The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-26
MIR. GIBBS INAUGURAL.
THE ADDRESS He DELIVERED
vron Assuming the Duties Of Lieutenant
Governor Elegant Diction and Sem
sible Sentiments on the Ques-
lions of State Policy.
pellow,cltizOns and Members Of the Tex as

snt-governor, to which office l have
been chosen by the people and into
which | have been indicted by their
representatives. / hardly think 1t
necessary to do more than to renew to
you those pledges of fidelity which
every man elected to Office should make
and redeem. My official relations will
be principally with tho senate, but l
cannot in this joint session refrain from
expressing the hope that the two houses
will work tremendously, and that the
result of their joint labors will rebound
to the greater prosperity and content
ment of their people.
Individual ambitions and the ambi-
tons of either house to deserve most of
the country should rather promote
harmony than discord, for we will, one
and all, be judged rather by fnal re-
suits than by individual efforts.
It is the effect of legislation upon the
social and industrial condition of the
people that they look to IN estimating
the value of services rendered by their
representatives.
This is the true measure, for theories
of government, ami spaSmodiC efforts
at reform are worth nothing unless
they have sufficient merit to receive the
approval of a majority, and thus pro-
duce practical results.
So far as the general political condition
of the state IL concerned, no people
could be more content than are the peo-
pie of Texas.
There are no general issues to be set
tied by this legislature, as the people
are practically unit in the approval OF
the liberal policies that have been in
augurated and perfected by successive
Democratic administrations. In spite
Of this condition Of things, for which we
have every reason to be thankful, there
remains for this legislature much labor
requiring wisdom and patience for its
proper performance.
The success of all measures depend
upon the proper arrangement and OBJ
servance OF details, and this is espec-
tally true of political measures, where
the motives for strict performance of
duty is not so great, and the inspection
not so thor ough ana frequent as in pri-
vate affairs. While statutes should be
simplitied as far as possible, and
changed only when the necessity was
obvious, yet in their enactment care
should be taken not to leave too much
in the discretion of executive officers;
neither will the people Justify the dele.
CATION on our part To executive boards
those Legislative powers and duties
which are lodged by the constitution in
our respective bodies.
A careful study of our system of gov
eminent must have convinced the most
of you, that after all, the legislative de-
partment is the great seat OF power and
responsibility IL is this department
which is primarily responsible for all
failures in the administration of gov
eminent.
Our constitution was framed with the
intention Of making all other depart
ments of the government mere ma
chimes, TO be constructed and oiled by
the representatives of the people.
/ would not refer to this matter had
not learned from recent observations
that the people disapprove of tho delega-
ton in more than one instance of legis.
lative powers to executive departments.
These extra constitutional pTerogatives
and duties have RI her been thrust upon
than sought by our executive depart
ment, but what is now an unwilling and
slight encroachmeut on their part
might, by lapse of time and strength
ened by precedent, become cherished
claim.
1t is very easy matter for public
opinion, as expressed by repre-
sentatives or through the press
of the country, to formulate
a general policy as to the
management of the peniten-
tlary system or any other important de-
partment of tho government.
When it comes to laying permanent
foundation for the profitable employ
ment of. nearly 5000 cOnvicts, rapidly
increasing in numbers, it will require a
careful study of your two houses to
meet the emergency, for this is no
longer q political question, but practi-
cal business question, TO be settled on
sound business principles.
We may say amen to the declaration
in favor Of putting the convcts In the
walls, yet It does not alter the cold fact
that we have not walls for more than
one-half tho convicts; We may nippantly
say, take the couvicts and build walls;
yet the truth must be confessed that we
have already built penitentiaries at
great cost, which are so far away from
commercial centers and so much at the
mercy of private railroad corporations,
that they are practically useless, except
as dungeons. The present unjust and
shiftless policy of working the convicts
on railroads for hire NAV be for awhile
quasi financial success, but leaves the
future unprovided for, and tho day the
railroads cease to employ them they
must go into camp and a life Of idleness.
Such condition of things would re-
quire called session.
of liberal school system, and has en-
forced its views, yet it is left to the leg
islative judgment TO perfect the details,
so that there shall DO proper supervis-
ion without unnecessary extravaganza,
so that the teacher shall be we'll and
surely paid for his services, and at the
same time shall be compelled to faith
fully render those services.
Public opinion has declared, in n gen.
eral way, in favor oil u revenue from the
school land, yet il has been left to the
legislative Judgment to declare how this
demand can best be compiled with, and
at the same time justice done to those
sections in which the lands are To-
Gated.
The people have declared, in u general
way, in favor of an economical admlnis-
tratiOn of the state government, but
they have left it to you to say how far
this economy is consistent with an eff
ciont administration. After all, IL is
upon your wisdom, as manifested in
legislative details, that tho success of
administration depends. Our constitu-
ents don't expect us to run the govern
mept Of great state like Texas, either
on talk or small amount of money;
they expect the proper protection OF
life, liberty and property, whatever the
EXPENSE may be, but they will not will
ingly tolerate the creation or continu-
ance of any department or annual ex-
penditures TO perform functions which
each citizen can best perform for him
self.
The people expect Of Us a guardian
ship OF the deaf and dumb and of the
blind and insane, and other unfortun-
ates, bat no guardianship of themselves
to the extent OF furnishing them fish for
their tables, or rules for the manage
ment OF their individual business.
The people don't expect us Ivy legisla-
ton to add anything to their substance,
but Gully ask that you take from IL only
so mHch as Is necessary TO tho proper
performance OF the ordinary aud legiti-
mate funtions Of government.
II Is the province Of government, aud
the commercial interests of the state
look 20 Us for regulations that will pro-
tect the strong against tho weak; for