Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-02
LEGISLATION.
But Little Hopes OF its Accomplishment
Before Adjournment.
"Rutabaga," His Broadside Into Mr.
Secretary Baker.


Austin January Sl.-The pro-
gress of Legislation yesterday en-
Outraged but little hopes that the
busin ess for W lch the session was
called can be accomplished in the six
DAYS. The senate is hatch
: ing felonies US fast as possible, but II Is
not believed that the house will readily
accept the place OF wet-nurse and
nourish them into quickness.
Day before yesterday the killing
of domestic animals and birds
canary, for instance was raised
to the dignity of u penitentiary
offence, and yesterday setting fire
TO grass was added to the barbed code.
These measures may he very good
things, but that legislation should
always go slow which proposes tn Gre
ate new crimes and multiply and in
crease penalties, ana IL Is more than
probable that this class Of felonies will
need crutches in the house, not that a
majority of that body would vote no
on the final passage of the bills, for
the majority Is q little bIood-thirsty,
but the minority Is unwary, willy and
obstructive, and eau stave of any
thing almost TO the end of the session.
The senate moved into county affairs
after disposing of the grass.burning
felony, and passed the first and sec
ond-class road-amendng bill, and
the bill permitting counties
to issue bonds to build bridges. It
also passed the bill providing for the
change Of venue before indictment
in felony cases. Take it all-in-all it
was a good days work for the senate
bat il is questionable whether any
real progress was made, These bills
must 20 10 the house and run the
gauntlet OF that bedlam of amuse-
ments, previous questions, ayes and
noes and babbling. When bill
passes in either house and is sent to
the other, II has reached only about n
third of the way to final enactment,
and bills that excite great interest and
much opposition generally find u
graveyard after successful accouch-
ment in the house OF its birth.
1t is safe to say that
about one-third of the time
in both houses is consumed in
the silly practice Of taking the ayes
and noes on every question, and OBJ
structing motions. Is there AN amend
ment to the amendment, a substitute,
motion to lay on the table, to adjourn,
''ayes and noes, cry out all the fell
lows who want record, and some
that don't. Poor fellows, little do
they suspect their record to end with
this session Of the legislature. There
are, surely, number OF good men In
the two bodies, but the bulk of them
are questionable quantities in legisla-
tive measurement, and there Is less
than half u dozen atoms that will even
grow to the size of a governor or mem
Der of congress.
''Rutabaga" the likes that
name IT'S euphoni0us ant
keeps him from having the cholera
Yes Rutabaga is sometimes cranky
and If he Is not always wrong IL is no
his fault. He ought never to yentur
upon the business of legislating 70
anybody but Rutabaga, aud then h
should have IA next friend 10 steer hin
clear of Jagged angles. While discuss
ing the school bill Mr.. Baker, secretar
of tho board of education walked int
the senate chamber and stopped me
nent Ia listen to the debate. "Ruta
baga" spied him. and cOnceiving tn
notion that 1t was an impropriety fc
that gentleman to be present while tn
senate was considering the educationG
bill, ilred br0ad-side of jumbled Et
glish AT MIN that might have demo
lshed anybody but an educator, boo
agent or aeDmmerclal tourist; but IL di
not phase Mr.. Baker, and the senate
nom colin harmed no one but hin
self.
Colonel Templeton's marriage an
sudden flight to New York was su
prise to his friends. He kept VI
sweet little secret from the govern
and heads OF departments TIL the vel
crisis, and they were rs much ~
prised AS the multitude Of gossips wi
Were deprived of the precious mors
till too late for small talk and scand
to do any good. The colonel has be-
reasonably successful in life 30 {,
having served one term rs secretary
state aud being now the honored (
cupanl of the Encouragement $
ton, but this achievement crowns
supremest good fortune and weave.
wreath to his renown holler. mob
and more endearing than all the pei
successes that have distinguished
career In politics aud professional II
he has won the capital prize in
great lottery of human aims and hop
and Il will be the JOY OF his friends
see MN prosperous and happy, and
lovely briae all that heaven besto
wiih the heart and hand of low
companion and perfect wife.
Inc only rule In the house u
members, clerks and spectators
learning To respect * the one requlr
hats OIL. Smoking IL allowed. ,
there Is no objection to dress OF
dress. MIR. Clerk Booth works IN
shirt sleeves, and Is not abashed
appear before the senate on dIt
In that free-nnd-easy style. But
ting the fashion for members IL
the only example Col. Booth II
fests--he Is born legislator.
bulges over or through a thousan'
stacles that are thrown in his wa
design or blunder and aids mater
In passing measures that ought 10
and defeating those that ought n