Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-12
AFTER EN-, SURE.
The First Bill introduced in the
House Railroad Bill.
Representative Tolar Introduces Bill
to Legalize the Sales Of Land by
the Land Board.
Text of the Libel Law Bill Introduced by VII
son of Harrison-Governor Ross Son Meets
with Serious Accident.
FIRST BILL INTRODUCED.

Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, Jan. II. = Speaker
Alexander announced his appointments
of committee clerks and pages this
morning. Four of the clerks and large
number of the pages are sons of repre-
sentativcs, fact that has caused good
deal of uncomplimentary criticism.
When bills were declared in order IN
the house a perfect flood poured in. Ell
Iison got IN the first one and it was rail-
road bill. A large proportion of the sew
enty-seven introduced were on the same
subject, and most of them provide for
commission. The railroad bills
all went to the INTERNAL
improvement committee, winch
will make that the most important COM
mittee in the house at this session. IL
has not been announced yet, but Brown
| of Grayson will doubtless be chairman
| Whatley, who is the Warwick OF the Al
exander regime, could have Dau IL, put
| felt himself unsuited and dreaded the
hard work it would entail, so ne HOOK
| state affairs instead.
Renfro, one of the few Republicans IN
! the house was asked this morning whom
| his party would support for senator. He
| answered in monosyllable, Coke.
| THE LIBEL LAW
| introduced by Wilson of Harrison is gwen
| in full below:
| Section In all civil actions for libel,
| SANDER or defamation of character the
| question of probable cause is question
| of law which the trial judge of the court
where the action is brought must DECIDE
| uDOn the established or conceded facts.
| In oil twill
| for libel he shall be deemed guilty who
shall wilfully and maliciously make pub
LEGATION by writing, printing, picture,
| efipy. sign or otherwise than by mere
speech, which exposes any living person,
or the memory of any person deceased 10
hatred, contempt, ridieuIe or
oblouuv, or which causes him TO
be stunned or avoided, or which
has a tendency to injure him IN his occu-
patton or to- impeach his honesty, mteG-
rity, virtue or reputation.
Sec. 3. In all civil suits for damages
for libel, Islander or defamation of char
acter, the defendant shall have the right
+o nroye the truth of the charge COM
nlained of and IN case he shall estabilsh
fine truth thereof, substantiating as the
same was made against the plaintiff, tins
shall be a complete defense to the suit Tor
damages.
Sec. 4. The fact that the defendant IN
his answer in any suit for libel, slanoer
or defamation of character sets up d
! n plea of Justification for the chafge
, made. or claims in said answer that SAID
J, charge is true, shall in no case be held to
aggravate the charge, nor be permitted
; TO effect the case in any way
. Sec. 3. The plaintiff in any suit for
libel SANDER or defamation of character
nv fling his suit, shall be held to put 10
, issue his own character and reputation
as a good, honorable and law-abldlne
k citizen.
Sec. 6. All matter shall be privileged
It for publication if made.
Q First, in the proper discharge OF OH
: cial duty. -,
second, in any legislative or judi
n cial proceeding authorized by law ahC
- of the publc were admitted TO the hear
q ing thereof; but where the phDhc "er'
not admitted to the hearing of any state
u ment made, evidence given or proceed
: ing had, the said matter shall stan'
without privilege for publication.
o. Sec. Z. In all cases where the matte
n published would be proper to publish, l
true. and the person making the publlca
ton thereof has used reasonable care AM
diligence TO learn the truth of the matte
published, and was thereby induced Z
believe said charge to be true, theh ma
= lice will not arise from the fact that tn
s. charge was false.
III Sec. 8. Before any person suing 10
10 damages for libel, SANDER or defamatlo
co of character can recover any such sult
or must show that the charge complained G
i not true and the defendant had n
70 reasonable or probable cause for beleV
in ing the same to be true,
- Sec. Q. If any person publishing any Il
no beIous. slanderous or defamatory chare
- shall for the publication of the sam
< make a proper effort and use proper dill
gence under the circumstances to ascel
tain the truth of said charge and tn