The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

House met at $50 a. m, Speaker
Gibson and quorum present.
Prayer by the chaplain, Rev. DR..
Poindexter.
Mr.. Henderson was added to the
committee on state affairs.
Bills, resolutions, ETC., were read as
follows:
From speakers desk: Petition of
citizens from Ellis county on prohibit
ton. Referred.
By Mr.. Cochran: Bill to amend the
law for the protection of fish, by pre-
venting the sale or giving away of fish
berries. Referred.
Mr.. Harrison: Joint resolution to
inquire into the validity of the lease
of railroads in this state. Referred.
Mr.. Leo: Resolution providing for
delivery of letters of members detain-
ed in~the postoflice for want of post
age, by having deposit made with the
postmaster. Adopted.
Mr.. Moore, of Washington, was eX-
cused till Tuesday, on account of i'm
portant business.
Various committee reports were
sent up without reading.
On motion of Mr.. Wurzbach, chair
man of committee on lands, the
various land bills reported by the
committee were made special order
ii j. III. Monday.
REGULAR ORDER.
Resolution of Mr.. Foster, of Gray
son, relative to bills on second and
third reading. Laid over on account
of MIR. Fosters absence at the time.
Substitute for house joint resolu-
ton Nos. 4, 10, IL and Ii, providing for
state school tax of % cents and dis
trict school tax of 10 cents.
Mr.. Lakewood spoke in favor Of
motion which he made to consider the
district proposition first. He would
rather see the walls of the capitol
crumbled and the habitation of bats
and Lizards than see the district sys-
TEN destroyed.
Mr.. Rosenthal-As friend of both
propositions l move to lay the motion
on the table. Carried-Ayes Al, nays
43.
Mr.. Ayers offered an amendment
making the state tax, mot more than
% cents nor less than Is cents, so it
could not be less than Is cents.
Mr.. Ayres said:
Mr.. Speaker, the amendment
which / present fixes the minimum
state tax at fifteen cents on the one
hundred dollars worth of property. /
have no wish to make again an argu-
ment in favor of fixing a minimum
to the state tax. The amendment Is
again presented to show the majority
that /, for one, at least, of the minor
lty, still insist upon some guaranty of
such state tax as will secure the
maintenance of state system. i APP
prehend that it will not require more
than three-quarters of a minute for
the house to lay my amendment upon
the table. But this only shows the
stubbornneSs with which the majority
still refuse to give the minority any
guaranty, whatever, for the continu-
ance of a state system. Again, / say
If the majority will give me such
guaranty as ntemplated by this
amendment, I am willing to lay down
my opposition to the resolution pro-
viding for local tax. do not oppose
the local tax on principle, but merely
insist the state tax should first be
settled.
The amendment was lost, and the
proposition of the Joint resolution
was finally passed-ayes 80, nays 6.
Mr.. WurZbach-I move to reconsid-
er the vote by which the bill passed,
and to lay that motion on the table.
Mr.. Upton appealed to Mr.. w. to
withdraw the motion.
Mr.. Wurzbach changed the motion
so as to have it simply spread on the
journal.
Mr.. Upton-That is sufficient.
The motion was adopted.
Mr.. Barrett offered ON amendment. |
which was adopted, to add at the close |
of section the words .but the limi-
tation herein on the amount of tax
authorized shall not apply to cities |
and towns constituting separate and |
independent school districts" Mr.. |
Barrett spoke in support Of his |
amendment.
Mr.. Townsend offered an amend
ment to section by adding the fol-
lowing: Provided, that 40 district !