The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-26
Legislative Notes.

There appears to have been some change
in the sentiment about the reduction OF
taxation. AS the question is discussed
members become more cautious, and not
disposed to rush frantically in and tamper
with what may prove buzz saw. The
people are not complaining about the
rate of taxation, and eight months from
now the legislature meets again, and then
the way will be clear for sesing whether
or not taxes can be safely reduced, Then,
too, bill passed by the Twenty first leg
islature will give the people just as much
relief as a bill passed at this time.
The senate ordnance committee yester
day evening agreed to report favorably
the bill extending the time for the re-
dempiion of lands sold for taxes and
bought in by the state. The time is one
year from the passage of the bill,
The joint committee on furnishing the
new capitol held a session this evening
and made an examination of the grounds
Superintendent Goree was before the com.
mittee and gave the following reasons
why the penitentiary can not manufacture
the necessary furniture, "a has been sug.
gestel by some of the members of the
house.
First-Because of the lack of a suffi-
cient number of skilled cabinet workmer
to do the character of work required
with II a reasonable time.
Second-Beacuse of a deficiency of
proper machinery.
Third-Because of want of proper
kinds and dimensions of seasoned mate
rial for that character of work.
Fourth-Because we have not room to
keep up our regular line of work and do
this work too, even should we employ
skilled labor.
Fifth-Because it would seriously in
terfere with our regular work, which is
daily growing, and cause us to lose Gus
toners, which will be hard to regain.
Senator Terrell's bill appropr ating
$15O,000 to complete the Terrell asylum
passed the senate yesterday morning with
out dissenting vote and it is believed it
will go whizzing through the house.
In discussing the bill to purCha'c ad-
ditional farming land for the Aus
tin Lunatic Asylum yesterday, some OF
the senators displayed awful lack of
Knowledge of the workings of the insti-
tuition for the insane. Some see to think
that tie work is compulsory and that it
was contrary to law and everything else.
The truth is, it is not compulsory, but is
left to the patents. This volunt lry labor
is one of the most potent and effective
remedial agents used about asylums for
the insane. To prevent the inmates of a
Innate asylum from doing such work
would be positive injury to them, If not
a positive cruelty. Nothing makes them
more contented and nothing contributes
more to the restoration of their minds.
Mr.. j. G. Douglass, of Seguin, the eff
ficient postmaster of the senate, has re-
ceived intelligence that, by the death OF
relatives in Tennessee, his two little
daughters have come into possession OF
$4,000 each.
Senator Burney is making very watch
full and careful senator, and he Is a hard
worker. His geological bill WAS reported
favorably this morning, and it will pass
the senate, it is thought.
The senate finance committee, in session
last evening, agreed to report faVorably
the bill appropriating $29,OOO to the
Prairie View Normal school.
The bill making appropriations for ln
provements at the institutes for the bllnt
and deaf and dumb, reported favorabl!
this NOR ming, will pass the senate, Will
but very few, if any, changes. The i'm
provements contemplated are needed.
Members of the legislature are informed
that not exceeding five disgruntled, IN
competent workmen discharged from tn
new capitol work, put in circulation tn
report that defective material and de
fective workmanship had entered into the
construction of the new capl'ol. Ihel
object has been to blackmail the contract
ors, and TEE STATESMAN some time back
published Matchmaking letter from on
of the immaculate gentry demanding
$1,000. During the progress of tn
work, it has been open and free, and a
all times any and everybody could CHM
over its walls at their own sweet VIII
About the time the walls were nearin
completion, distinguished architect an
engineer, brought here by the count
officials to examine the bridge at the foo
of the Avenue went all over the structur
and made very minutes examination G
the material and the manner of its bein
placed in the walls, and in an intervie
had with him, published in The STATEI
MAN, he pronounced it the finest maieri
in the world, and of the very best posslb
workmanship, and this has been the W
dict of every man competent to judge wi