The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-18
LETTER FROM AUSTIN.
BOTH HOUSES WELL AT WORK.
Possible observation-disclosures Committees
and Chairmen Nature of Bills
Already Introduced-A Con-
stitutional Amendment.

dence. The senate having already got
ten down to work, the house is now ready
too, The house.is so large and,unwieldy it
takes no little time to organize, elect
officers and arrange committees, but
this has at last been accomplished, the
vote for governor and lieutenant-goy-
erDor been counted and officially pro-
mulgated, the day of their Inauguration
fixed for Tuesday next, and there is
nothing in the way of rush of bust
ness. Yesterday number of represent
tatives took time by the forelock and
put in bills, the most Of them amend
ments to the Revised Civil Statutes, the
Penal Code and the Code of Criminal
Procedure.
Mr.. Haynes, of Washington, yester-
day introduced bill for the establish
ment OF
A STATE REFoRNAToRY
where boys are to be sent instead OF to
| in cOnsonance with that advanced by
the HERALD.
A blow at drunkenness was made by
Mr.. Underwood, of Brazoria, in a bill
to make 1t just cause for divorce.
sundry coniectures, suggestions,
propheses and intentions as to the
character of Legislation to occupy this
term of the legislature.
THE PENITENTIARY
will necessarily come in for goodly
share of discussion and some legislation.
1t is evidently in bad way now, and
the lease system has its friends here.
What to do with the convicts, how and
where to work them is the all absorb
ing question. Something must be done,
but Just what, troubles even the wisest.
Mr.. Haynes, of Washington, chairman
of the house committee on pellitenta-
ries, is not only legislator of expert
ence, but he is an able, thoughtful, we'll
informed gentleman, and will bring to
the task of graphing with this ques-
ton, a quick intelligence; statesman
snip, indeed, equal to the requirments of
the occasion.
There will, in my opinion, be but
Ii Ito railroad legislation, If any.
There may DO some tinkering with
the present law, as the state engineer in
his report recommended that he be
given more power or the Office be abol-
ished. If the bill is touched Mt all, the
house will be disposed to
STRENGTHEN THE ENGINEER,
or else repeal the present law and make
more forcible one to be executed by q
commission.
5 There will, from the signs now, be in
Vulnerable bills for doctoring the
present lease law. There will not be a
clear cut issue between tree grass and q
. lease law, but there is Il strong element
in favor of modification of the law as
it now stands.
THE ACTUAL SETTLER
E will be more looked after and his in
| terests better protected. AS the law
q now stands the lessee can have every
cowboy in his employ take up $40 acres
> of his pasture for actual settlement,
a pay the 81 fee and keep away
!. II bona iide actual settler six
. months, at the end of which time q new
set of cowboys can go through the same
9 programme. This weakness in the law
r will be strengthened. Mr.. Robinson, of
Jack county, chairman of the commit
tee on public lands, is an able lawyer,
!, well versed in the land law of the state
is conservative withal, and of broad
q and oOmprt hensive views, and will
:, know we'll how to handle all land cues.
} tons that come before his committee.
4. In the formati II of the committees OF
% tho house, Speaker Foster has giver
., much care and thought to the selection
of members hest suited to each ono. |
u Is but human nature that he shOulC
o select chairmen from among His friends
Z those most in accord with himself on al
d, subjects and questions likely to b.
= legiSlated upon. Perhaps in tb,
y selection of the chairman O
ID the finance committee he ha
"a done more violence to IN
" feeling in this respect than on an,
"a other committee, Tor taking the RECORD
&c of the two gentlemen in tho eighteenth
40 legislature as the crlterian, it will b
seen their views AS 10 the financial pol
~ icy of The state, are almost diametrjcal
- nnpn.ttn II haatN lao
however, since the Democracy came in
ro to power in Texas, for the successful T.
give the finance committee to tho IN
oil successful candidate for speaker.
IS MIR. Urf n,
,o who is from Fayette county, brings [
-. the duties of the position the chairma
~ OF the finance committee, a ripe legislS
ID. tive eXperience, he having served fOu
a. terms cOnSecullrciN as arVpres entativ,
oi. and having been chairman of the sam
committee in the eighteenth legislator,
OF He is clear headed, thoughtful, prudcr
AZ. and painstakiug, and every measure h
,er may formulate or approve, will b. car,
~ fully considered and weighed beloi
ro- hand.
ed col. M'KINNEY,
he of Walker, chairman of judiciary con
no mittee No. |, is q gentleman in Il
nv prime of life, albeit his locks are VIII
IN ttltu ~ Win lHt SuOWS nl many WI
old tiers. He is n gentleman learned In q
IN, law in ill its branches, ramiiicatioi
20 aud effects. He has been proSecutir
zen attorney of his judicial district, hi
mo has grazed the ermlne and HI
ant been several terms a member of the le
islature. a scholarly man and stut
u Gus in his habits, he is emiAently litt,
uc- for the exalted pace to when he h
ac- been called,
To-, MR.. TARLEToN,
of Hill, chairman OF judiciary comm
'hu tee No. ., lisa lawyer of fine reputat
its and excellent attainmentS, and has q
his perience ASA legislator adequate for t
position.
The committee on constitution
amendments has chairman in the pI
son of
de- TAYLOR,
- of Rad River, we'll tilted for the plaC
10 An excellent lawyer, suave in mann
the iorcible in debate, he Will prove kims
$50, to be just suited for the place.
.xr have alluded already TO the possil
-. railroad legislation of the session. !
's bills on this subject will necessarily
To the committee ON railroads, of win
ates MIR. W. n. ARMIsrEAD, or MARION
. ~ chairman. Mr.. Armlstead is not
'ou anti-railroad mar, does not belong to
past uN-cart delegation, yet, on the ott
hdu- hauu, ny uoes nov lall uoWn anu w
ava. ship railroad corporations, nor kneel
/. ~. the shrine of any railroad magnate.
its wants equity done between the PEG
pol and the railroads; wants each To |
zion and let live. He is lawyer
-, eminence, legislator OF exp,
iors ence With broad and comprehens
olec' views on all questions, progressive
~ "A conservative, energetic and well
oora formed, he will make an able and
O"a dicious chairman. lie is one of
'era' mos fluent and graceful speakers in
'aise house, and wiel IS by reason of his c
,om- servatism the soundness of his vie
go. his personal magnetism and his fore,
nave u debater, u strong influence.
been MIR, POSTER,
/ al q rn Nanu oh a rninn l.f Ihn nam M