The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-19
,ners to the penitentiary, in I.o>.

The bill then passed.
Senator Tempe uouston'5 a. Sen
ator Peacock's land bills were laid be-
fore the senate with committee recon-
mendEtion that they he considered in
committee of the whole senate.
On motion of Senator Pope the SEN
ate went into committee OF the whole,
Senator Pope chairman.
Senator Bell moved to amend by
striking out from Houston's bill the
section abrogating the lease law and
making all public lands public COM
mons.
Senator Shannon moved to SubSti-
tute Peacock's bill for Houston's bill.
Pending discussion, senate adj burned
till 10 o'clock tomorrow.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
House considered The bill pending
from adjoui nment, requiring heads OF
the state departments of the govern
ment to employ females for one halt
OF the clerkshipS IN their offices.
The bill was ordered engrCSsed 10y a
vote of 43 to SO.
Mr.. Armistead moved to reconsider
the vote and TO lay that motion on the
table.
Mr.. Upton moved call OF the
house.
BoJh motions were Withdrawn.
MIR. Gavin moved to reconsider the
vote by which the bill was engrossed.
He voted for the bill. He was friend
| of the measure even as it is, but
wanted to make IL better by an
amendment he desired to offer. If
this amendment was defeated he would
still vote for the ill. He objected
that under the bill, now one days
residence was sufficient. He
wanted twelve months residence III
the state as one OF the requisites of
the bill. The bill was not intended
for those who paraded in fine silks
and diamonds, but for the needy.
Mr.. Donaldson would favor the
amendment.
Mr.. Mckinney, of Walker, did not
| believe that any measure to force the
departments to employ female clerks
would elevate women or the civil ser
vice. We might at least wait and let
| the heads of the departments fill these
places, if they choose, with female
clerks. The gentleman from Ellis
had spoken about giving women an
opportunity to support their husbands
in cases where it might be necessary.
And it has been said women have q
right to vote. The logic of this was
to gofarther and alloWthem to hold any
| office, regardless Of physicalqualifica-
tions. He believed the logic was wrong
that would draw her so far from the
| proper sphere of her duty in competi-
tionWith men who were physically in.
f4rior. Under this logic why should
she not be a iudge or governor?
Home is her sphere. God has said 1t
He did not believe the clerfshipS
| would improve our women, or that
they improved the men. (Applasse.)
Mr.. Fisher took issue as to the, pro
pTiety of leaving the selections of
clerks entirely to the pleasure Of the
department officers. Nor did he be-
lieve in continlDg the sphere OF Wo-
man SO strictly to the home circle.
| They can't all be SeamstreSses or school
| teachers. Some of the department
officers said they were willing TO en-
pIoy and that they could ill the posi-
lions to their satisfaction, and some
of the places equally as well, If not
| better than the men.
Mr.. Merriwether argued against the
consCitutionality of the bill, making a
pretty good argument from that point
| OF view.
| MI. DCl SObl Olll q oOiAl obA OAlSSA
speech in the same direction. The
| Bit, he argued, should not be treated
as matter of chivalry, but as SOL
emn enactment about to be placed on
the statute books, without regard to
VINO it affected. TO pass it would be
a mere declaration which the depart
ment officers could observe or not.
They were bonded officers, and under
their bonds had the right 10 choose
the character Of employees that were
necessary TO carry out their bonds.
In answer to question he said there
was hardly an important provision to
the constitution which the bill would
not violate. 1t would be class legiS-
lation. 1t invaded the rights and
functions of the heads of departments
Open the doors by such bill and tho
colored people would have the right IL
put in their claim for share Of these
offices to be enforced by law.
CTaYens spoke in facetious vain in
favor of the bill, arguing the compe-
tency OF ladies to fill the clerkships as
, being as good as those of men. AS to
the colored people, their coming in
would he question Of competency.
He favored reconsideration of the bill
merely to let those who had opposed
! the bill make graceful surrender of
the measure.
Pending the discussion, MIR. Upton
introduced resolution inviting
Hon. Carl SchurZ to seat inside the
: bar of the house. The resolution was
adopted, and shortly after, Gov.
Ireland appeared, accompanied by
: Mr.. SchurZ, whom he introduced as
/ a gentleman of national lame. APP
plause)
Mr Crane made q strong speech in
, favor of the bill. He was speaking
when Mr. Schurz was introduced.
; Mr.. Schurz took seat by the side
OF Speaker Foster, but declined to adj
dress the house, further than to say
he thanked the legislature for the
: honor and preferred to listen to the
debate on the interesting subject IN
: der discussion.
: The pending bill WAS further dis
cussed by Mr.. Cochran in favor of,
aud MIR. Cavitt in opposition to the
measure.
Mr.. Cochran argued that public
sentiment in this matter had pro-
! crossed with the march of civiliza-
| ton.
: Mr.. Cavitt argued that the home
/ 6reside, rather than ranging around
in the departments, was the proper
! sphere OF women.
The arguments of both gentlemen
were interesting, and elected some
applause.
J Armistead arguedt hat under section
II, of article 2, of the constitution, the
l clerkships being merely appointive
r offices, did not require to be filled by
!, persons who were voters. These
|, clerks were not required to be states
} men and write documents of state.
| There is an eternal fitness in things,
. when we see the great advocate OF
3 civil service reform here (alluding TO
/ Hon. Carl ShurZ) Applause.
If the avenues OF achievement were
extended to woman, he argued, she
5 would prove equal to the emergency,
master mathematics and book-keeperS,
or whatever was necessary to succeed
in her work. The sceptre has been
welded in many instances more salts
t factcrily by queens than by kings.
The bill would create reforms in the
departments. Let the hand that rocks
the cradle of infancy, which it has been
said, rules the world, RUE with honesty
, and honest work in the departments
The reports from Washington were
! that the female clerks, as a rule, were
more attentive to their duties and cor
rect in their work than the men. He
hoped the bill would pass. applause
hat (ko- III