The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-07

AOOOiu why Nc fcl uSeu 10 concur 4
the report of the committee. First.
was in one sense class legislation: sec
ond, it involved herd law, and thirc
IL proposes to legalize the unlawful
enclosing of the lands OF another o
the public lands of the state. 1t wa
class legislation in that it protects Tn
small settler on 200acres provided he il
farmer or agriculturist, while shou,,
he be poor stockman he is subject d
penalties within the law and mus,
suffer. 1t was aherd law in imposin.
a line OF 500 for grazing on puhlii
lands of the state. as he showed b,
diagram of its effects upon differcrI
| parties owning alternate sections Of
land. The poor man would have {.
herd his stock or dispose of them bc
cause he could not pay the fine O;
rent. County surveyors would have
to run the lines to prevent men from
being subjected to penalties.
AS to the third point the bill fixes
the price at which any man can esi-
| close the lands of another, or of the
state, without their consent. So HELM
him Gcd he had rather go home and
say we had no legislation than submit
to that proposition.
Mr.. Browning said as to the provis-
lon that man may excuse himself
by depositing 10 cents per acre. WHY
not make him deposit the minimum
of the fine. AS to the herd law he
concurred in what had been said. and
would rather go without ANYTHING
than have such a bill as this, so detri-
mental to his district. On such a linz
he would say let the cattle men and
wire cutters fight it out. He did not
propose to interfere as the bill would
favor the wealthy to the prejudice Of
the smaller interests.
Mr.. Swan argued that to defeat this
measure would defeat any legislation
upon the subject at this time. This
would be death to the industrial in
terests of Texas and to the admins
tration, and death to the Democratic
party in Texas. He was not in favor
OF the bill as an isolated proposition
but the question was, shall we take 1t
as whole as an Improvement of the
present system or defeat it. 1t was a
compromise he argued for the present
and the Nineteenth Legislature could
cure its defects.
Mr.. WurZbach said the object of
this legislature was to remedy evils.
but the bill he commended would legal
ize stealing. 1t was like jumping
from the fire pan iuto tho fire. This
bill will be adding fuel to the fire
instead of settling this question.
Mr.. Hill said that if the Democratic
party could not be sustained on prin-
ciples of honesty and right, it should
go to the devil, and if the administra-
ton falls with it let it tumble. If it
can't be sustained on the principles of
justice let it go down. There was
nothing in the Senate bill by which
we could tell whether it was the
House bill or not. He would not stul-
tify himself by voting for a bill that
legallzeS taking the land of another.
Mr.. Pendleton said the question is
not what we prefer, but whether the
bill Is preferable to no legislation. The
actual occupant, he commended, was
protected, and the nonresident would
get 10 cents for land he was not using.
and the school fund would be bene-
flied.
After Mr.. Upton closed the discus
sion, the report of the committee was
rejected as stated.
The school bill was next considered.
Mr.. Labatt offered amendment ex-
empting Galveston from the district
school tax.
Numerous other counties were
added and exempted.
Many others were exempted from
the provision to have county super
intendents.
House adjourned till 7:3O p. m.
NIGHT SESSION. -
Speaker Gibson and a quorum pres
emit.
The school bill being the order, Mr..
Chambers said as matter of compro-
mise it had been agreed to dispense
with county superintendent
The Townsend amendment was ac-
cordingly adopted as to that provision.
Mr.. Armstesd moved to reconsider
the vote by which the House had
changed the scholastic age from six
teen to eighteen years. Carried.
Mr.. Foster, of Grayson, spoke in
favor of the Senate amendment, sew
enteen years.
House voted for sixteen years.
The Labatt amendment was recon-
sidered as to exempting Galveston and
other counties from the district tax.
BY MIR. Rainey-Amend section 40,
increasing allowance to county Judges
from $40 to 500. Lost.
BY Mr.. Chamberlain amendment
to allow each district supervision by
trustees where there is no local tax.
Lost.
Bill passed to third reading.
Several cornties were struck out
from the list of exemptions of the dis
trict tax, section 80, and numerous
others added to the list.
Bill finally passed-aye5 70, noes 10.
Senate bill q, authorizing cities and
towns to issue bonds to build court
houses, ETC., passed finally.
Senate bill 80, to provide for leasing
school land leagues in unorganiZed
counties, came up next in order.
Mr.. Armstead offered an amend
ment making the price 6 instead of 10
cents.
By Mr.. Jones-To make it 5 cents.
BY Mr.. Cundiff-To limit leases to
not less than five years. Withdrawn.
The amendments were ruled out of
order.
BY Mr.. Scott-To strike out the
reservation of thirty feet around each
league. Lost.
The bill finally passed ayes, So;
nays, %.
Senate bill No. 3 came up, being an
act to donate the public domain to the
free school fund.
The adverse report of the committee
was adopted, defeating the bill.
Senate Bill No. 36, requiring COM
courts to lay out first-class
roads.
Amendment requiring first class
roads in pastoral counties to be gated.
Lost.
Motion to postpone indefinitely
was lost, and the bill passed to its
third reading.
Senate bill No. 30, relative to fishing
on enclosed lands was lost.
House agreed to free conference on
the tax bill.
Senate bill No. 80, requiring fiist-
class roads to be 60 feet wide, etc, was
lost.
House adjourned till $50 Tue, day.
The best smoking tobacco is Little
JOKER"