The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-03-19

Board of Education and Superintend-
ent of Public Instruction.
Mr.. Crane favored and Mr.. CaVltt
opposed the motion.
The engrossment was reconsidered.
Mr.. Crane called up the Yaeger
substitute for the bill, but the motion
to reconsider it was tabled.
The committee bill being brought back
to consideration, Mr.. Moore, OF Tavis,
argued that, under the provision the
board are to select three books on each
subject of instruction, there was DAN.
ger of creating book monopoly with
publishers. He commended the prices
OF publishers should be governed by
minimum bids. He was not willing
to leave the matter under maximum
prices of publishers, to any one man
or six men to select the books. The
bill in effect put the selection of the
books in the power of the State Sup
erintendent of Instruction for four,
and, contingently, two years longer.
MI. Lusk agreed with Mr.. Crane
and Mr.. Moore, and argued thai the
weight of authority was against the
practicability of legislating uniform
text books. Publishing houses could
pool their issues as to the books select
! ed, and each house have its benefits no
matter what books were selected or
what house published the books. So
the price of the books would not be
leSsened.
He quoted the experience from
strong authorities of other states
against the system of uniformity, as
being not only not desirable, but i'm
practicable, especially considering the
expense of putting the machinery of
the system in operation.
Speaker Foster signed the bill
abolishing the Office of fish commits
sioner.
The hour for the special order ar
irving, the speaker stated that the
question was on the adoption of the
committee substitute for the bill to
create a railroad commission.
Mr.. Camp, of Limestone, argued that
the roads should be somehow control
led by the power that brought them
into operation. We should establish
a board for the arbitration and adjust
ment of such difficulties as had
been presented by the recent strikes.
Mr.. Browning moved to adopt the
minority report against the bill
which. as stated, provides for COM
mission.
Mr.. Rountree spoke in support OF
the motion. He was opposed TO turn.
ing over the management to a body
of three men to legislate. The eX-
penses of thecommission system would
cost the State about $4,000 year
without any practical benefit to the
people. In answer to question ht
, said he came to the Legislature with
: out free pass from the railroad. He
admitted railroad companies made
mistakes like individuals, and did PEG
pie injuries, but the people had thei
remedies for damages in the court, the
: same as individuals.
: Mr.. Lockett spoke in favor of ;
commission, citing their existence il
= Massachusetts and other states salts
factorlly for many years. The states
G land grants to the roads and exemp
!. ton from taxation, he argued, entities
r the State to a share in their manage
' ment. He hoped the minority repor
would be voted down and the majorit
e report considered.
i Mr.. Robinson spoke against the pre-
position to create commission, TAX.
Y ing the same position he did as to tn
l. measure as member OF the Elgh
i teenth Legislature. He thought W
should dispose of the bill to get a
4 other important legislation.
Mr.. Barnett argued strongly i
= favor of commission with powers t,
examine and investigate fully, so as t
) furnish the Legislature information
Il for future action, such as the Stat
Engineer for want of such power
a had failed to obtain. The Commissio
| no tho 6oto Fl
their own intelligent action in tn
meantime. We should be careful nc
il to cripple these great railroad inter
n ests, and he did not believe any mem
Der of the Legislature desired to do 81
y They were too important elements i
% the development OF the State to b
checked by mistaken legislation.
IF Mr.. Bergstrom argued that cor
al mission would be unconstitutional
see article 2, page 3, of the Constit
N ton, defining the powers of the Co
r eminent. Further, although the Co
stitution, section 2, article 10, provide
that the Legislature shall pass Law
to prevent railroad abuses, ETC., Il
- power had been limited by the flu
- Their provision, that proceeding
~ against railroads shall be by the A
- torney-G General and County Attorney
~ TIE fact that if railroad ver-charg
m you dollar you can sue for $500 W
=, a protection against eXtortion. Tl
% roads for two years, with perhaps o.
exception, had not made money, al
this certainly did not justify the C
'u of extOrtion and complaint that t
" railroads had made colloSol forum
out OF the people of Texas. Gould al
Others made their millions by tradi
II, in stocks, not In the traffic of the
Z, roads.
II House adjourned till 5 o'clock,
In the afternoon session, MI. Hayn
n offered resolution granting use of t
n, hall for public meetings OF NOR
charitable, benevolent or htera
S., character. Adopted.
-, BY Mr.. Crayens: Inviting lIC
Ben Ran tolph to seat in bar of t
.Sy House. Adopted.
as Mr. Combs, of Hays. called up Hot
&C. bill 502, to postpone forced coliecti
ne of taxes in certain counties, and
fered substitute making the postpo
lite ment general in all the counties
mt first Moniay in July, 1880
De BY Mr.. Humphrey: Amendment
Ak postpone till November. Lost.
TO- The Combs substitute passed.
all Mr.. Ramey asked ts take up
ion bill requiring renewal of bonds
In guardians ami ad illustrators of
inc tates of minors. House refused.
ne. Also refused request of Mr.. Al
tor istead TO take up Senate bill No. 81
'st- protect stock from wolves.
IL, The House, in committee of
whole, considered the general apl
or priation bill, Mr.. Taylor being ca
'es- to the chair, aud the question be
ing the appropriation to pay veteran
and sions.
ned Mr.. Lockett moved to strike