The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-19

interests and wishes of their nelghbors;
and
Whereas, however unwarranted by law
or usa re, and unprecedented in history of
parliamentary proceeding it may be, for
members of one branch of legislative
body to sit in judgment upon the acts, of
CO ordinate branch, deriving its author
ity from the same constitution and like
free election of the people, to whom alone
they are accountable, decent regard for
the opinions of even a small number of our
constituents, who are liable to be misled
or deceived by the reckless assertions end
unfounded and illogical statements of
such self-constituted tribunal, demands,
on the part of this body, an examination
of the alleged grounds of complaints set
forth in that address; therefore,
Resolved, That special committee of
five members of the senate be appointed
to examine into, and report upon, the
statements and comments of the address
to his excellency, the governor, dated
April 4, 1887, signed by certain members of
the house OF repI esentatives of this
legislature, and purporting to have been
made in the name of that body, and of a
minority of this, and that, is any action is
necessary on the part of the senate to
maintain its rights and privileges as con-
stitutionsl representatives of the people
of the state of Texas.
On motion of Senator Armistead the
resolution was referred to the committee
on asylums.
Senator Bell offered joint resolution
to appoint committee of five from each
house to carefully inspect and examine
the capitol building, and that the COM
mittee be authorized to send for papers
and persons, whom they may examine
under oath.
Adopted, and the following senators
we're appointed Bell, Mcdonald, Davis,
Burgess and Burney.
The governors message was then read,
as follows:
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
Iu converting you upon this extra
ordinary occasion 1 welcome you to the
capital with cordial greeting befitting
those who, for the time being, are charged
with the lawmaBing power of a great
commonwealth, that in few short years
has struggled up from wilderness to a
high plane of unchallenged supremacy in
financial standing as the only state in the
union, while imposing but a nominal state
tax has found it necessary, because of its
vast resources, to convoke its lawmakers
to deal with a treasury filled to repletion.
And, as you are called upon to consider
other subjects of the most fundamental
character and of the deepest significance,
1 desire to respectfully impress upon
your minds my solemn convictions that
the conclusions to be reached are of vast
Importance in guiding the destiny of our
state, and that our material interests for
years are inseparably bound up with the
legislation now to follow. If ever there was
time in the history of our state when
careful elaboration, sound busin ess
sense, and freedom from passion or local
jealousies ought to prevail that time is
now. 4-.
Trusting that, by harmonious, intelli-
gent and patriotic efforts in the
discharge of these important
and arduous duties, your labors
may eventuate for the public good, and
believing that favorable solution of
many of the attendant difficulties is attain
able, and if reached by you, the people of
your state will not withhold their applause
or lasting gratitude.
have the honor to invite your atten-
to the fact that there can he no question
brought before you as the representatives
of the people of more consequence or of
deeper concern than that relating to
finance and the monetary affairs of the
state.
1t is proposition that effects
every individual, and reaches to
the very foundation of society. Taxa
ton, therefore, is one of the most
important powers to be exercised by any
government, and there is scarcely any
thing about which the citizen becomes so
FESTIVE, and it should be most zealously
guarded by free people, as we'll as by
the trainers and executors of the law.
1t is conceded, too as a cardinal princi-
pie, that no more revenue ought to be
collected from the people than the amount
necessary to defray the expenses of a
wise, economical and efficient admins
tration, because an unnecessary surplus
in the treasury not only iI1poverishes the
people and palsies the hand that must be
depended upon to utilize and develop our
material resources, but it gives birth to
extravaganza legislation; produces wild
schemes of wanton and profuse expendi-
lures, and begets ingenious expedients to
obtain public money, which too fire.
quently corrupts the purity of the public
officials and causes the character of the
government to lose its charm with the
masses.
On the other hand, while no man can
be moro heartily IN favor of a wise
eC onomy in expenditures than myself, and
any effort in that direction will always
have my earnest cooperation and ap-
proval, l feel it my duty to urge upon
your honorable bodies that, while direct
ing your attention to the enforcement of
the most rigid economy, you should not
be unmindful of the fact that the several
departments of the government can only
do their best with the means at their dis
posal, and cannot anticipate en- appro-
priation, save to limited extent, defined
in the constitution, without violating the
law, no matter what The exigencies may be.
As every prudent business man knows
that the principle of paying as you go is
more in consonance with wise economy
than to promise payment at future
time, it becomes imperative be-
yond the possibility of a mistake,
and you should not hesitate or refuse
to place the necessary means at their COM
mand with which to carry on the affairs OF
government successfully without having to
cOme tn suhsen uant legislatures with de-