Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-04
THE REASONS WHY.
Twenty Three Resolutions Proposing
Constitutional Amendments.
Uncle Isaac Parker Insists on the Taxon Law
yers-The Heavy Loobies Enliven
Mstters-The Werk Done.
Special correspondence Of the Gazette.

numerous 1 stated N q former conf
manication that ten or twelve resolutions
proposing amendments were pending be-
! fore the house. 1 find the actuai nuRl-
/ Der to be twenty-three, covering almost
the entire Instrument As the granger
element is the one which seems 70 be
most opposed to constitutional cOnven-
ton it would be well for them 10 ponder
well the following four reasons for having
/ a new constitution
1 /. The present constitution prevents
the legislature from properly tax
/ ing corporations. Under the pres
ent system of al valoFem taxation
the greater the amount for which "a rail-
/ road is bonded the less it is worth If
4 corporations could be properly taxed the
state would soon be able to raise its entire
/ revenue from corporation and occupation
taxes.
/ , The homestead law Is a clear dis
| elimination against the man who lives in
! the country. He can only homestead his
/ home, while his city brother can reserve
his home and his place of business.
! 3. ANY system for improving the pub
| lie roads adopted under the present con-
/ stitutiOn must prove inadequate.
/ f. The courts are 50 organized that
1 they cannot possibly dispatch the buSi-
| to denial of justice.
| Each of these reasons comes home to a
farmer with full force, aud it is hoped
they may all strike with good effect.
Mr.. Sorrel, the young member from
! Wharton county, presented the governor
the other dav with a bottle of wine that
was thirty-seven years old. twas de-
posted in the corner stone of the old
courthouse in Wharton in 1852, and re-
moved therefrOm in July, 1855 Mr..
SOrrel, in making the presentation,
made a very neat little speech appropri-
ate to the occasion.
Uncle Isaac Parker continues to de-
light the house by his original way OF
Illustrating things. In the debate
yesterday on the occupation tax
bill he locked horns with
Judge Frost, Nayorra county 5 able and
accomplished representative, and crea-
ted great laughter and applause Mt the
expense of that gentleman S argument.
Judge Frost had spoken of two brothers,
one of whom had decided to become
stocbraiSer, while the other had adopted
the legal profession, and said he could
see no reason for making the lawyer
pay an occupation, while his brother paid
none. Uncle Isaac said the illustration
was not good one. T'T'he young man
who adopts the stock business, said he,
s'puts his money in land and stock, which
is found by the assessor, and upon
which he is made TO pay tax.
His brother invests his money
in legal knowledge, leaving no visible
property to be taxed, and the only way
to get anything out OF him is through an
occupation tax
This settled the question and the tax on
lawyers were made TO stick.
To whom is a member of the legislature
emenable for his conduct. while at the
capital? 1t has generally been supposed
that he was answerable only to his con-
stituency. but the recent action OF the
house would make it appear that he was
responsible to the branch of the legislature
of which he may be q member a com
mittee was appointed, under resolution,
to inquire into and report the cause of the
absence of members, officers and en-
ployes. The committee reported that
some of them were absent on account of
indiscretions. The report was combatted
on the ground that it was q reflection
on every member absent, no matter for
what cause. After lying over for one
day the report was withdrawn A mo-
ton was made TO expunge the whole
thing from the journal on the ground
their constituents alone, and not TO the
house, and the overwhelming majority
by which the motion was voted down
seem to indicate that the house desires to
be considered boss OF the whole situation.
The heavy Hobbies present during the
greater part of this week have enliyened
matters considerably, though they have
come principally to attend to local mat
tiers. Houston, Waco, Dallas, San An
tonic and Williamson county have
all had heavy delegations here.
When the commission bill comes
up next Wednesday for discussion it will
probably draw a strong lobby of railroad
ers, who win labor assiduously to defeat
a measure which they claim viii amount
to virtual ccnfiscation of the railroad
property of Texas.
This closes the third week of the ses-
sion, and but little work is apparent.
But a great deal has been cut out by the
committees, and the legislature will
probably strike a business gait next week
and make good running to the end of the
session.
Among the members of the last house
who are coming to the front in this body
is Hon. L. a Whatley, the Cass county
giant. Mr.. Whatley is a magnificent
specimen of sturdy American manhood
strong in body and mind, fearless in the
discharge of duty and eminently practical
in everything he does.
Hon. w. A. Kincaid, the foater from
Limestone, is making rapid strides for 8
front position in the house. He is a
strong speaker, an able lawyer, aud but
for his good common sense would be
dude. Anyhow, he is pretty enough for
one.
Hon. w. c. Johnson, who was one OF
the leaders III the last house, is now in
the senate, and is making a fine record
in that strong body. Cone is but twenty
seven years Of age, being the youngest
member of the upper house, and no man
in the state is able to look out upon a
more promising future.
GRO. BYRNE