The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-31

SENATE CHAMBER, Jan. 90. 1881.
The Senate met pursuant to ad
tournament.
President in the chair.
Roll called and a quorum present
Prayer by the chaplain.
Reading of minutes dispensed with
The President then laid before tn,
Senate the school bill, Substitute Senate
bill, Nos. 80 and A, the special orflel
for the morning.
1t was moved that the bill be con
sidered section by section, and as each
section was read all amendments tt
such section be presented and acteC
upon before another section was con
sidered. This motion prevailed, and
the bill was so considered.
The Senate worked until half-past
one o'clock and adjourned till three
then began again and continued unit
six. Over fifty amendments
were adopted to the committee
bill, and the Senate perfected the bill
as follows: We give the sections as
they read after amended by the Sen.
ate. Unless the senators change their
minds it will pass that branch as
herein published yesterday. Eich
section has been once passed by that
body. OF course it has to pass twice
more before it goes to the House.
No doubt the rules will be suspended
and the measure passed, and the
House will get this important bill to
day.
A bill to be entitled can act to estab-
lish and maintain a system OF pub
lie free schools for the State of
texas, and to repeal so much of
chapter of title ~ of the revised
civil statutes of Texas, as refer to
public free schools outside of incor-
porated city and towns, assuming or
having assumed control of their
public free schools, and all laws and
part of laws in conflict with this
act
Section 4. All available public
school funds of this state shall be ap-
propriated in each county for the ed
ucation alike of white and Colored
children, and each race shall receive its
Just pro rata according to scholastic
census.
Sec. 5. All children without regard
to color, over eight years of age and
under seventeen years of age shall be
entitled to the benefit of the public
school fund.
Sec. 10. Public schools shall sbe
taught for five days in each week,
schools to be closed on such HOLIDAYS
as may be agreed on by the trustees
a school month shall consist of not
not less than twenty days, exclusive
of given holidays, and the public
schools shall be taught for not less
than seven hours each day, including
all receSses and intermissions.
Sec. %. The treasurer shall not I'M
der any circumstances use any portion
of the permanent or available school
funds in payment of any warrant
drawn against any other fund what
ever.
Sec. 90. In all the counties of this
state not hereinafter exempted from
this section, there shall be nominated
by the county commissioners court,
and confirmed by the state board and
state superintendent of education, a
county superintendent, who shall hold
his Office for two years and until his
successor is appointed and qualified,
such nomination to be made in July
and August, 1884, and every two years
thereafter, and if an acceptable NOM
ination is not made by the commits
Sioners' court by September l, of any
year, the board shall make the app int-
ment without such recommendation.
Sec 30. 1t shall be the duty of the
county commissioners court of all
counties not exempted from this sec
ton to sub-divide their respective
counties into convenient school dis
tricts, at least one month before the
first Monday in October, 1884. Said
courts shall designate said school dis
tricts by numbers F.; provided, that
when districts are once established
they shall not be changed without the
consent of a majority of the legal vO-
tiers in all districts affected by such
change.
Sec. 80. That whenever twenty OF
more qualified property holding tax
paying voters of any district wish,
for the purpose of taxing themselves
for the building of school houses or
upplementing the state school fund
to said district, shall
make application to the county COM
missioners' court, duly signed by
them, said court shall enter up and
order for an election to be held in said
district to determine whether such
tax shall be levied or not. Said appli-
cation shall designate the amount of
tax asked to be levied, and the order
of said court shall state: First, when
said election shall be held; second, at
what point or points the polls shall be
opened; third, the amount of tax to
be voted on; provided, that no cleo
ton shall be held to determine the
levy of tax exceeding twenty cents
on the one hundred dollars valuation
of property. The commissioners
courts shall order the sheriff to give
notice of such election by posting
three notices in the district for three
weeks before election, and the sheriff
shall obey such order. Not more than
one such election shall be held in any
one year.
Sec. 80. The county commissioners
court shall appoint presiding officer
to hold said election, who shall make
due return thereof as is required by
law for holding general election,
and all persons who favor powers of
taxation for school purposes shall
have written or printed on their tick
cts "for school Jax," and all persons
TO such taxation shall have
written or printed on their tickets
against school tax"
Sec. "a. All persons who are legally
qualified voters of the state and coun-
ty and who are resident property tax
payers in said district, as shown by the
last assessment roll, shall be entitled
to vote in any school district election,
and if at any such election two-thirdS
of such qualified voters voting at such
an election shall vote for the tax, 1t
shall be declared by the county COM
and in all cases the returning officer
shall make full and complete return
as in other elections to said court
held, and said returns shall be opened
said court and the result declared.
Sec. 80. Any one present may chal-
ienge voter, but it the challenged par
ty takes an oath that he is qualified
voter of the state and county, and that
he is resident tax payer he shall be
entitled to vote.
Sec. sc. Ali polls for school district
elections shall be opened at 10 o'clock
a. m. and shall not be closed before 4
o'clock p. M, and none of the officers
holding such elections shall be entitled
to compensation thereof.
Sec. 81. All trustees for school dis
tricts shall be elected by the qualified
voters at a school district meeting for
that purpose, on the first Saturday of
August of each year. except as here
matter provided. The commission
ers Court shall annnint the PERSONS to