Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-04
4 VOLCANO.
BIackmaiIers Of the Capitol Contrac'
tors Being TraiIed by Sharp Eyed
Reporters at Austin.
Another Bold Fight Will be Made To
Day on the Capitol Bill-Trump
Cards Unplayed.
The Geological Survey BIZ Passed to
Eagrossment in tho 5snate-The Tax
Bin raised to Third Reading.
THE NEW CAPITOL BILL.

AUSTIN, TEX, April 27.-Tne discus
sion in the House this morning was lurid
II not luminous. The bill creating 8
board to receive the new capitol WAS the
m.in theme, and personalities formed the
interesting side Of the issue. The chief
fight WAS over the proposition to adopt
Johnson's substitute for Bsird's bill.
Johnson and Bell of Cooke led the CON
tlngent fsvoring the substitute, while
championed the opposition. Johnson,
who Is good talker, lost his head, but
made very iatem pera.e harangue In
motives of certain persons who favored
the board bill. Moore came
bscg in short talk that burned and
blistered everywhere it struck. The bill
sme aided will undoubtedly psss to-mor-
row and will probably meet with few OBJ
jeclions in the Senate.
THE TAX BILL.
After the capitol bill had been ordered
engrossed the tax bill came up for dis
cussion. The friends Of Is cents school
tax again made fight to have their
amendment inserted in the bill, but their
efforts failed and the bill passed to the
third reading with the state tax fixed at
10 cents for this yesr and Is cents here
after, and leaving the school tax as it
now is.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BILL.
The geological survey bill was passed
to engrossment In the Senate to-day. II
was amended in several places, but re-
mains in the main IS wnen introduced.
Il will undoubtedly pass the Senate, ard
it is thought it will get through the
House, trough it will have 9 somewhat
hard time, as Bell OF Cooke and johnson
sre both dead set againss it and will
knife it il possible. Bell still thinks it a
scheme In favor Of corporations and other
sorts of wealth, snd will SO depounce it,
while his follow clap their hands and
pound the lids of their desks.
TO REPAY THE UNIVERSITY FUND.
The Senate also had 8
lively tussel this morning with
the bill sppropriating 1854. 600
to pay bsck the money borro wed from tn.
university fund. After the expenditure
CT many words snd some eloquence the
bill wss made the special order for to-
morrow.
LOAN TO THE SCHOOL FUND.
The bill making loan of $685. to
the school fund to psy the current in
debtedDess is 9 specisl order in the
House for to morrow. 1t will probably
go through without trouble, as there
seems to be unanimous desire among
the members to put the schools on good
fnsncial footing.
A grest many lsdies were present this
morning to listen to the Solons In the
House IS they wresthed their oratory into
bouquets Of influence with which to fes.
toon the hall.
THE CAPITOL BILL.
Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, Tex, April 27.-It is reported
late tonight that another hard fight will
will be made on the capitol bill to-mor-
row. The opponents OF the bill are said
to be determined to defeat it
ii possible and the Information is
that they have very high
trump to play which may take the win
ming trick On the other hand. 1t is re-
ported that some Of those who to-day
voted against will tomorrow vote with
the majority SO as to put it in effect from
Its passage.
A BLACKMAILING SCHEME.
Rumors are abroad here Of q black
mnl1iuS sCucEuc WucIcUJ uOHcy uhs U66u
more than once demanded of the capitol
contractors, accompanied by threats of
exposing alleged defects In the work
manship of the bui ding. The
latest attempt Is alleged to have
been made about ten days ago when
1880, 1t is said, was indirectly demanded
as the price of silence while the Legisla-
ture is delibersting upon receiving the
building. A certain individual is reported
at the head Of the scheme. He has covered
up the tracks, but the reporters are on
his trail, and when they get evidence SUI
fcientlY explicit the exposure will be
made, in which event the Austin black
mail fend may fnd it to his
interest to emigrste to other
pastures. THE GAZETTE reporters
know nothing Of the alleged facts except
from rumor End the statements made by
3 high ofncial who, however, refused to
let them go to the public, at
least Tor the present. The mat
ter was laid before Hon. A. Z.
Matlock, attorney for the Capitol Syndi-
cate, who promptly replied:
ssWe have plenty Of money for defense, i
but not cent for tribute.n
This matter Il q volcano with vary
thin crust. An eruption Il liable 10 come
at any moment. No member OF M Leg
islature Il n ~ wp eonnscsed viii ~