The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-10
The Senate.

Prayer was offered by the chaplain, Doc
tor Smoot, as followE:
"Oh, Lord our God, thou art our Creator
preserver and benefactoT; in Thee we live
and move and have our being. Thou arr
the God of nations as we'll as the Lord OF
saints. We thank Thee for the light OF
this morning and the health and strength
with which we come this day to the duties
and responsibilities of the same. Let Thy
benediotion rest upon this body. May
they be deeply impressed with the respon
sibility resting upon them and feel the
dignity of their Office. May they seek
wisdom from Thee to guide them in theil
deliberations. Bless their constituency
and preserve their families. We commit
ourselves and all the interests of the com.
monweslth into Thy hands, through Christ
our Redeemer. Amen"
Thirteen new senators were then sworn
in.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Wheeler then road
a short opening address to the senate, a,
follows:
wHEKLER's ADDRESS.
SENATORS: We have again assembled as
the servants of the people to do such work
as may be determined.
Permit me to congratulate you, and the
people of the entire state, on their general
prosperity. When we compare our con-
dition with that of other states and coun.
tries we should feel grateful. No state or
country possesses more of those bless.
ings which tend to make a people happy
prosperous and great than are enjoyed
to-day by the people of Texas. With that
conservative legislation, which wise states
manship will dictate, the widest magma
ton can not conceive what will be our fut-
ure possibilities. Upon the conduct OF
the legislative department depends, to a
great extent, the continued pros
perity and future development of
the state. know that you
are all Texans and lovers of every part
of this great commonwealth, and will at
ell times do your whole duty in giving to
Texas that legislation which will place
her in the front rank of the great states
of this Union. We must and will occupy
the position as to wealth, population and
good government, as well as politically,
which will call forth the exclamation
and there stands Texas!
know that the people of every part of
Texas can rest assured that every question
worthy of consideration will receive that
attention which their interests demand
In conclusion, permit me to request
your cooperation in the performance of
the duties as presiding officer. While
appreciate the difficulties of the position,
with your assistance 1 hope to make you
a fair, impartial, efficient presiding officer.
uinry kha
of many of your number in a former
senate, feel assured that you will give
me your hearty cooperation, and that we
will have a pleasant and profitable ses-
sion.
Senator Burney offered resolution that
the senate proceed to business by the cleo
ton of its officers.
Senator Claiborne offered substitute
providing for different set of officers
from Senator Burney's resolution.
On motion of Senator Mcdonald the
substitute was tabled.
Senator Armistead offered another sub
stitute and Senator Claiborne's motion to
table this substitute was lost.
Senators Pope and Townshend were
then sworn into Office.
Senator Claiborne made a speech char
acterizing the resolution and substitute as
reckless extravaganza. Senator Armistead
spoke in favor of the substitute. Senator
Burney advocated the same pay for both
porters and pages, and not more pay for
the pages than for the porters. He also
wanted two doorkeepers instead of one.
Senator Armistead's substitute was, by a
vote of 10 to z, adoted. Senator Lane
moved substitute amendment providing
for an assistant doorkeeper. Carried.
Senator Franks amendments to make
the number of porters and pages four in
stead of five each were lost.
Amendments to cut down the pay of
porters and pages were all lost.
The original resolution as amended was
then adopted, and the senate proceeded to
the election of officers as therein provided.
For secretary there were two nomina-
tions. Capt. @. M. Boynton was nomi-
mated by Senator Lane, and seconded by
Senator Jarvis; Maj. E. M. Bacon was
nominated by Senator Pope, and seconded
by Senator Glasscock.
Senator Pope opposed Captain Boyn-
ton because of an article appearing in
his paper, the Hamilton Herald, the article
being to this effect: Jeff Davis was so
years old last Sunday morning. Wouldn't
it have been favorable opportunity for
the old man to have said his prayers and
passed in his checks while his credit was
good" Senator Pope made a ringing
speech against any man who would write
such sentiment against man whom the
entire south so highly honors. Senator
Tyler, in defense of Captain Boynton, de-
clared he was not responsible for the
writing of that article-that he had not
personally been editing the paper that
still carried his name at its hesd for sew
erel months; that his boys were editing
the paper; that he had no knowledge that
the article had ever been written until a
few days ago; that he did not endorse its
sentiment. Senator Lane spoke in the
same strain as Senator Tyler.
Senator Lane charged that the attack
made upon Captain Boynton was not to
yindicate the memory of JEFF Davis, but
was simply an election trick. Senator
opposed Captain Boypton.
Senators Townshend, Woodward and