The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-31
Legislative Notes.


The senate Wednesday confirmed all
the balance of the governors appoint
ments sent in to it last week. AT the time
of the confirmation of half the appoint
ments last week, it will be remembered
the senate hung upon the name Of
Commissioner of Insurance aud Statistics
Foster, as quite fight was being made
against him from certain quarter. Bnt
the senate confirmed him Wednesday, it ia
understood, without question. The only
opposition developed against any of the
appointees was the six votes cast against
Doctor Rutherford for state health officer.
All Of the state officials have now been ap-
pointed and confirmed.
Senator Douglass will be missed from
the sessions of the senate, and his resigna-
ton from that body is matter of regret
with all its members. He was very
quiet senator, but he was liberal to de-
gree in all his votes, and was universally
courteous and deservedly popular. We
wish him success in his new field-that of
assistant superintendent of the peniten-
tlaries.
Senator Kimbrough has received word
that "it is boy" The senator now can
count family of four boys, and we con-
graduate him on his good luck.
Senator Tyler made an able speech in
advocating the passage of the bill estab-
fishing the peabody normal college" at
Salado in Bell county. He read statistics
of other states, going to show that in
comparison with population Texas is
worse off for normal schools than any
state in the union. He declared he was
not SO particular as to the site of the
college, though he believed Salado was as
good location as could be found in the
state, and excellent inducements were
offered for establishing it there. He was,
however, violently opposed to leaving the
question of its location to some junket-
ing board, that would make a spectacle of
itself running around over the state, only
a little later to meet at Austin and auction
it off to the highest bidder. The bill
passed to engrossment and will finally
pass the senate. The bill calls for the
conveyance to the state OF the "Salado
college," its buildings and grounds and
appurtenances, and is very full of details
as to the time of opening such normal
school, regulating admission of all
students, state" and others, and the time
state students" shall give the state after
their graduation. Twenty thousand
dollars each year for two years are an.
propriated for running the school.
Doctor Mckinley and other prominent
colored men are opposed to Senator
Pope's separate coach bill. The doctor
thinks that law fixing different rates of
fare for first and second-class accommo-
dations will be about the proper thing,
and In a very great measure affect the
same object intended to be accomplished
by the bill. When colored folks are forced
into second-class cars, he wants the com
panles forced to haul them at second-class
rates.
Hon. Albert Stevenson, of Parker coun-
W, has distinguished presence and is
one of the ablest and most fluent debaters
on the floor of the house.
Hon. @. Williamson, of Fayette county.
is one of the most intelligent and indus.
trlous members of the housa. He is rec
ognized by his brother members as
Wide-awake, vigilsnt representative, who ia
not afraid to favor or oppose any legisla-
ZION his Judgment does not approve.
Hon. Jesse Murrell, of Cooke county, ia
a member of the following important
house standing committees: Judiciary
No. 2, state affairs, stock and stockraisin1
and military affairs. The people of his
district did a most creditable act when
they sent such worthy representative to
guard their interests in the Twenty
legislature, and they may rest secure in
the fact their interests will be ablv and
cared for. "u
Iltus county honored herself when she
elected Hon. W. j. johnson to the Twentv.
lltst legislature. He is worthy citizen, a
gentleman OF high intelligence, who will
make one of the most active and indus. !