The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-22

Thirty-First Days Proceedings.
SENATE
AUSTIN, Feb. Is, 1883.
The senate met at 10 a. m, Lieut.. |
Gov. Martin presiding. and quorum
present.
Prayer was offered by the chaplain,
Rev. DIR. Smoot.
motion of Mr.. Randolph, reading
of the minutes was dispensed with.
PETITIONS.
Mr.. Davis: From the citizens of
Dexter, Cooke county, on prohibition.
Mr.. Shannon, from the citizens OF
Parker, on the same subject.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Traylor: A bill amendatory OF
of article 30 of criminal code of pro-
cedure.
Also, bill fixing the fees of tax
collectors.
Mr.. Perry: A bill prohibiting elect
i've officers and attorneys at law from
becoming sureties on bonds and recog-
nizances.
A message from the house an-
npounced the passage of house bill
No. 3S.
- Jones; A bill adding articles
hob to the penal code.
SPECIAL ORDER.
solution of Mr.. Gooch, instruct
he committee on public lands 10
be bill embracing provisions for
uulA aVnh lnngA NJ CnhnnI
ls. Pending fourth proposition
- Gooch moved that the senate go
into committee of the whole. Car
ried.
Mr.. Gooch in the chair.
Question: Amendment of Mr.. Shan
nont"provided that for actual settle
ment, said lands are TO remain on the
market for sale in bodies not to eX-
eeed $40 acres to any one actual
settler"
Mr.. Shannon called for division of
the amendment.
Mr.. Jones: Amendment, providing
that parties leasing less than five
sections of land shall not be subject
TO the claims of actual settlers. Ac-
cepted and amendment adopted.
Mr.. Jones: AmGndment, striking
out four cents and inserting five cents
Lost.
Mr.. Jones: Amendment to strike
out 10 years and insert 2O years
Adopted.
Getzendaner: Amendment AL
ding lands not suitable for ranch pur'
poses. Adopted.
Mr.. CheSley: Amendment provided
further, that when the lessee has but
one water section, the same shall not
III. a.. Il. Ina
ance of the lease" Adopted.
Mr.. Matlock: Amendment striking
out 10 years and inserting o years
Lost.
On motion, Mr.. Traylor's substitute
which was withdrawn.
The section, as adopted reads: Pas
ture lands, not timbered, shall bG
leased by competition in suitable
bodies for rancho purposes, for not
less than four cents per acre when
for longer terms than ten years; pro
vided, that for actual settlement said
lands are to remain on the market in
bodies not to exceed $40 acres to any
ono actual settler, providing that
one party leasing less than five sec
Gs9sns land shall not be sub
iect To Nthe claims of actual
settlers; and provided sf-that
where lease has but ont
water section. the same shall not be
subject to sale during the continuance
---of the lease.
FIFTH PROPOSITION.
Afr. Jones: Amendment that the
lands shall be sold on twenty years
time, and all the state taxes arising
from the lands hereinbefore provided
to be sold, or leased, shall go to con-
stitute q part of the available school
fund.
MIR. Jones. in support of the amend
- ment, said: am aware that the con-
stitution defines and specifies what
shall constitute the available school
fund, but | hold that there is no
inhibition in that instrument upon
the legislature TO prevent the passage
of law to aud to what the constitu-
ton has named as that fund. This
land belongs To the school fund, and
In providing for its sale the legisla-
lure has the right to say where
the tax shall go, or in other words to
say what fund the taxes shall belong
TO. III these lands are TO be sold or
leased rs rapidly as gentlemen con-
tend they will, look at the magnificent
available school fund this state would
possess. The great complaint has
been that our schools have not been
run enough, and the reason is that
we have had no money, or not
CROUCH to run the schools but q
short time. We have reduced
the state tax, and thereby
hurt the schools. for every stop in the
reduction of taxes for the general rev.
enue is positive hurt to the school
fund, and as long as our constitution
remains as it is our school funds
(available) will be uncertain and fiuc-
tuating. Then let US engraft upon
this bin for the sale of this land con-
Edition that the state taxes arising
from the lands so sold shall make a
part of the available school fund. We
have right, in my Judgment, to do
II, and thus make our public schools
what the constitution contemplates
they should be. Then we shall see
the children of this state going to
school for six or eight months in the
year or even more. And to accomplish
this result L would not hesitate rs
long rs the constitution is at least
uncertain in its provisions on this
subject. l would much prefer to see
school houses all over this land and
the children crowding them, than to
and protect the general revenue. Let
rs vote for the amendment.
The constitutionality of the amend
ment was discussed in several speech
es. resulting in the rejection of the
amendment.
Mr.. Cooper presented resolution
prohibiting further discussion ON the
proposition, which the chair decided
to be out of order.
Mr. Davis amendment striking out
thirty years and inserting twenty as
q longest period of lease. Lost.
Mr.. Stratton: Amendment, adding
proviso that all lands sold under
this clause shall be sold to the highest
bidder at public auction after notice
and that ne ktSs Ishdll be received for
- price thaa the price fixed in
c1auR No. 2.
Decided by the chair as out of or
der.
The fifth proposition was then
adopted
Sixth Proposition.-The rate of in
terest shall be 4 per cent.