The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-15
LETTER FROM AUSTIN.
A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF AFFAIRS
The Air surcharged VIII the Aroma Of
Reform-The Clerk Brigade on the
Ragged Edge University
and Kindred Subjects.

AUSTIN, Jan. 1S.-EEditorial cores
pondence. when this reaches the
readers Of the HERALD, the great prob.
lens that are now agitating the minds
of the crowds gathered here will be set
tied forever. l mean as to who will fill
the offices. 1t is certainly lamentable
siSht TO see the great number of patri-
otto citizens who are anxious to serve
their country. From the speakers
place to the pages and porters there are
from four to ten candidates. The men,
bers are generally good-natured and go
home at night with pockets full of can
didates' cards that are emptied to make
room for new supply next day.
There will be strong effort to re-
trench, as the surplus in the treasury
Two years ago is growing beautifully
less. The only thing to be feared, I
take it, is whether this effort will be
made in the right direction. A gentle
man, in position to know, saws
there may he consolidation
in the offices of seeretarv
of state and that of insurance statistics
and history. These offices, with good
chief clerk, can easily be managed by
the secretary OF state. 1t is also claimed
s'os eoNAO Db al Oh force
In several of the departments, as we'll
as reduction of salaries. There is no
good reason why man should be paid
from SO to $50 more tor working for the
state than he would get il he were work.
ing for an individual the same number
OF hours, and doing the same amount of
work. AS these questions are being
talked OF, 1T will not be surprising if a
committee should be appointed to in
cure into the expenditures of depart
ments for clerk hire.
While upon this subject cannot re-
rain from attending TO matter my at
tention was directed TO to-day. The
gentleman with whom | conVersed was
from ono of the wealthiest and most
populous counties in north Texas. He
said the state spends annually n large
amount OF money for clerk hire, and
consequently must employ a great
many men in the departments, but, said
ne, III IS strange that few or none of
tnese clerks are north Texas men. My
county" he said, sis wealthy non
ulous county, and we have no repre-
sentative in any department, except the
penitentiary." Referring to this matter
again IN the presence of gentlemen
from kaufman, Dallas and Hunt, it was
SAID that none of these counties had
clerks in any of these departments. This
may not be true with all north Texas
counties, or perhaps not absolutely true
OF the counties referred TO, but the
scarcity Of men from that part of tbe
state that does the voting and tax.nav-
ing is certainly noticeable. What will
we do with the State University is n
question asked frequently. 1t does not
seem to be thriving well. The peopie of
Iexas do not seem to recognize that we
nave an institution of learning hero
that offers the advantages of eastern
colleBes, ana without cost
TO those desiring collegiate education.
80 llght has been the patronage from
other parts of the state that by some il
is termed the Austin High School
Out OF $50 students Austin furnishes
sixty nine. An able faculty has been
secured at heavy expense. This faculty
are here and are able to instruct a larger
number of pupils if they were here to
receive the instruction. As it now il
the pupils, it is said, that are now I'm at
tendance cost the state annually
about Sl2O0 each. There are
various suggestions as to what should
ne done. Among other things il is said
TO secure an attendance from all parts
oil the state there should be dormitories
ana boarding house constructed by
The state in order TO insure the students
reasonable board. In short, to adopt a
plan similar TO that Of the University of
Virginia. Under the existing law tho
institution is under the control n q
board OF regents. The plan is not work.
ing well. The law provides that this
board shall he appointed from different
parts OF the state. 1t is with,he greatest
difficulty that quorum of tho board
can be gotten togethepfor transaction
OF business, and lit Nittle interest IL
manifested by thPmajority of the board.
There will probably. therefore. be an
effort TO giv5 tie state board of educa-
ton the copCrol of the university. ps
they are al here, and could give the in
stitutionA attention IL deserves. It's
chargeH there is too much alton
ton gIV the law to the detrimentor
otlefpro. tssions. 1t is well enough for
t.fe state to educate her young men i'm
the literary department, but when IL
comes to the professions there should be
some tuition charged.
Col. Elliott, chief commissioner of tho
worlds exposition, has sent out his re-
port, and he asks the governor to APP
point Texas day. The day will proba-
bly, be named this week, rs also the Or
ator.
The present senate has some very
young men in 1t. In fact, they seem to
predominate. Senators Terrell, OF
kaufman; Bell, of Hamilton; Camp. of
Upshur; Kilgore,of Van Zandt; Stinson,
OF Hunt; Calhoun of Eastland, all take
prominent places in the senate. III.