The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-14
The TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
GOVERNOR IRELAND'S ANNUAL
MESSAGE.
His Suggestions for the lnstitu-
tons. Lands. Railways and
Business Generally.

He says:
GENTLEMEN: | welcome you TO the
Capital OF the commonwealth, as the
accredited agents OF the people OF
Texas. with that confidence which in
sures perfect trust In your wisdom, pat
riotism and devotion TO the best inter-
esis Of all the people. congratulate
you and the country on the universal
quiet, peace and freedom Of society from
those local dlsturban oes that are so dis
astrous to civilization In other States.
The people Of Texas are blessed In their
entire freedom from external and IL
legal interference of our federal agency
In the choice Of our public servants and
the administration Of her affairs. and
have great cause to be thankful to an
overriding Providence for the blessings
they are now enjoying.
On the subject Of the State bonds, he
says the true policy for the State to
adopt was to dedicate the waters and
strips of land around them to perpetu al
public u.s.
now recommend the permanent ded-
ioation Of these waters and strip of
land at least 200 yards in width along
and around them to the public use; and
If 1t shall require constitutional
amendment to effect the same, recon-
mend the passage of joint resolution
proposing such amendment.
do not believe that those lands capa-
bic Of supporting an agricultural popu-
lauon should be leased for long term
Of years; nor should lands of any de-
scrlption be leased so as to allow their
enclosure in large bodies, without leav-
ing, at convenient distances, ample
passways. At least one-half Of all
the agricultural lands in each county
should be reserved from lease and
left open TO the actual settler. Except
lands unfit for agi iculture, leases should
not exceed six years.
While some portions Of the State OBJ
iect to the lease system, yet the Gov
ernor believes the lands which have
been set apart for the schools and asy-
lums should be so managed as to helu
support these respective institutions
lie declines to longer serve on the
Land Board, because of the many Other
duties devolvlng upon him, and desires
to be relieved Of all duty on boards not
contemplated in the Constitution.
On the subject of finance and taxation
he says:
When the present Executive took the
oath Of office, he declared that there was
no Justification for the peoples agents
eXactlng of them more money than was
absolutely required to carry on the af-
fairs of government in an economical
manner. There was then to the credit
OF the general revenue about S500000
At the end Of the year ending February
%. 1883, there was about $4,000. The
Eighteenth Legislature paid deficiencies
created by former administrations to
about 100000; enlarged and refitted the
Deafand Dumb, Blind and Lunatic asy-
lums; erected tine North Texas LunatiC
asylum, at cost Of 100000; paid large
debts due the free schools and univer-
sity; and reduced taxation for general
purposes from %! to l7l cents on the
500.
The common school funds have beer
invested In good Understanding bonds:
the university funds have also been in.
vested; and there Is yet ample money in
the treasury for general present pur.
| poses. In the treasury, there are specia
funds amounting to several hundred
thousand dollars, lying idle, that should
be unlocked in some way.
The sources from which we can deriy,
| rpNpnup nrp.