The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-01

LSulIer, was excused, on account of
in his family.
The following message from the
governor was read:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
AUSTIN, January 30, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
GENTLEMEN:-I respectfully invite
your attention to the subjects herein
after REFER, d to:
THE LANDS SET APART FOR EDUcA-
TIoNAL PURPOSES.
In view of the difficulties in finding
safe and desirable investments for the
proceeds arising from the sale of these
lands, L submit to your honorable
bodies whether it will not be best to
place them on the market ut long
credit, say twenty years. The whole
subject is fraught with difficulties,
but, after mature deliberation, / am
OF opinion that sale On long time is
desirable. If the two houses shall
concur in this opinion, suggest that
minimum prices be fixed, below which
they should not be sold, and that
books be opened for bids. which shall
remain open, subject to the inspection
OF all, and at the expiration of six 6)
49, Vi oiNll llliit ito HAY NC uAtu,
the lands be awarded to the highest
bidder. The law should also REQUIRE
payment in advance equal to one ~
years interest, and should be SO
framed in other respects as to create
forfeitureS on the parties failure to
pay into the treasury all interest aid
principal promptly when due. Ideem
it proper, also, to state that the law
should SO provide that the lands shall
be sold in quantities so as to place
them within the reach of all. II any
person shall want more than any one
quantity sold, he can purchase other
tracts. Safeguards should also be
made against allowing water fronts
and privileges being taken up without
a corresponding quantity of othT
lands. Should water fronts and priv
leges be absorbed, leaving the bulk of
other lands unsold, they would realize
very little.
1t is believed that an interest can
| be derived from this mode of dispos-
| ing of the lands equal to any that can
be had from any other source, and all
questions about a safe investment are.
thereby settled. / deem it unnecessa-
ry to enter into the details of a bill on
this subject, still / may say / don't
think the minimum price of these
lands should be less than two dollars
($2) per acre. With reference to the
pine lands. or those not desirable for
pastoral or agricultural purposes, /
submit whether a sale of the timber
alone is not the best disposition that
can he made of them.
If these lands are offered in quanti-
ties that will place them in reach Of
all, and the fact of their being placed
on the market published in such man
ner that all the world may know of it
and be able TO compete for 1t, will
largely enhance the value and induce
immigration.
THE INSANE.
1t is not unsafe TO say that there
are as many insane persons confined
in the jails, homes and lyg huts over
the state as there are IL The asylum.
Instances are not wanting Of pens be-
ing built by families too poor TO en-
ploy assistants, or unable to care for
insane relations in any other way, and
, these helpless creatures being fed
through the cracks of these pens like
wild animals, and there literally per-
ishing for want of proper care and
treatment. All this Is for the want
of adequate apartments for the care
, of this unfortunate class. recon-
: mend the enlargement of the grounds
and buildings at the capital, and the
erection of another asylum in some
; distant part of the state. The trouble,
\ difficulties and expense of conveying
insane persons long distances un-
dou tedly often deters persons having
charge of them from attempting TO
get them to the capital.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
7: I respectfully call the attention of
j the legislature to the old wooden
: buildings originally erected for the
accommodation of the deaf and dumb,
: and the constant exposure of the
pupils of that institution to the danger
9 of fire. The grounds are ample, and
| if not, should be enlarged TO accom-
modate that class of the wards OF the
l state. without the erection of buildings
: of more than one story in height; and
: in view of the horrible disaster that
! would ensue in case OF fire, these
1 buildings should not be more than one
7 story.
4 FREE SCHOOLS.
Where experience has shown defects
in our school system, it should be i'm
proved. 1t will be found that the
: system of school communities and
! local control is at least the most salts
l factory. The responsibility of levying,
, collecting and distributing should be
= left rs much as possible with the peo-
9 pie. The whole question Is then i'm
l mediately before them. and il the
property of the country has the power
to tax itself and manage the funds
thus raised, it is apt to be honestly
!. done, and to their own liking. This
J suggestion of course goes beyond the
general fund that may be provided by
; the state.
1t is understood that your honorable
: bodies have under consideration pro-
posed amendments to the constitution
relating TO this subject.
From the best data before us It Is
believed that the state can pay four
and three-ffths, possibly five, months
schooling for each child in the state
within the scholastic age. i can see
no reason why other localities than
{ those now embraced by the law should
not be allowed TO levy and collect an
additional tax for the purpose of aid
: ing the state in its efforts at giving
the people an education. If the right
to levy this tax by localities Is con-
fined to property holders, there can
be but little danger Of its abuse.
The constitution cannot be amended
so as 10 allow separate school tax to
be collected SO AS TO be available under
three years.
/ do not doubt that every dollar Of
the available fund, including the one
fourth of the general revenue, will
be utilized by your honorable bodies
for the education of the youth, and
that necessary constitutional amend
ments will be submitted to the people.
/ am clearly of opinion that the
state, with little aid from communi-
ties, should be able to increase the
Scholastic months from three to five,
six or more.
THE PENITENTIARIES.
The lease of these institutions re-
Gently entered into will be before you
for your approval or rejection. In one
respect the lease in its ultimate re-
suits meets what seems to be the re-
quirements of the country, the final
abolition Of the outside labor system.
In the present organization, the two
assistant superintendent and inspec-
tors are appointed by the executive.
and this being the case, the principal
superintendent probably feels that the
fidelity with which the subordinates
III -. A. 4.