The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-17
House..

HOuse met with the speaker and a
quorum present-Prayer by the chaplain.
Mr.. Browning presented a resolution
looking TO some provision for securing a
deep water harbor at some point on the
Texas coast. Amendment so that the
work may be paid for by an ad vslorem
tax.
Read first time, and second reading be-
ing objected to, the resolution went over.
The omnibus appropriation bill was re-
sumed as the pending business, the house
being in committee of the whole, with Mr..
Browning in the chair.
The item of $4,000 for pictures, etc
for the new capitol, was adopted.
The following items were also adopted:
For moving furniture to the capitol,
$1,000.
For indeKipg and binding books and
public documents, $4,000.
For the orphan asylum at Corsicana,
$4,000, and the available fund to the
credit of that institution.
For fuel, water, lights, etc, for the new
capitol, $4,000.
For keepers, etc, for the same, $4,000,
and sundry other minor items.
The amendments were adopted by the
house as recommended by the committee
of the whole, and the bill passed.
The bill reducing taxation as agreed
upon by the conference committee passed.
1t makes the rate 10 cents on the 81 state
ad valorem tax for this year. and 20 cents
for subsequent years.
Alter some minor business the house
adjourned to meet at $50 P. m. in the
new capitol.
DEEP WATER RESOLUTIONS.
The following is tie resolution of Mr..
Browning referred to in the house pro-
ctednPs
By Mr.. Observation-Disclosures, the state
of Texas, with her broad area of 265, $50
square mile4, equal to 17O,099,2 200 acres,
fronting nearly 600 miles on the Gulf of
Mexico is without a single port of entry
aptble of accommodating the great
ships that traverse the high seas; and,
Whereas, our annual agricultural pro-
ducts of 100000 bales of cotton, besides
vast amounts of corn, wheat, and other
produc of the soil, aggregating III value
about $100,O00,O0O, together with our
great live stock interest, excel any state
in the union; and,
Whereas, For want of proper harbor
facilities on our coast, the great steamship
lines and other means of oceanic trans
portarion are practically prevented from
compe ting with the railroads for the
transportation of our exports and i'm
ports; and,
Whereas. Because there is practically no
competition in freights, our people are
forced to pay exorbitant charges for
transporting their live stock and farm
products to the great markets of the
world, as well also as our merchants are
in ike manner compelled to pay unjust
rates of freight On all merchandise
shipped into this state; and,
Whereas, One or more deep water ports
on our coast of sufficient capacity to
allow the large ships to reach our shores,
would inspire and bring about the much
desired competition in freight rates, and
thus cause saving of millions of dollars
annually to our people, which is now be-
ing constantly extorted from them in the
way of exorbitant freight charges by the
railroad companies; and,
Whereas, The meagre appropri-
atoms being made by the general
government for the several points along
the coast of Texas are inadequate and in
sufficient to obtain deep water for years
yet to come; and, because of the divided
and inharmonious sentiment among our
delegation in congress it is improbable
that all the appropriations can ever be
concentrated upon any given point, and,
Whereas, The great agricultural com
mercisl and live stock interests of Texas
require prompt action on the part of the
state to secure a respectable port of entry
on our coast, but which action cannot be
had by the state because of restrictions
in our constitution: and,
Whereas, 1t is believed that an annual
levy and collection of reasonable ad
yalorem tax upon the property values of
this state would soon produce sufficient