The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-03
House,.

House met with Speaker Pendleton and
quorum present. Prayer by Rev. Wm
Howard.
Committee reports were sent up during
the proceedings of the house yesterday as
follows:
Unfavorably on house bin No. AZ,
amending the assessment laws. There is
a minority report.
Unfavorably on resolution No. l, rela-
tive to the distribution of the drouth fund,
on the ground that legislation on the act
would be ex post facto.
Favorably on house bill No. 70, requir-
ing sworn statements from banks of
moneys on deposit.
Unfavorably on house bill No. "a,
amending article 1865, Revised Statutes.
1F Unfavo: ably on house bill No. Ga, assess
ing notes, ETC., as being insufficient for
the purposes intended.
Favorably on house bill No. II, adding
article 1850 to Revised Statutes.
Favorably, with. amendment, on house
bill No. 46, amending article 1872, of act
of regular session of 1877, relating to free
schools.
Unfavorably on house bill No. ~, for
restoring balances of school fund held by
counties to the state school fund.
Favorably on house bill No. rs, amend
ing the law as to incorporation of towns
and villages for school purposes.
Favorably on house bill No. II, requir-
ing county commissioners to provide for
payment of audited valid claims due
teachers of the public free schools.
The speaker announced as the pending
business the committee substitute for
lo:1 nY1fn I1in
the commissioner of insurance, statistics
} and history to have a geological and
neurological survey made of the state,
and appropriating $4,000 for the work.
Mr.. Browning opened the debate with
strong argument in favor of the bill and
the constitutional power of the state to
provide for such work, and its great use e.
fitness to the welfare of the state.
Mr.. Bell, of Cooke, argued that the bill
was an attempted evasion of the constitu-
ton, in which there was no provision for
state geologist, by lacking the work on
'the commissioner of insurance, statistics
and history. By way of ridicple, "Who,"
he asked, sever heard of fosslized bone
being a statistic?"
Mr.. Richardson favored the bill, and
argued that so important measure could
not be defeated by ridicule. The consti-
tutional objections raised he considered
ingenious but not substantial. for the
reason t1at geological statistics and
natural history came within the province
of the commissioner, under the terms
designating that officer.
Mr.. Payne took about the same position
as Mr.. Bell, arguing ttat the constitu.
tional objection 70 the bill was ilsuper-
able.
Mr.. Fuller favored the Dill, in an able
argument advocating it, not only because
his people, and, as he believed, the people
of the state generally, wanted such
measure, but because he considered 1t
wise and polite in the economic in
terests of Texas.
Further discussion was stopped by the
special order-house bill No. 48 (Mr
Browning s)-providing for the payment
of warrants outstanding against the
school fund.
Mr.. Moore, of Travis, moved to pos.
pone the special order to take up substi
tute house bill No. SO, providing for the
reception of the new capitol. The bill, as
engrossed yesterday, was amended SO af
to read in full as follows:
House bill No. 81, an act to provide fol
the reception of the new state capito
building. %
Whereas. There is no provision in the
law which clearly defines who, or in what
manner, the new state capitol building
shall be received,
Therefore, be it enacted by the legisla
ture of the state of Texas:
Section THAT the governor, treas
urer, comptroller and commissions OF
the general land office are hereby constl
tuted board for the purpose Of receiving
or rejecting the new state capitol build
ing, in whole or in part, with full power
to act in the premises, saving and reserV
ing to the state all lights under the con-
tract, end the security given for the PEI
Torrance thereof.
Section BE it further enacted, ina
the near completion of this importan
work requires immediate action, not here
tofore provided for by law, and creates
an imperative public necessity and al
emergency demanding that the eonstltu
tutional rule requiring bills to be read Oh