San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-11
SYNOPSIS OF THE MESSAGE.
Governor Ross Sends His Message
to the Twenty-First LeRisla-
ture--A Lengthy and SuR-
gestive Document.


ence to finances, and suggests that
the legislature should not vote ex-
'penditures and then fail to provide
means to meet the obligations as
they mature.
Submits the report Of the
comptroller, showing that on August
next there will be treasury surplus
of only $50, $50, not including reforma-
tory expenses, normal schools, or ag-
rlcultural and mechanical appropria-
tions.
Enters into review of the
last legislature In its action upon
finances and characteriZes that &C
ton as unsound in view of the ex-
traordinary expenses for creation and
establishment of reformatory, deaf
and dumb asylums for colored
youths, a new court and an orphan
asylum.
Shows that a reduction of taxes at
that time was most unwise, and that
on August 81, of this current year,
there will be $250,000 less on hand
than the comptroller considers safe
margin, and urges upon the lesigla-
ture the adoption of some measures to
meet the impending deficiency. At
ten ton was also called to the bonded
debt of the state with the recommend
alton of a reissue at a small rate Of in
terest, and cancelling the old bonds
when due.
The increasing expenses of the judi
ciary of the state are shown to be
largely due to the grand jury system,
the abuses and injustice of which are
strongly set forth, and revision of
the penal code looking to large re-
duction in the list of felonies and mis-
demeanors is recommended.
The land laws so far as affecting
tile revenues of the state, are passed
in review, and their inefficiency in Sc
curing to the school fund of the state,
the revenues justly belonging thereto
clearly demons trated, showing that
there is due the school fund from sales
of 1S79-1SS1-1SS3, one-half million of
dollars. The invalidity of title to pur-
chasers of land under act of 1883 is
also set forth, and the duty of the
commonwealth to deal fairly with its
citizens emphatically asserted.
The expenditures for reformatOry,
under act of last legislature were fully
reported and some very humane and
sensible suggestions were made as to
the real work of the reformatory; and
recommends the necessary legislation
to place the reformatory upon self
supporting basis, and make it what
its name implies.
The institute for deaf and dumb and
blind colored youth, established in
1887, is declared to be humanely and
successfully managed, although its
original creation was not in accord
ance with his personal opinions as to
it's eXpediency and necessity.
Orphan asylum and its manage
ment, the capitol building and the
record of its expenditures with the &C
ceptance of the building, are set forth
in due form, and the attention of the
legislature directed to the fullest scru-
tiny and inspection of all matters con-
nected with the new capitol.
The insuf1iciency of university rev:
enues is presented and the legislature
urged to provide some practical rem
edy by way of a more certain and
satisfactory development of its large
landed resources.
Concerning libel law, the message
says: "There seems to be a very gem
eral demand from the press for the en-
actment of more liberal provision on
this subject. This is not alone mat
ter of private interest, but one ofgreat
public concern, and while strict regu-
latiOns are necessary to guard the citi-
zen from an unwarranted license or
abuse, the great business interest, so
indispensable in this age of enlight-
ened progress, and which has done so
much to lay the foundation of that
thrift which marks us a people, is
likewise entitled to complete protec-
tion from imposition, and as 1 have
not studied the subject sufficiently to
reach different conclusion, can but
repeat the suggestions as set forth in a
previous statement of my views as the
possible basis for such a law as may
give more general satisfaction than
our present statute, 'and suggests the
adoption of the Michigan law of libel
as well calculated to cover the equities
of the case.
The questions of irrigation, mining
and quarantine are carefully cOnsid-
cred and upon the former, copious quo
tatiOns are made from the governor of
Arizona, setting forth the duty of the
state in retaining control of its water
supply; good and wholesome mining
laws are called for, as also the neces-
sity of leaving the quarantine officer
of the state untrammeled in his work
of saving the state from the perils of
pestilence.
The favorable attention of the
legislature was invoked for the