The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-03-01
.r,rvsv.y Publishing COMPANY
THERE WILL BE NO CALLED SESSION OF
THE LEGISLATURE.


THE LEGISLATURE.
This much mooted question Of whether
or not there will be called session OF the
legislature may be put finally to rest IN
the negative. No good and substantial
reason can be found why there should be
such session, but on the other hand every
argument is against an extra session. Inc
CRY has bean that, As there is handsome
surplus in the treasury, the people should
now be relieved of some of the burdens OF
taxation. But if the Legislature we're 10
meet upon this one Issue, how would they
determine it? How much, If any,
would they lessen the rate OF tax
alton. and would it be to an
amount appreciable by the people of the
statef Could they lessen the rate ma
tsrially, and yet provide against con-
tinUenoies that may arise and sharply de-
mand return to the present if not
higher rate? The season is now very
propitious, but who can say what the re-
suit will be, or that there may not be
oalamities befall that will drain the treas
ury, or at least forbid the collection of
taxes next fall2 And, after all, is the sur
plus such very big matterr 1t will take
four hundred thousand dollars to properly
fix the grounds and furnish the new CAPT
tol building. The penitentiary buildings
will shortly require four or five hundred
thousand dollars. These items will create
a considerable hole in the surplus. The
financial condition of the state is not
such as TO demand called session. Some
relief was given the people by the
Twentieth legislature, and this will have
TO suffice them until the Twenty-frst
meets, less than a year from now.
Again, the land law is Just being put
into successful operation. 1t is claimed
shat this is the best land law ever enacted
in the state. Its results are but now be-
ing worked out, and no idea can be gained
of what complete, general and lasting
good it is capable of being turned to. A
new session might be made to tamper
with and impede the workings of this law
and overturn the bent fits now in contem-
platiOn and being actually daily realized
Really, the only question now troubling
the state is the. school question. And
since the adjournment of the Twentieth
legislature no new ideas,no solution of this
much veIed question, have been sprung
upon the people. If an extra session
we're called at this time, it would
grope in the dark, as has its
predecessors, and accomplish no advan-
tageous results. Negatively, every reason
ia against a called session, and positively
one great argument postpOnes all legisla-
ton until 1889. We are even now on the
eve of a great political warfare. This is
an "on" year in politics. If legislature
met now there would be more effort to
create political capital than to frame
iudicious laws. But let us wait until the
heat OF the canvass is over; let Us avail our
selves, then, OF the ideas, the theories,
che varions suggestions, this campaign
will give rise to; let us choose in Novem-
Der a Legislature fresh from out heated
discussion of state Issues, fresh from the
people and knowing their wishes and
bearing their instructions, and let us
with such legislature face all these
issues that though now in tentative
state, will then have been tried with
another years experience, and we will
have much more kOIe of arriving at
sound conclusions and able laws than we
possibly can have now. The question of
finance will then be stripped of some Of
its resent doubt, the land law will have
had time 10 adjust itself to the laws of
the past and our usages, new light may
by then have been thrown on the school
question; in fact, all the great problems
that now perplex the state will then be IN
a better position for correct solution and
adjustment. We know all these questions
have passed under the governors con-
sideration, and we know whereof we speak,
and speak authoritatively when we say
the governor will not call an extra session
of the l. gislature.