The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
Eighteenth Legislature.
second Days Proceedings
A
SENATE

o'clock n In, Lieut.. Gov. Storey presl-
ding.
All the senators were present.
Prayer by the chaplain-O Lord,
our God, we come with thanksgiving
to Thee this morning for Thy preserv-
ing care of the past night. We come
to thank Thee that no misfortune,
sickness, disease, or death has over
taken any member of this body. We
come to pray Thee to preserve them
during to-day, and to preserve their
families at home. Bless them in all
their relations in life and in all their
public relations, and finally save them,
for ChriSt'S sake. Amen.
The reading of the journal was dis
pensed with, on motion Of MIR. Hous-
ton.
BY Mr.. Kleberg, of DeWitt-Re-
solved, That thesenate proceed at once
to elect its own postmaster.
Mr.. GOoch: The special committee
appointed pursuant to the resolution
on Yesterday to ascertain what officers
might be necessary for the senate and
recommend their rate Of compensa-
ton, are now ready to report, and ]
move that the resolution be postponed
dlbCA bAC lCPOlb 40 ny
senate. The motion prevailed
Senators-elect Pope and GetZenda-
ner presented their credentials and
were sworn.
On motion of Mr.. Shannon, the gen.
tlemen named were excused for nom
attendance on yesterday.
Pending the report of the commit
tee on senate employees, Mr.. Patton, of
I.avaca, raised the point Of order that
the casting lots for seats was made
the order Immediately after the morn-
ing call.
The Chair-The morning call is not
concluded. The gentleman is out OF
order. l suggest that the number OF
seats be put in one hat, the
names of the senators i'll an
other. The names and numbers
to be drawn, separately, simulta-
neously and the senator whose name
is ON the slip drawn, shall take the
seat the number of which is on the
seat slip.
Mr.. Gooch moved that in drawing,
the names of senators only be put in
the hat, and that the senators go out
side the bar and that the senators So
lect, in the order in which their names
are drawn, the seats they may de-
sire.
Mr.. Pfeuffer-I think that plan can
be hardly satisfactory; and move that
the plan suggested by the president
be substituted first.
Mr.. GoOch-My reason for making
the motion is, that there are some nIen-
bers here who desire to sit at the back
of the chamber, and others at the front.
1t may be that those who desire to sit
in the rear will draw front seats, aud
those who prefer the frOptJWiil draw
rear seats. BY my proposition they
have the opportunity OF selecting ac-
cording TO their preferences; the
c2ancea--0f getting good seats are
equal, while those for getting seats
desired are better.
Mr.. Pfeuffer Il see no advantage
that this plan has over the one pro-
posed by the president. The latter Is
more satisfactory.
The substitute prevailed, and the
members were seated accordingly.
Mr.. johnson, of Collin, for the COM
mittee on senate employees, submitted
the following report:
Resolved, That the president of the
senate shall appoint a postmaster, four
porters and three pages; and the chair
men of Judiciary committee No. l,
judiciary committee No 2, and of the
finance committee, shall each have the
power to appoint committee clerk;
that the pages and porterS be allowed
81 per day each, and that the others
named be allowed the same compensil-
ton as the senators. 1t is believed
that in the earlier part of the session
no other employees than those named
will be required; and if eXigencies
shall hereafter arise requiring others,
they can be provided for at that time.
The committee clerks, when not en-
gagged by the committees for which
they are appointed, may be required
to serve other committees which may
need them.
The Chair-The question is on the
adoption of the resolution.
Ayes and nays called for.
Mr.. Kleberg offered an amendment
authorizing the senate to elect its
postmaster.
Mr.. Gooch-It has been usual and
customary in this body to authorize
the president of the senate to appoint
the postmaster, pages and porters.
There must be some reason for de-
priving him of the appointing power
of the postmaster and still leaving it
as to pages and porters. l assume
that it is done by the friends of the
present postmaster of this body, who
suspect that the presiding ofAcer in
coming, may desire some other per-
son; and if that be the object, and /
onnnnaaa n 10 tho nhiaat I think n 10
not right to deprive the president of
the usual and customary appointing
power for the reason that he may
not appoint, or may remove, the
existing postmaster. So far as know,
he is able and efficient; but he has no
right to the position merely because
he has occupied it previously. do
not know that that is the object, but
if it is not, do not see what it is. i
do not wish to make that diScrimina-
ton against our absent presiding ot1i-
Ger relieving him of his customary APP
pointing power.
Mr.. Gibbs moved to table the amend
ment. Motion lost, question recurring
to amendment.
Mr.. Terrell do not see any dispo-
sition to thrust at our presiding Oili-
Ger. The employment of the post
master is unlike that of any other of
our employees. To him is committed
the delicate trust of receiving our
mail, taking care of it, and delivering
or forwarding it to US. l can see
reason why senators may prefer APP
pointing their own postmaster with
out desire to wound our president
by relieving him of his appointing
prerogative.
Mr.. Gooch-I would like to ask
the gentleman from Travis if he is in
formed that the presiding officer of
the senate does not expect to appoint
the present incumbents of that office.
MIR. Terrell-My information could
not shed the slightest light upon the
question in discussion. It Is true
that l understand that the present in
cumbents may not be reappointed !;
but rose simply to give reason
why some senators might desire to
make discrimination in respect to the
postmaster and not to other servants
of the senate.
The amendment was lost-ayes IA,
nays 15-and the report of the COM
mittee was adopted.
By Mr.. Matlock, Resolved, That
the secretary of state be requested to
furnish for the use of each member of
the senate a copy of the revised
statutes of the state and of
the acts of the general and called
session of the XVIth and XVIIth
legislatures, and that the sergeant-at-
arms of the senate procure the same.