
dition to the amendment which will
answer the wishes of the senate. /
trust the gentleman from Austin
county will withdraw his motion for.
a few minutes, in order that the gen.
tleman from Montague may make the
addition.
Mr.. Chesley-I will comply with the
senator's wish with pleasure.
| Mr.. Harris-A while ago thought
the first portion of the amendment
offered by the committee ought to be
adopted, but on reflection | am in
clined to think the bill sufficient with
out it; and believe it to be best not
! to adopt any portion of the amend
ment. We cannot tell what effect he
amendment may have In delaying the
bill until the heels of the session. |
think the bill sufficiently comprehen-
sive to retain these lands for the pur-
pose Of their original dedication,
while suspending their sale, at least |
} by implication. l therefore renew the |
motion to lay the committees amend |
ment upon the table.
Mr.. Terrell ask the gentleman
from Bell to withdraw his motion for
an instant only.
The Chair-A motion to table is not |
subject to discussion.
A vote was taken but division |
was called for, and afterwards the |
yeas and nays.
The amendment was tabled upon |
the second vote by II yeas to IL nays, |
Mr.. Terrell voting in the Affirmative |
Mr.. Terrell move to reconsider |
the vote by which the committee |
amendment was laid upon the table, |
and l will state my reason. While |
the chairman of the committee who |
reported the amendment was prepar-
ing, as stated to the senate, an amend |
ment to the former amendment of the |
committee, and when the motion to |
table had been withdrawn by courtesy |
of the senator from Austin, in order |
that an amendment might be pre- |
pared, while the chairman was pre- |
pairing the amendment, a speech was |
made to the senate upon the original |
bill by the senator from Bell, and |
closed with motion to lay upon the |
table. l ask if it was courtesy to the |
senate to make the motion? 1 there |
fore ask that the senate reconsider |
the vote that was taken upon the |
motion to lay upon the table.
Mr.. Pfeuffer-Mr. President
Mr.. Terrell do not desire to be |
interrupted just at present.
Mr.. Pfeuffer-I was just going to
ask what was the vote by which the
motion to table prevailed?
The Chair-The gentleman is out
of order. The gentleman from Travis
has the floor, and he declines to be in
terruted.
Mr.. Terrell-As I was proceed
ing to say, l think no discourte-
sly was intended by the sena-
tor from Bell, but the chairman of
the committee who reported the bill
and amendment should be permitted
to place the amendment before the
senate.
Mr.. Harris-With reference to the
question of senatorial courtesy, I'M
derstand that the gentleman from
Bell has been guilty of no discourtesy
towards the chairman of this commit
tee, or towards any other senator upon
this floor.
Mr.. Terrell-Permit me to
Mr.. Iiarris-No, sir; not just now.
l think l know what djscourtesy is.
l do not think am, as senator upon
this floor, to do an act for the sake of
courtesy that may result in peril to
the interests of the state. The
motion to lay the committee ameud-
ment on the table certainly did not
involve any idea that no amendment
should be made to the original bill.
The senator from Travis, who said
to this senate that he thought the
naked bill was safe, has made mo-
ton to reconsider vote by which an
amendment to that bill was laid upon
the table, and thus allows the amend
ment to imperil the passage of this
bill. My experience convinceS Inc
that it will not do for senators repre-
senting constituencies to rest upon
courtesy alone, and thus perhaps inn
peril the best interests of the state.
In tho last session Of the legis-
lature both houses seemed to try
to pass this very bill and failed, and,
so far as my vote goes, it shall not
fail now either on account of the cen
sideration of courtesy or otherwise.
Mr.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. represent ing
different parts of this state have very
different views of what is right for
their constituents, perhaps for the
state at large, and what is for the best
interests of the state at large. l be-
lieve it would be for the best interests
of the state to adopt the amendment
of the committee with the addition
that pro- oseI to make to it, for the
reason that, as l said before, if the bill
IS passed as it is at present, it !
will make no reservation whatever,
and, unless it is reserved by some act
OF some measure, l believe it then
becomes public vacant domain sub
ject to the location of certificates. If
am correct in the views j en-
terrain, the interests OF the