The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-19
Capital Note,
The land bill will occupy the atten-


Hon. Carl SchuEz was introduced 10
the Legislators yesterday by Governor
Ireland.
Quite number of the Legislators
will visit the Burnet granite quarries
to-day.
The committee to visit and inspect
the penltentiaries will make report
Monday.
Col. Whitehead was unanimously
elected assistant to the secretary OF
the senate yesterday.
Ihe bill increasing the penalty for
assault with intent to murder was de-
1t is the general opinion among
legislators that the Office OF insurance.,
statistics and history must go.
The governor yesterday signed the
bill extending the time OF payment OF
interest on school lands from March
to August.
The house bill repeating the law
authorizing counties to issue bridge
bonds will be reported taVoraoIy III
the senate this morning.
The bill making gambling felony
was engrossed in the house yesterday
by vote of "a to 20, and it Will finally
pass that body and more than likely be-
come law.
Vice-President elect Hendricks is
expected to visit Texas soon, and the
senate yesterday, at the suggestion ~
Senator Pope, invited the distinguished
gentleman TO visit the capital.
Senator Shannon made en- eloquent
ana powerful speech yesterday IN
favor of the Peacock land bill and
against free grass. The bill will be
considered again Monday.
The house committee has reported
unfayorably the senate bill extending
the discretion of the court Oh appeals
in criminal cases, and the eXtiDgnlshed
attorneys who championed the Dill are
dismal.
The committees of the two houses
on asylums met yesterday to hear COM
plains and investigate certain charges
made against the superintendent and
board of managers of the insane asy-
Ium. The charges were dismissed as
groundless.
The tax bill introduced in the house
Yesterday fixes the ad ValCrem tax at
| twenty-five cents, and the school at
ten. an increase OF five cents on the
one hundred dollars valuation. lie
also increases the drumm9 licences
from $50 so $50.
Senator Traylor thinks granite may
be substituted Tor limestone III the new
capitol at very small additional cost,
by giving the capitol contractors the
use OF a number OF the conyIcts to
work the Quarries. who are now I'M
profitably employed.
Prohibition petitions continue to
pour in, and one received yesterday
contained the signatures OF obout
I5,COO citizens of north Texas. The
sentiment is undoubtedly increasing,
and such acts as that committed by
the brutal Peterson. chronlcled in
Yesterdays STATESMAN, serve to In
tensify it.
Senator Terrell's bill for the relief
OF railroads, provides that where rali-
road companies have not complied
with the law requiring the construc-
ton of certain number OF miles CT
road, because OF the stringency OF the
| times, their charter shall not be for
felted until 1887, provided the number
of miles are constructed by that time
Senator Glasscock's cemetery bill
provides that the following persons
shall be entitled to be inferred in the
state cemetery: All persons who have
been, OF are state officers, members of
the legislature, judges Of the supreme
and district courts, senators and
congressman, all civil and military Of
ficers and soldiers Of the army CT the
Republic of Texas, and the families of
all the above named persons.
Senator Traylor'5 bill, introduced
yesterday, provides that a sheriff shall!
not charge fees for arresting and con-
ewing any prisoner who has been ar
rested by the rangers; provided, mile
age may be charged for conveying a
prisoner without the aid of the ran
gers. Nor shall sheriff charge fees
for conveying any witness out of his
county, when such witness has been
arrested under an attachment issued
from another county, unless such wit
ness refuses to give bond tor his ap-
pearance at the time.
It has been suggested that if TIE
state is at all uneasy about the lands
in Greer county on which patents have
been issued, satisfaction can be obtain.
ed and matters righted in the courts
of the countrY.[IG is hardly within
the provipc5 of the legislature to de-
terp{Ie the judicial rights of citizens
1 and where patents have been illegally
obtained the courts furnish remedy
and can declare them null and void.
Senator Evans libel bill introduced
yesterday provides that ali proceed
ings, whether civil or criminal
against the proprietors or editors OF
newspapers shall be begun and prose
Gated in the county in which the
paper is published or in the county il
which the editors or proprietors re-
side, and not elsewhere, and each ISSUE
of such paper shall constitute but ont
otfense as to any Individual named Oh
referred to therein. 1t provides thai
tie truth of any statement charged a:
libel may be shown in justification
by the defendant.
Senator Camps bill introduced yes
terday provides that a city or town
shall not be liable to suit for damages
on account of the negligence Of its
officers or employees in the construc
ton, improvement or maintenance OF
its streets, alleys, sidewalks or public
works for the use Of which no com.
pensAtion is charged, or to any de-
mand for damages claimed to have
occurred in consequence of such neg
ligence to any person occupying OF
using such streets, alleys or public
works.
The bill abohshing the Office of fish
commissioner passed the senate yes.
teTday, and it viii pass the house. II
takes effect ninety days after passage
A minority report signed, by senators
Davis, Woods, Shannon and Terrell
/ was presented yesterday, dissenting
from the unfavorable report to the
bill abolishing the office of, insurance
commissioner. 1t states the Office has
cost she state $500 when abundant
proof has been produced before the
committee that its duties can be dis
charged by one clerk at a SALARY u
$500 per annum.
If legislators intend doing anything
toward having the remains Of Col
Frank Johnson brought to Austin
and inferred in the state cemetery, it s
high time they were about it. 1t VIII
cost about $1,000 to make the
removal, which will include the duties
exacted by the Mexican states. as fol.
lows: For disinterling the body, SIPS;
for permission TO cross the state lines
with it of the following states, each
$125, Durango, Coahuila, QuereteI O
and chihuahua, making a total of
$625, not including railroad transpoT-
tation and expense. OF those who are
to be sent after the remains