The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-11-12

Ills ISpOlU W GhO UOdlO WAL pO
quite elaborate and interesting.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Up to late hour yesterday afterA
noon the governor had not been Off
cially notified of the strike at Calves
ton, nor has any cali been made upon
him for troops. Not until there has
been some open violation of law, and
the local authorities are found unable
to suppress any riOtous demonstra-
ton, will tie state troops be sent to
the scene Of the trouble. The fact
that there has been no official notifica-
tion sent the governor, may be taken
as an earnest that the civil authorities
are abundantly able to preserve the
peace. Elsewhere will be found some
Geographic correspondence, obtained
since the above was written.
COMPTROLLER' s DEPARTMENT.
The following correspondence will
b. found interesting:
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
November 4, 1885.
Comptroller of State, Austin, Texas;
DEAR SIR We write to inquire as
to the general desirability OF bonds
issued by counties and cities in your
state for municipal purposes, for in.
Vestment of trust fumes. Are there
any bonds so issued now in default
of either interest or principal, and
outstanding unpaid in your state
We write to make this inquiry in view
of dealing somewhat in the municipal
securities of your state. Please give
us their weak points as well as their
strong ones, and greatly oblige,
Yours truly,
N. W. HARRIS & Co.
REPLY.
OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER,
AUSTIN, Nov. Z, 1885.
Messrs. N. W. Harris & Co., Chicago, ILL.,:
Gentlemen:-In reply to yours of she
4th inst, the constitution of the state
of Texas authorizes the
investment. ~ the permanent
school funds Of the state
in United States bonds, bonds
of the state of Texas, and
in the bonds of the counties of
the state. and in accordance with such
provision the state has invested to
date $1,876898 SO Of the permanent
school fund in the bonds of the coun-
ties of the state, and such bonds are
still purchased for the benefit of the
common school fund, as said fund ac-
| cumulates.
The law is very clear and plain in
authorizing counties to issue bonds
| for certain purposes, and when bonds
are offered to the state for purchase
each case is carefully examined
and decided on It's merits. This
department will not undertake to ex-
press an opinion regarding county
| bonds in general. for, as before stated,
each case is decided on its own mer-
its. Of ali the bonds of the various
| counties that have been purchased by
the state, only one county has failed
to pay the interest on It's bonds
promptly. The interest due on the
10th of April last on the Tarrant
county bonds held by the state, has
not yet been paid, and this is the only
case of that kind.
The laws of this state authorize
cities to issue bonds for certain pur-
poses, but as there is no authority for
the state to invest in such bonds, this
department has not been called upon
to give the matter thorough investi-
cation looking t. that end, and ]
must decline to give any opinion re-
grading city bonds. Respectfully,
w. j. SWAIN, Comptroller.
TRYING TO EVADE THE LAW.
Yesterday, when the business mana
ger or proprietor of Wallace's circus
appeared at the Office of County Col
lector Morris, to pay for license for
the privilege of performing here, he
stated that the circus was free eX-
hibition; that he charged only for adj
mittance to the menagerie; that those
who chose to do so, could enter the
circus tent alter they got through
| looking at the animals in the menae
gerie tent, aud rendered the $40 tax
on menagerie. Deputy Collector
FILLER thought he "smelt a mouse" sc
he straightway submitted the mat
ter to Comptroller Swain. That
thinness of the proposition
| and instructed the collector to charge
the full tax, $50, for each performance
and if the company attempted to show
without paying it, to have the man
ager arrested. The full tax was paid
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
The following telegram from Capt
j. j. Atkinson, superintendent of the
Houston Direct Navigation company
was received by his excellency Sunday
night:
HOUSTON, November 8, 1885.
Hon. John Ireland, Governor of Texas.
Your telegram of last night re-
celved. [ beg leave to state that the
vessels with cargo, wharves and other
property of this company were volun-
tarily abandoned to-day at noon BY
those who had forcibly held them un-
til that time. This result [ believe i;
largely to be attributed to the prompt
and emphotic assurances given by you
that the law would be indicated and
the rights of property maintained il
this state. / respectfully tender you
in behalf of the company, its thanks
for the protection thus afforded to il
and through it, to the commerce oil
Texas.
Respectfully,
J. j. ATKINSON, Supt. H. D. N. Co.
Governor Ireland went to Seguin
| yesterday:
STATE DEPARTMENT.
The charter of the San Antonio Ar
and Science association was filed. Fol
lowing are the directors: Oscar Berg
strom, Charles Goodman, G. r. Brenne
man and George w. Beck.
The following charters were FLED
yesterday:
The Ebenezer Third Baptist church
of Austin, Texas.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Pub
fishing company, of Mexia. Texas.
The Abilene Assembly, No. 3, 7S9, o.
Knights of Labor, of Abilene; capita
stock, $4,000.
GRASS COMMISSIONER.
w. L. Gass will leave this mornin
for his district with new instruction:
Commissioner Stephens is hard a
work on his supplemental report.