Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-20
The Message Well Received in Both
Houses Administration is
Highly lndorsedby Members
L scSsms for Securing Lsrge Bppro.
pfss fnu 70 Finish the New Capitol
Dtyeifped-An Investigation.
Tho University Regents Hold Meeting to
Con.idsr the Best Mode of Attack
on the Fat Treasury.
OPENING OF THE SESSION.

y.
Seekers gave 'ell in the House at II TO-
day, calling the first special session OF
the Twentieth Legislature to order, very
nearly all the members were IN their
seats, and those wno were not present
have about all arrived tonight. There
were three vacant chairs. however, which
will not be filled by the members. T. A
Fuller and J. W. JsTnett have both
resigned and B. Rush Plumley has passed
from life. Mr.. Plumley's desk and c5air,
in the front row TO the Speakers left, hsd
been appropriately drsped and basket OF
white roses, iessimines and noneysuckles
has been placed there by loving hapds,
filling the air with the sweet fragrance OF
purity.
THE MESSAGE.
Tie governors message, conveyed to
the House bv Private Secretary Holmes
and read BY Reading Clerk Day, was lis
tened to with marked attention by tne
members. It is regarded here IS an able
document, pointing out the needs OF Tue
state III The plain, direct way Tor WnIch
Governor Ross has become noted. Inc
Governors administration is very hlgnly
Endorsed by most OF the members, ana ne
seems to be personally popular with Sil OF
them, but whether they will follow his
adyice in the matter Of legislation Is
question that time alone can solve.
IN THE SENATE.
Lieutens ant Governor Wheeler raped
the Upper House to order st the ap-
pointed hour, and the chaplain ohereG up
a fervent prayer for strength and WISDOM
to be furnished the Senators, that they
might be able to know and do their outy.
The message wss also well received here,
and regarded by the Senators as very
statesmanl!ke paper.
The members appear to be IN me
heslth, for the most part, and the splenola
outlook for Dig crops sDd the prosperous
condition of the state generally, mas pRt
them in high spirits.
ONE SCHEME.
Oae scheme for securing large sp7T
propriation to furnish the new cspitof
has been developed. 1t is said even py
friends il q liberal appropriation, tnst
$50, 900 will be ample toffurntsh Ahe
building in handsome style, but on the
outside they talk nothing less than $780,
600. "You see.n said one OF them to
THE GAZETTE, "we will ask for $780,
600, and fight hard for It,,
Then when the economists scale it
down to $50, 900 they will think they
have saved pile Of money 20 the state,
and will turn in and vote for the appTo-
priation with u.s." Those fellows. under
stand human na ure IS well as our friend
behind the coun ter, who marks 81 5O
bst at 81 with the intention of allowing
his customer to "jsw" him down to the
original prize. 1t is o scheme thst has
worked since trsde began and will work
until it ends. II it fails in this instance
1t will be surprising.
AN ERROR IN THE MESSAGE.
The Governor in his message made 8
peculiar mistake, which renders ine1Sc-
tive much of his argument in opposition
to the reduction of taxation. He states
that the taxes levied by counties and mu-
inequalities are controlled by the amount
of state taxation, and that to reduce
the state levy might seriously
embsrrsss many of the counties and cit
les. The old constitution provided thst
stste taxation for general purposes should
not exceed so cents on 800 vslustion,
and thst no county, city or town should
lay a levy for general purposes to ex-
coed one-half the state tax.
The new constitution. however,
changed that and provides thst
the state levy shall not exceed 30 cents,
and that no county or municipal levy
shall exceed 25 cents. In the hurried
reading of the message very few persons
noticed this blunder, but where they nave
| il in print and resd 1t over carefully they
discover it, and 1t vii. almost cause
sensation.
READY TO ATTACK THE TREASURY.
The University agents met to-day to
consider the best mode Of attack on the
Treasury in the interest OF the iustitu-
ton. They want an appropriation made
To nav back to the University the money
borrowed. and a bill to that effect will be
introduced e.rly in the session. The
indebtedness is estimated Gil the wSy
from $50, 900 to $780, 600, but the re,
gents really expect to get about $780,
900. The bill will be introduced ny MT
| Gresham and will provide tor the build
! ing and equipment of the medical branch
/ of the University at Galveston. The fact
that the Governors con7enipg proclama
ton contains nothing in reference to the
university WAS construed by it's enemies
to mean that he opposed any appropri-
alton for thst institution. It's friends
have maintained that he would recon
mend the appropriation In special pro'
clamation which would have more effect
than IL contsiued IL the general
one. 1t was leerred to-day, however,
that he had no such Intentions. 1t was
also learned that he is in favor of the ap
preparation. or at least that he feels very
friendly to It, for in discussing the bill to
he introduced he advised Mr.. Gresham
70 hsva II referred to the finance commit
zee, which favor the University, instead
of To the education committee, which II
inimical.
WANTS AN INVESTIGATION.
The resolution introduced by Senatoi
Bell raising joint committee to inVesti-
gate the new capitol opens the doors to
great deal OF trouble. II that committee
is appointed every discharged employe
every disappointed contractor and every
general sorehesd will want 10 appear aud
testify to the instiGiencV OF tho work, The
exorbitance Cf the price or tho sabstan-
| tibility of the building.
MAY CREATE MUCH TALK.
The resolution introduced by Senator
| MeManus refers to an address, to theinVer'
nor signed by a number al members OF
the house about the time OF Adjournment
last wear, taking the Senate 10 task fol
failing 10 pass the railroad commission
bill, (also Terrell'st reference TO the
matter In his recent letter
| brought 1t before the pu0lle
and Senator McManus thought 1t al im-
| neAchmeut of the Senator's Integrity