San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-05-09
A wONDROUs THING.


Correspondence Fort Worth Gazette
AUSTIN. Tex, April 8. 5.-During the
memorial service held in tho hall oi
the house on Monday night there were
many ladies present, and flor they
had left o scrap of pasteboard wat
found on the desk OF member bear
ing the following lines, written in
female chirography;
II could have my dearest wish
FULFILLED In every feature,
I'd wish to be member of
Tho Texas Legislature.
I'd paralyze the gaping crowd
With great big words Of thunder.
And make their hair rise up on end,
AS on my "gush" they'd ponder.
Then honor to that wondrous thing,
The Texas Legislature.
You might 90 far and meyer find
Another such creature.
I would like to know the author OF
this mild but pungont satire; ! would
like to be able to give her name to
the public, for she is not only gifted
with fine facility Of expression, but
also with great discernment l ap-
preciated these things when I first
read her verses, and my appreciation
has had much strengthening during
the three days that have passsd
since.
A woNDRoUs THING,
indeed, is the Texas Legislature, the
lower house especially. What think
you of q body of meu--representatlve
men-who will discuss measure for
hours, pass it, then in few hours
reconsider and defeat it by large
majority? Does it not seem strange
that men-full grown men-men
chosen presumably for their
superior intelligence--should be 30
vacillating that they cannot tell be-
fore dinner how they will stand on o
given question in the afternoon!
And yet that is about the condition
of "that wondrous thing, the Texas
Yesterday morning q
bill to enable purchasers OF land sold
for taxes to get valid titles was pass.
ed by a majority of one. 1t had
been thoroughly discussed by some
of tho ablest men in the house. The
first thing after dinner q motion to
reconsider was made and the bill was
killed by a majority OF twetny-seven.
I have nothing to say as to the mer-
it's of the bill, but such vacillation
does seem to me puerile in the ex-
treme. This is not an isolated case
in the house, but one ofmany.
1 have found nothing OF more in
terest in this legislature than the
discussion by the house OF what was
known as the
swIsHER LAND BILL.
This was measure designed TO
allow the holders of certain veteran
certificates to locate on state lands,
md took its name from Col. John M.
Swisher, q San Jacinto hero, because
he was the one who was pressing it.
The bill passed the senate and went
into the house. Here it was discuss
ed several times and at great length,
It passed on Tuesday by o minority
Of twenty, on Wednesday it was re-
and killed. Some OF the
speeches OF those favoring the bill
were very strong and fun OF the fires
Of patriotism; some of its opponents
declared that they were in favor OF
giving tho old veterans almost any.
Ihiog they might ask; others declared
that "we have done enough for these
Did veterans" What speech for o
statesman and q patriot What an
answer to the members ofthe immor-
tal band who upon San Jacinto's un-
equaled field threw themselves up
On the hordes of Santa Anna, snatch
ed this empire from the grasp OF the
Napoleon of the West" and gave it
10 liberty. "We"-note the word,
please--"haye done enough for the
Did veterans" Oh, ave" have, have
'Wei" Well, who are we "We,' and
what have those old veterans done
Tor "Usi" While this rot was being
spoken on the floor of the house Col.
5wisher was present. What must
Iave been bis thoughts? Can you
DOT imagine him recalling the incl
ients Of that April morning, now al
most fifty.three years ago, when IN
he best blood Of Mexico he helped
20 seal Texas Independence aud said
% himself: "Is it for this that l en-
lured the trials and hardships and
hangers Of that troublous timef
Ah, happy ttose patriots who die
n achieving their country's liberty
For they do not then know what it's
% suffer their country's ingratitude.
BIG root WALLACE
EAs here sometime ago, and one day
saw him walk up TO the door Of the
,ouse Of representatives He was
topped by the doorkeeper and after
eE moments conversation, turned
nd walked away. What do you
impose the matter Easi The rules OF
he house denied him the privileges
4 the floor; IL he desired 10 witness
be proceedings, he must 60 the gal
ery' This was nObOdys fault
.uch rules have 10 be made-but Il
.eened hard. didntia One OF The
oost celebrated Of Texas veterans de
- a.. - r,vsvslr.ye Of sitting Nd