Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-26
THE DRILL ENDANGERED
The Legislature Evinces a Squeamish-
ness About Receiving the New
Capitol From the Architects.
Corksd-up Eloquence Let Loose in the
House on Pages Tax Bill-Oonsti-
tutional Term of District Judges.
senator Terrell Feels indicated in the
Passag' Of the Private Corporation
Bni By Both Houses.
PRIVATE CORPORATION BILL.

] PRIVATE CORPORATION BILL,
| Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, April 25.-The private
corporation bill which has passed both
Houses is the same measure offered by
Senator Terrell In the Nineteenth and
again in the Twentieth Legislature. He
was undoubtedly abused by the Alliance
people at that time, but thinks his vim
dicstion has come now that they have
adopted his measure and by the pressure
OF their influence secured Its passage.
Mr.. Terrell says his views on the matter
were all right, but he WAS year or two
in advance of the times.
THE HOUSE TAX BILL.
Mr.. Psge's tax bill was before the
House for discussion and amendment
to-day, and 8 large amount
Of corked-up eloquence was
the committee fixes the ad valorem state
tax at 10 cents on real estate and Is cents
on personal property.
William G. Johnson offered substitute
fixing the state tax at 10 cents and the
school tax at Is cents for the present
year and leaving both taxes as they now
are for subsequent years. The measure
provoked warm discussion, which was
engaged in by large number of me nbers.
1t was argued by the one side that this
Legislature is here for the pur-
pose Of reducing taxation and should
not shirk the responsibility, aud on
the other that the next Legislature will
be better able to tell what is a proper
rate OF taxation than the present one is.
The proposition to increase the school
fax stirred up strong opposition, Bell of
Cooke, being especially decided in op-
posing Il. The bill and substitute were
laid ever till tomorrow.
AMENDING THE RENDITION LAW.
Another bill creating q good deal of
discussion WAS the one Introduced by
Psge, amending the law relating to the
rendition of property for taxation. The
object is the taxing of money, bonds and
other property, which, itls said, lis habitual-
i9 removed from the state about the LIST OF
January, and not brought back till the
tax lists are completed. Action on this
bill was also postponed.
TO REPAY THE UNIVERSITY.
The House educational committee to-
day decided to report iavorablY Hudgins'
bill sppropriating $4,000 to p1y back
the money borrowed by the state from
the university fund.
NO CAPITOL DEDICATION
1t begins to look as though there might
oe no capitol dedication here in the beau
tiful month of Msy IS hiss been hereto
fore anticipated. The Legislature hiss
eviDced s squeamishless about receiving
the building from the architects, and snum-
Der of plans have baen proposed, shutting
the responsibility from one department to
smother, until it now seems thst IL
may not be accepted at all. The building
is not yet completed, but the contractors
agrse tina. its acceptance so far as finished
shall not work forfeiture of the pro-
visions of the con- ract requiring them to
complete it, and that they will enter into
additional bond to complete according to
the original specifications sill parts not
noW finished They are not willing to
allow the building to be opened t.. the
public till received. The buildjtlgi II dedi-
cited st all will be With closed doors.
The question seems further from solution
| than ever since the Introduction
by Cone Johnson this morning Of
bill declaring that the bui ding shall not
be received till entirely completed in &C.
cordance with the spec :hcatlops. The
whole trouble seems to come from de-
sire on the part Of Ger sin members OF the
Legislature to escape responsibility. They
sre frightened by the cries OF certain dis
gruntled individuals w,oae views have
been sighted by the contractors or COM
missioners aud are willing, not to ssy
anxious to hide behind any techuicslity
which presents itself. The Governor is
understood to have said that If the Legis-
leture will throw the responsibility on
him he will readily accept il and settle
the question to the bess of his ability.
| JoHNsoN's CAPITOL BILL.
! Mr.. Johnson's capitol bill will be fs.
vorably reported in the morning Mr.,
johnson will offer an amendment provld-
lag that so much of the building IS is
finished may be received by the state and
used while the other part is being com-
| pleted.
N.J )RI1Y AND MINORITY REPORTS.
The Senate judiciary committee No.
viii make me jori,y report IN favor Of
Mr.. Woods bill requiring counties to re-
| turn to the general school fund all money
apport1oned to them and not used during
the school year for which IT was 80 ao-
propriated. A minority will report In
favor OF Gregg's bill allowing any district
to save up the money for year or more
I'LL enough accumulates to psy for q
school OF certain length or to build a
school house.
CAPITAL CULLINGs.
a. Il. Morris, collector OF Travis
county, to-day settled with the state,
showing total collections for 1887 of
S64,1SS
The Comptroller to-dsy deposited over
sl4. 900 in the Treasury TO the account of
the general revenue and school fund.
The state board OF educs'ion appointed
j. l.. Pritchett Of San Marcos IS q teacher
In the Ssm Houston Normal Institute:
also, they fixed the age Of admission for
young ladies at seventeen.
Attorney-General Hogg has given =
lengthy opinion concerning the constitu-
tional term of district judges, holding
that said term Is four years and thai
Judge Rsir ely In the Fourth district is en-
titled 10 hold his Office until the next
general election, two years from next
NeVeE Der.