The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-18

as TO race or color. Several negroes have
drawn land certificates and are now draw
ing pensions, and the state officials know.
and have always known, that they are
negroes, They are entitled because thew
have received their bounty lands and dis
charges, and they are on file at the land
office or comptroller's office. May not
these four negroes be also entitled to
their land certificates and pensions? They
have proved up that the served in the
Texas army in 1886.
The treasurer has paid abont $4,000
of school warrants since the 1st of the
month.
The attorney general is expected home
from Dallas tomorrow. Up to late
hour yesterday no news had been heard
from him as to the disposition of the suit
of the Francklyn Land and Cattle com
pany.
The adiutant general will be home in
few days. Captain SEEKER reports ev-
erything distressingly dull on the from
tier, the population out there being emf
nently peaceful just now. When the grass
rises, however, it may be different.
Mr.. Mcclellan, of Donley county, tired
no doubt, of the slow progress made by
the land board in disposing of the public
free school lands, has advertised to make
big sale on March 2, of large number
of sections on his own account. The ad-
vertisement was sent to the state land
board, and yesterday a special session was
had, at which Hon. Frank Lubbock, Hon.
w. j. Swain and Hon. VIM. Walsh were
present The following resolution was
passed.
Whereas, 1t has come to the knowledge
of this board that one I. S. McClelland, of
Clarendon, Donley county, Texas, has ad-
vertised and proposes on the first Tuesday
of March, A. d. 1856, to sell to the highest
bidder large number of sections of
of school lands situated in Donley land
district; and
Whereas, This board is by law exclusive
ly charged with the sale and lease of this
land through such agent or agents as it
may select. Therefore be it
Resolved That all authority to act as
agent of this board heretofore extended
to Mr.. L. S. McLelland, of Clarendon Don
ley county, Texas, is hereby revoked. and
no act of his as such agent will be re-
spected after this date.
The board then appointed Mr.. w I.
Gass to fill the position.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
On yesterday the governor received a
| printed circular from a Mr.. Dodge, presi-
dent of the chamber of commerce of San
Francisco, who appears to be lodging
around on the political question, relative
to the importance of uniformity in the
election system of the country. He sug-
gests the following:
First-Ballots of uniform size and
color, texture and appearance when
folded
Second Protection to voters in select
ing and depositing ballots.
Third-Fewer precincts but more ballot
boxes and clerks. In cities where many
polling places are now provided with a
small number of clerks as officers of cleo
ton, the duties are slowly accomplished
and there is a possibility of collision.
Fourth-The best mode of counting
ballots while the vote is in progress.
Fifth Preservation of the ballots I'M
til the count is fully verified, and in case
of legal contest, until the decision of the
court is rendered"
The governor replied as follows;
Henry l.. Dodge, chairman OF the Board OF com
merce San Francisco Cal.
SIR am to-day in receipt of you
favor Of-date, asking me to urge upOr
congress to pass general election law fol-
all the states. Approaching your anxiety
for the purity of the ballot box and cleo.
ton laws in some of the states, must
respectfully decline to comply with your
request for the following reasons:
First believe the people capable of
local self-government.
SecOnd-While congress has the right
to regulate the mode and manner of elect
ing members of congress, under article l,
section 4, of the constitution, it has no
such authority in local elections of the
several states.
Third-The states could not, without
express authority to be found in the con-
stitution, relegate such authority to the
congress of the United States.
And lastly, congress could not, even with
the assent of the states, without constitu.
tional authority, enact any law on the sub
ject.
You will observe that l am not yet pre-
the states.
am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, JOHN IRELAND.
| CAPITOL BOARD.
The capitol board held secret session
yesterday, to consider letter from Archi.
tect Meyers, relative to plans and speci-
fications for the building, and the heating
apparatus. For some time, it seems that
Mr.. Wilke has endeavored to get them, so
he could advertise intelligently for con-
tracts to complete the work, but so far,
Mr.. Meyers has either refused or
neglected to to furnish them. Indeed, it
seems that he has advised Mr.. Wilke to go
ahead and make contract with certain
party whom he names, and whom he says
is willing to do the work for certain
sum, and that the plans and specifications
will be subsequently furnished. This,
eminently satisfactory, no doubt, to Mr.
Meyers, is not agreeable to Mr.. Wilke,
and he laid the matter before the board,
hoping that something would be done to
compel the furnishing of the necessary
drawings. No definite action was taken
yesterday, but the matter was postponed
for further consideration, and, possibly
to await the return of the attorney-gen'
eral from Dallas, when it is said he will
be consulted, relative to bringing suit
against Meyers and his sureties, to com
| mel him tO DrOVide the necessary papers