The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-07
The House.

From Wednesdays Daily. -,
The house met at 10 O'Clock. Speaker
Alexander and a quorum present. Prayer
by the chaplain, Rev. II. W. Dodge.
Mr.. Ellison presented a petition from
the citizens of Caldwell county, and MT,
Tolsr one from the citizens OF Mlteneil
county, asking for repeal of the oeeupa-
ton tax. s-,
Mr.. Erskine presented petition from
citizens of Duval and Uvslde couh'ies
praying for amendment of the game law
ByMr. Decentralization from citizens
of Lavaca county praying legislation LOT
relief from bad roads.
By Mr.. Brown-PetItion from coloreu
citizens of Grsyson county protesting
against the Pope bill for separate coaoheS
for colored people.
Mr.. Smith, of Travis, chairman OF com
mittee, called up house bill extending the
time of engineers and contractors ior
furnishing the state house and improving
the capitol grounds. The bill passed and
on motion of Mr.. Handy, motion to re-
consider was tabled.
Mr.. Hamblen offered a resolution re-
questing the judiciary committee to bring
IN a bill repeating articles lO5S ana lOo9
of the Code of Procedure till the leglsla-
ture can pass an act that will remedy the
abuse of exorbitant claims for fees OF
sheriffs and clerks in felony cases.
He subsequently withdrew the resolu-
ton, and presented bill (house bill NO.
4S4) covering the same object.
Bills were introduced:
By Mr.. Ellison-For taking testimony
of non-residents on criminal cases In the
district courts.
By Mr.. Notwithstanding the law as
to fees of county judges and commission
ers.
By Mr.. Woodruff 10y request)-Defn-
ing usury.
By Mr.. Bailey-For taking testimony in
certain cases.
By Mr.. Stevenson, of Ell Paso-Author'
izing counties to fund their indebtedness
By Mr.. Notwithstanding article
4O5 of the law as to obstructing roads.
By Mr.. Cook-Creating bureau OF
labor and industrial statistics.
BY Mr.. Fanbion-For relief of Isaac
Stephens.
By Mr.. misunderstanding the game
law.
By Mr.. Hudson-Repealing article 4,390a
of the road law.
By Mr.. Wood-Giving farm laborers g
lien on the farm products.
BY Mr.. Weldon (by request Amending
articles 669a and 731 of the Code of Pro.
cedure as to testimony and right to sever
in criminal trials.
By Mr.. Fields-Amending the law au
thoriziDg the commissioner of agriculture
to have made geological and minerslog
ical survey of the state.
By Mr.. Mills-Petition of F. A. Blail
for services as attorney by direction Of
the attorney general in suit against the
Texas Benevolent association.
House bill 84-Amending the occupa
ton tax law came up as the special order
Pending amendment of Mr.. Mills was
adopted fixing tax of so cents per mile
run upon every palace sleeping or dining
car.
Other amendments were adopted al
follows:
By Mr.. ders--Amendment fixing
$3.50 state and 500 county tax upon par
ties other than merchants who have paiC
occupation tax, for selling clocks, cooking
stoves and ranges.
By Mr.. johnson, of Titus-TaxIne
every cotton buyer, other than merchants
who have paid occupation tax, $40.
By Mr.. Hayes-Striking out the count!
tax against telephone companies.
By Mr.. Mills-Prohibiting cities OF
towns from collecting additional tax from
person, firm or agencies reporting upor
the credit or standing of persons engaged
in business in this state. This leaves
them to pay only state tax, $3.50.
By Mr.. Dillard-Fixing tax of l pei
cent, payable quarterly, on gross earnings
of railroads, steamboats, and stage coaches
By Mr.. Murrell-Taxing skating Kinks
SIS.
By Mr.. Bailey-Adding emergency
clause to the bill.
Mr.. Brown, of Grayson, offered al
amendment striking out proviso as tt
the tax on banks, which he offered wher
the bill was previously considered. This
he did, he said, as the proviso was &C
cepted in misrepresentation as an amend
ment to an amendment offered by Mr.
Hayes, of Lamar.
Mr.. Hayes said the proviso would re
lieve all the banks in the state from tax
alton.
The provisio was stricken out and the
bill as amended was engrossed.
House then adjourned till 10 o'clock to
day.