The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-26

better he argued to thus hav
and preserve the properly al
lucrative dicta of the couI
which was fully constitutional
He also took occasion to urge takiD
up the question of prohibition, an
other constitutional amendments.
| Mr.. Cravens moved the preVi. u
question on the motion to reconside
the minority report against the Rail
road Commission bill.
| A call of the House was demanded
by the friends OF the bill and stopped
its consideration.
House bill was engrossed, giving
County Commissioners court author
ity to appoint sheriffs to act when
ever regularly elected sheriffs fail tc
| qualify.
Substitute House Joint Resolutions
and 2, amending sections and 6 OF
article 5, of the Constitution, defining
the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
passed.
House joint resolution No. IA, de-
! fining qualifications of voters and
amending the law so as to require for
| eign born persons to have declared
their intention to become citizens
twelve months before an election TO
entitle them to vote, passed.
House JOINT resolution No. 20, pro-
viding for vote of the people on the
question of prohibition, being next in
order, Mr.. Taylor moved the previous
question and Mr.. Donaldson demanded
call of the House.
The House having already proceed
ed under call, the main question was
ordered and the resolution pas ed.
Ayes 70, noes 16.
Mr.. Stephens: l move we all take a
drink. Qaughter).
Speaker: The motion is out Of order.
House joint resolution No. q, ex-
tending original Jurisdiction of dis
trict courts to cases of contested cleo
tions and of all suits Of which juriS.
diction is not given by law to some
other court. Passed.
On motion of Mr.. Upton, the alb
SenteeS were excused.
Motion to reconsider the vote by
which the minority report on the rail-
road bill (Which report is adverse to
railroad commission) was lost. Bill
prevailed-ayes 40, noes Sc.
Motion to adopt the minority re
port resulted-ayes 81, noes 35.
Speaker: The question is on the
adoption of the majority report-the
committee bill.
Mr.. Brownin.: made point of or
der as to the -, ,tinal action of the
House, which LIE Speaker decided
was correct, and changed the ruling
and ruled that the original bill was
killed by adoption of the adverse re-
port.
A message from the Senate an
nounced that Senators Terrell, Davis
and Woods were named on Committee
of Conference on House bill 8-the
corporation bill. Speaker Foster
named on part of the House on same
committee, Messrs. Browning, Steele
and Pendleton, of Bell.
Senate bill, amending Section 10,
Article 5, of the Constitution, relative
to jurisdiction of justices of the peace
was defeated.
The following message from the
Governor was received:
sentatives:
GENTLEMEN: l again call your at
tention to the inequality of taxation
now prevalent in this State.
1t has become notorious fact that
in certain sections of this State there
are large interests that yield no reve-
nue. comparatively to the support of
the Government. It not only yields
but paltry sum compared to its vast
amount, but this very interest is
sustained and grows upon the
the property of the schools, asylums
and university, free, while all the
other sections are taxed to support
these various institutions. So notori-
Gus have these facts become, that in
a circular, recently issued, the boast
is made that these lands are being
used free of charge, and in defiance of
law. The timber on these lands is
being cut, hauled off and sold, and no
prosecutions can be had or the prop
erty protected because Of the sparce
population, unorganized territory, and
other reasons.
In my message to the extra session
of the Eighteenth Legislature l sug-
gested the necessity for the organiza-
ton of seine tribunal, not known to
the present system, for the purpose
of enforcing the law in certain sec
lions of the State. The present Leg
islature has attached two organized
counties TO another for the reason
that sufficient number of
law-abiding people cannot be found in
them to enforce the laws. How much
mole, then, is it necessary to have some
tribunal in the territory spokenof for
the adjudication OF these matters.
This must be done, or the State must
take litigation, criminal and civil, to
distant parts of the State or decline
to attempt to enforce the law, either to
col.sc taxes. correct crime or settle
civil disputes. Under the provisions
of tie Constitution, which says, speak
ing of the Judiciary: "And in such
other courts as may be organized by
the Legislature, ample authority is
found to place courts, in the midst of
the territory alluded to, that will adj
minister the law"
l herewith transmit communica-
ton from the Comptroller of Public
Accounts, to which L invite the care.
full consil etion of the two houses.
JOHN IRELAND,
Governor.