The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08

%, 1879.
Mr.. Armstead, chairman of commit
tee on constitutional amendments. re-
ported:
Unfavorably, house joint resolution
to amend section Is. article l, Of the
constitution. relating to imprisOn-
ment for debt.
By substitute for house joint reso-
luton No. 6, to amend article s, sec
ton 9; house Joint resolution No. s,
amending section 9, article 8; and
house joint resolution No %, TO
amend section Q, article 8, of the con-
stitution. and that 100 copies be
printed.
Mr. Upton, chairman OF the finance
committee, reported:
UnfavOrably, house bill No. PIP. to
authorize the comptroller to audit and
and paw claims due superintendents
and directors of public free schools
| for services rendered prior to Septem-
Der ], 1879; and
Favorably, house bill 2S6. 10 provide
a clerk for the secretary of the board
OF education. etc.
Mr.. Mckinney, chairman of COM
mittee on educational affairs, reported
| as follows:
On house bill 272, to provide for the
payment to the university fund Of the
bonds, amounting to S134.472.26, exc
cuted 10y the state of January l, 1867,
in favor of said university fund
under an act OF the eleventh legisl-
ture, approved November II, 1866. en-
titled "an act for the purpose Of carry
ing into effect an ordinance of the
state convention, securing the COM
mon school and university fund, and
for other purposes, and the interest
on said bonds" The committeeTepOrt
by substitute. and that $50 copies be
printed.
The substitute Is entitled: \ bill
to provide for the payment of certain
debts OF the state out of that half OF
the proceeds of the sale of public
lands not belonging to the common
school fund. 1t is the same bill intro
duced IN the senate by Mr.. Davis, de-
claring that one-half of the proceeds
Of the sale Of public lands is declared
to constitute part OF the common
school fund and not subject to appro-
pTiatiOns named in the bill.
Mr.. Foster, OF Limestone. chairman
of committee on public printing. re-
ported:
Unfavorably OH house bill 273, 70
provide for the publication of the
laws IN one newspaper III each con
gTessional district;
Favorahly on house bill $40 to ap-
pTopriate 5000 for deficiency for pub
lie printing for year February IS,
1882. to February rs, 1888; and
Favorably on senate bill IS, amend
ing art. 1000, revised statutes. relative
to printing the general laws.
The reports OF the several commit
tees were received
y message from the senate an
nounced that the senate had passed
the house resolution for sub-cOmmit-
tee of committee on education to visit
the state schools. with amendment;
and senate bill on the same subject.
The question recurring on the mo-
tion OF Mr.. Foster, of Limestone, tC
table the motion of 3Ir. Cotton made
in the morning relative to railroad
| bill No. 1856, the speaker Stated that
those sin favor of reconsideration
would vote aye and those opposed no
The vote resulting ayes 81, noes A,
the speaker announced that the
motion 10 reconsider is laid
on the table. There was slight
| applause on the part Of few mem
beers at the announcement.
Bills were introduced by leave as
follows:
By Mr.. Townsend: To amend act
$40, c. 3, t. 2OR. S. by adding section Q.
Referred.
Mr.. Parsons: To amend at 375-8 RS.
| Referred,
Mr.. Scott: To amend act 669. C. 2,
penal code. to punish railroad EN-
ployes for burning stock land. Re
ferred.
Mr.. Foster of Grayson: To amend
the law governing assignments by
creditors. Referred.
Nj. Freymeir'S resolution for special
adjournment each day after the morn
ing business till 3 p. H., TO consider
bills reported adversely, was, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Upton, laid on the table.
Mr.. Swan called up the substitute
house bill 20, providing maximum tax
shall not exceed fifty cents and the
tax for roads and bridges shall not eX-
coed twenty-five cents. and spoke in
favor of reconsideration, his object
being to get the bill again before the
house SO he could offer amendment
that the tax should not exceed ten
cents for road and bridge purposes.
The minority reported that they
thought the bill unconstitutional, and
if not that twenty-five cents was too
much tax.
Mr.. Swan, addressing himself to the
constitutional objections raised. cited
section 2 of article ii of the constitu-
ton, which says that bridges, among
other things, shall be provided for by
general laws. Any architectural
structure, he said, was a building.
The man who makes bridge was a
builder and the bridge building. He
cited the dictionary for authority.
The word fabric was used to define
building. The trainers of the cOnsti-
tuition certainly had reference to the
meaning of the word us it is in the
dictionary. So we must conclude that
bridge is building. If it is not. he
would like to know what it is. 1t is
certS inly public building. as it is
used by the public; and as the cOnsti-
tuition says provision shall be made
for bridges, a tax for the purpose can
not be unconstitutional.
Mr.. Davis, of Camp, moved to table
the motion. Carried-ayeS 50, noes 81.
The question recurring on the
adoption of the minority report. it
was adopted.
SPECIAL ORDERS.
House bill 26, to amend article 441I,
revised statutes. so that no person
except those specially exempted shall
work on the public roads over five
days in each year, was finally passed.
House bill %, to authorize the coun-
ty commissioners court to provide for
paying claims of teachers for services
rendered between 1873 and 1876, was
taken up as next in order, and was
passed without amendment.
Mr.. Thompson, chairman of COM
mittee on engrOssed bills, reported en-
groSsment of house bill No. 156, the
railroad bin introduced by Mr.. Cheno-
weth.
Senate bill No. II, repeating the act
allowing 1880 acres of land to disabled
soldiers, without, however. invalidat-
ing certificates already issued, was fl
nally passed.
Pending consideration senate bill
30, relating to jurisdiction of several
counties, house adjourned.
Twentieth Days Proceedings.
SENATE.
AUSTIN, Feb. 2, 1888
The senate net at 10 a. H., the lieu