The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-31
fciency appropriation bill, as amended by the

| amended
Senate. Carried.
The amendments include appropriations o
5000 for fees of district clerks, attorneys
snerllfS, ana other officers; 5000 for exense
SD, 20 for payment of interest on the stat
0ebt Tor ? year ending February 2S, 1885.
Inc amendments were concurred in.
The House resumed substitute House bill Nos
80 and 81, The bill pending at adjournment
and amendment 70 section one which had beer
offered by MI Foster, OF Limestone, Saturday
| making IL the duty OF the attorney general Il
| institute proceedings for unlawful enclosure
| was adopted
| Various amendments were proposed as to TIL
| amount OF the fire 10 be imposed for unlawful
| enclosures as miSdemeanOrS under another
| amendment proposed to section one SATURDAY.
| by MIR. Foster, of Limestone.
Speaking to the amendments, Mr. Odom Of
tunnels, made an animated speech against
| the proposition to impose heavy penalties upuu
! stockmen. The idee seemed al along so far "a
| to leglSlate under mistaken views as to the
lacts against one OF the grandest interests OF
| the state, that of the cattle men who had SO
| largely contributed to opening up the state To
settlement and prosperity in the west. Such
| action was calculated to crush out cattle rails
ing, which WOS one of the greatest enterprises
III Texas. Ten million dollars worth of fences
had been destroyed by the nippers, Texas
good collateral with capitalists and her great
business Interests were largely paralyZed from
the Rio Grande TO the Red River. The fence
the state slOO0JO,OGO. He had no
sympathy with the midnight marauders
who prowled around like hell hounds at night
sumed pretexts. lie would be as ready as any
man TO fight for the State, but if justice was
not done to all interests. he would be willing
to see the State divided. For his part he
would rather his arm should fall paralyzed and
his tongue cleaye to the roof OF his mouth than
raise his voice in defense of fence cutters.
MIR. OdOm argued that there was no COM
plant OF the pasture men except, possibly, i'll
d few isolated cases, which should not preju-
dice the action of the House against the cattle
men as class.
Several amendments were proposed and
tabled.
Mr., Browning spoke urging that the bill
should be so amended as to apply alike to all
classes, and opposed the amendment.
MIR. Foster of Grayson made strong and
eloquent speech in this line, for which he was
applauded. He appealed to the house to Ie-
gard carefully the Interests of the west as well
as other sections OF the state with equal fair
ness and Justice. AS fer himself, whatever the
S SpHa nj Interests OF any Secilon might be- he
general interests OF the state. He advised
others to do this, and if they did not please
Their constituents let their people send others
to represent them.
Mr.. Graves, OF Grayson, argued that the
trainers of the bill would, like the inventors of
the guillotine, be decapitated by it, or like the
author of the MarSeilles hymn, would find
themselves marching to their own music to the
block of the executioner. They were now fall
ing into a trap which they had set for another
section OF the state.
MIR. Ayers favored the bill as being as fair as
could we'll be devised in the interests OF all
sections.
All the amendments proposed by Messrs
ArmStead, Craven and others, were lost ex-
cept the one offered by Mr.. Stout, to make
every three months unlawful enclosing a
separate OfienSe, which was adopted
Amendment by Mr.. Upton to strike out of
the Foster amendment the clause which pro-
yldeS that half the fine shall go to the owner of
the Land and that 1t shall be no bar to civil
nit, was adopted.
Mr.. PATTERSON offered an amendment provid-
ing that the provisions of this act shall rot ap-
Ply to persons and corporations making en-
closures in good faith.
Mr.. Thompson, of Bexar, spoke in favor of
TINS amendment, as supporting his views pre-
Vioasly expressed as to the bin. The cases in
yolved were often those where parties have
died and their estates have gone into the hands
81 the administrators, in which, as he said be-
fore, the bill without amendment would
make felons of widows and orphans For
this reason he favored the amendment.
The Patterson amendment was adopted.
By Mr.. CraVenS: Amendment to the Foster
that the provisions of the bill
shall not apply to endorsement of less than
TO ty acres.
Mrssrs. Cravens, Foster of Limestone, Ken
dali, Scott, Etheridge and others spoke as to
the spirit which should actlIate the House in
legislation upon this subject.
Pending discussion the House adjourned till
3 Bpm.
House resumed consideration of the CraYen'S
amendment to the pending bill.
Mr.. ArmStead offered a substitute providing
that the provisions of this bill shall not apply
where an entire enclosure, made in good faith,
contains DO acres or less used only for agricul-
tural purposes. Accepted by Mr.. Cravens.
The main question being ordered, after some
discussion had on the substitute, the amend
ment was lost. Ayes 10; noes 10. The bill was
ordered engrOSSed.
The House refused to suspend the rules to
put the bill on its final passage.
Several petitions on the fence question were
referred.
By Mr. Phelps: Bill preventing wanton de.
StructiOn of grass. Referred.
By Mr.. PendletOn: Bill to prohibit trrspass
by loose stock. Referred
By Mr.. Rushing: ReSOlut on that evening
session be devoted to Senate bills. Lies over.
By Mr.. Cundiff: To extend investments of
courthouse bonds so as to mature jail bonds.
BY Mr. Odom: To provide compensation for
persons whose fences have been destroyed.
Mr.. Peers, acting chairman, reported sundry
ills enrolled.
By Mr.. Labait: To secure investment of
school funds. Referred.
Mr.. Cunditf called up House bill amending
the judicial district act
The bill wss finally passed.
Senate bill No; 81 amending the same act
Mr. Barrett asked to call up Senate bill No.
20, fixing time of court in the 10th district.
Bill finally passed.
Mr.. Robinson called uo similar bill. substi-
tute for House bill Nos. Sc and 81. Bill finally
passed.
Mr. Swan had Senate bill No. 35 Of same kind
similarly disposed OF. 1t relates TO the Both
district.
The House adjourned till 10 o'clock Tuesday
morning.
Miss Dixie Crooks, of Sherman, Texas, will
sing at memorial services of the House of Rep
this evening. The music will be
Inier the direction of Miss Rankin and their
choir from the Cumberland Presbyterian
church. The services are in memory of the
late w H. Tucker, of Anderson, and A. j. Leo,
IF HidalgO. Addresses will be made by Messrs.
ArmStead. Benavides, Jones, of Henderson,
Thompson, of Bexar, and others.