Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-10
The Legislature.

= The Eighteenth Legislature oil IeAa'
/ convened at Austin yesterday. TIL,
responsibilities incumbent upon tn,
members of this body are perhaps
more delicate and important, varied
and relative, than those assumed BY
the representatives Of the people OF
the state In ante.bellum times, and the
opportunities for history of wise and
salutary craftsmanship or mischievous
imbeciiity are unboundcd. The in
tere.ts of the commonwealth, its peo-
pie and its creations, are vitality in-
volved in the proceedings and delib-
erations Of this power, and the absorb
ing, profound interest with which
legislation will be regarded aud crit
lcised, render the position of the .1ein-
bers peculiarly embarrassing and un-
enviable. The people are imbued
with realizing sense of the difficult
ties Incurred in so directing circum-
stances Of legislation in the great state
of Texas with its multiplicity
OF requirements and occasional clash
OF interests, its condition and its des-
tiny, as TO attain n possible degree Of
perfection and universal satisfaction.
They will be content to observe pat
riotic purpose to reform abuses wheI-
ever such perversions of government
exist and a unanimous action toevolve
system and active force out of the
crude mass of legislation that now en-
cumber the statute books. Above ali.
the people are impressed with conf
deace cf having returned to the halls
of legislation representatives capable
of executing their will without the in
PREVENTION of that ilIegitimate element
known ~ the third house, whose
potent influence Is too frequently dis
eerned In the shaping OF events in Amer
lean legislative assemblies. First in
the order of Importance of measures
which suggest themselves to
the consideration and action
of the Eighteenth Legislature
are the organization of an efficient
system of public education, the no.
vision or amendment of the land laws.
modification OF the statutes concern
ing taxation, al valorem and occupa.
ton, and changes In the penal laws.
whereby convict servitude is brought
In competition and contact with the
honest labor of the state. Besides IL is
announced that bill for the regula-
ton OF railroads In accordance with n
preconcerted understanding with the
champions of that measure, will be
introduced, and strenuous effort mt
forward to secure its passage. Senator
GIBBS OF the Dallas district, the espe-
cial advocate OF reform in the exemp-
ton laws, will be on hand with
ms Dill for the revision
OF those enactments. These
matters of legislation will he supple
mented with numbcrless others, fore
seen and unforeseen Hence it is an
parent that the session viii be one full
of Interest to all classes Of the popula-
ton and it is impossible to conceive
how deliherative conclusions can be ar
rived at, il each aud all these ques-
tons receive the consideration which
their Importance demand within the
limited period of n sixty days session.
1T is therefore obvious that the legis.
lature viii be compelled 70 prolonp liz
sitting or else be forced into hasty and
perhaps iniudicious action in oues-
lions 81 great public and private con-
Germ, The GAZETTE feels satisfied ,hat
there Is as much patriotic sentiment In
the Eighteenth Legislature rs in nnv
OF It's predecessors, and feels satisfied
that It's members will make a record
for wisdom and statesmanship which
shali 10 the cause OF general congratu.
lation.