The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-01-22
LETTER FROM AUSTIN.
sorH HOUSES WELL At Work.
Possible Legislation House Committee.
aud thairmsn - nature 81 mn.
Already ntroduced-A Com
stitutionai Amendment.

doncc' The senate having already got
ten down "a work, tho house IN now ready
too, Tho house II 80 largo and unwieldy Il
lakes no little limo 10 organize, elect
officers and arrange committees, but
this has at last been ACCOMPLISHED, the
vote Tor governor and lirutenRni-gOV-
ornor been counted aud officially pro-
mulgnted, the day of their inauguration
! liked Tor Tuesday next, ana there IL
nothing In the way of rush OF bust.
moss, Yesterday uuumb0r Of represent
taiiyes took time by the iorelock und
put In bills, the most of them pmond-
ments 20 the Revised Civil Statutes, tho
Penal Code and the Code Of Criminal
Procedure.
Mr., Haynes, OF Washington, yester-
day Introduced u bill for the establish
ment of
\ STATE REFoRWAToRY
whore bows are % be sent instead OF to
the penltentiury. The idea OF the hill is
IN cuuspnance with lift advanced by
the HERALD,
a blow nc drunkenne,s "as made by
Mr.. Underwood, OF BrnZu, bel, in bill
to make II just cause for n u,y rce.
sundry conIectures, suggestions,
prophesies and Intentions as 10 the
character of legislation to occupy this
term Of the legislature.
THE pENIrENrIARY
will necessarily come in for n gOodly
share OF discussion and some legislation.
| IL is evidently In u bad way now, and
tho lease system has its friends here.
| What to do with the convicts, how and
where 10 work them Is the all absorb
| ing question. Something must be done,
but Just what, troubles even the wiscst.
Mr.. Haynes, of Washington, chairman
! a.
ries, Is not only II legislator of expert
ence, but he is an able, thoughtful, we'll
informed gentleman, and Will bring 10
the task of graphing with this ques-
ton, 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 be 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 at 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 n
commission.
There will, from the signs now, be in
Vulnerable bills for doctoring the
present lease law. There will not be q
clear cut issue between tree grass and q
lease law, but there is strong element
in favor of modification of the law as
it now stands.
THE ACTUAL SETTLER
will be more looked after and his in |
terests better protected. AS the law
now stands the lessee can have every |
cowboy in his employ take up $40 acres
of his pasture for actual settlement,
pay the 81 fec and keep away
bona fide actual settler six
months, at the end of which time new
set of cowboys can go through the same
programme. This weakness in the law
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
| and comprehensive views, and will
know well how to handle all land 9ues-
tons that come before his committee.
| In the formation of the committees Of
the house, Speaker Foster has given
much care and thought to the selection
of members best suited to each one. 1t
is but human nature sthat he should
select chairmen from among his friends,
those most in accord with himself on all
subjects and questions likely to be
legislated upon. Perhaps in the
selection of the chairman of
the finance committee he has
done more violence to his
feeling in this respect than on any
other committee, for taking the record
of the two gentlemen in the eighteenth
legislature as the crlterian, it will be
seen their views as to the financial pol
icy of the state, are almost diametrical-
ly opposite. 1t has been the custom,
however, since the Democracy came in
to power in Texas, for the successful to
give the finance committee to the UNI
successful candidate for speaker.
MIR. UPTON,
who is from Fayette county, brings to
the duties of the position the chairman
of the finance committee, ripe legisla-
tive experience, he having served four
terms consecutirely as representative,
and having been chairman of the same
committee in the eighteenth legislature.
HI is clear.headed, thoughtful, prudent
and painstaking, and every measure he
may formulate or approve, will be care
fully considered and weighed before
hand,
col. M'KINNEY,
of Walker, chairman of judiciary COM
mittee No. /, is a gentleman in the
prime of life, albeit his locks are viii
tened as with the SHOWS OF many. win
ters. He is a gentleman learned in the
law in fill its branches, qualifications
and effects. He has been prosecuting
attorney of his judicial district, has
has graZed the ermine and has
been several terms member OF the leg
islature. A scholarly man and studi-
Gus in his habits, he is eminently fitted
for the exalted place to when he has
been called.
MR.. TARLEToN,
of Hill, chairman of judiciary commit
tee No. 2, is a lawyer Of fine reputation
and excellent attachments, and has eX-
perience as "a legislator adequate for the
position.
The committee on constitutional
amendments has chairman in the per-
son Of
TAYLOR,
of Red River, well fitted for the place.
An excellent lawyer, suave in manner,
forcible in debate, he Will prove himself
to be just suited for the place.
have alluded already to the possible
railroad legislation of the session. All
bills on this subject will necessarily go
to the committee on railroads, OF which
MIR. w. T. ARMISTEAD, OF MARION,
is chairman. Mr.. Armistead Is not an
anti-railroad man, does not belong to the
oX-cart delegation, yet, on the other
hand, he does not fall down and wor-
ship railroad corporations, nor kneel at
the shrine of any railroad magnate. He
wants equity done between the people
and the railroads; wants each to i've
and let live. He is a lawyer of
eminence, a legislator of expert
ence. With broad and comprehensive
views on all questions, progressive yet
conservative, energetic and we'll in
formed, he will make an able and jul
dicious chairman. He is one of the
most fluent and graceful speakers in the
house, and wielos by reason OF his con-
servatism the soundness of his views,
his personal magnetism and his force as
debater, strong influence.
MIR, FOSTER,