The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-28

Jurisdiction of Travis county court. The
bill is accompanied by petition asking
for the passage of the bill and signed by
the Austin bar.
BY Mr.. merchandising the law as to
| jury service.
Mr.. Nelson, chairman of committee, re
ported sundry bills engrossed.
Mr.. Pickett called up the motion to re-
consider the resolution No. ~ instructing
the attorney general to sue for violation
of copy right to the Supreme Court Re
ports. He did this he said on account of
information new to him and doubtless
new to the house. He was satisfied there
had been fraud in the matter, and that the
parties concerned live among us. SO 1t
was not necessary to make as large an ap
preparation as had been proposed to de-
fray the expenses. "The copyright" he
said, "has been violated, but it was through
the public printer giving it to other par
ties, who published the reports cheaper.
If our printer has violated a solemn duty
it is the duty of the house to take some
action. l understand this gentleman re-
fuses to answer necessary questions before
the committee. This looks like there was
something rotten,a and to protect the copy
right it ia necessary to commence the
prosecution at home. If anyone here re-
fuses to give such information believe it
is in the power of this Legislature to COM
pei him to give such information. 1t is
for this, and not for delay, that I ask for
reconsideration of the resolution"
| Mr.. Brown don't see how this will
remedy the matter. The violation is in
| Ga + IoSr 6
by the gentleman from Wise ex-
lists here. The public printer is
not the immediate viOlator of
the copyright, but of his duties as the Off
cial printer. AS matter of fact Mr.. Gill
bert, of st. Louis, don't deny publishing
the Reports. He sells the Reports under
the regular price OF the state, and so law
yers buy from him instead of the secre-
tary of state. He has some special pro-
cess of reproduction which enables him
to afford this. The resolution should
stand so the attorney general can act, and
inquiry can be made as to the act of the
state printer. Gilbert contends that by
law we have no copyright and it is an un-
decided question.
Mr.. Pickett, at Mr.. Browns suggestion,
had his motion tabled for Mr.. Brown to
draw up a resolution of inquiry and in
vestigation of the act of the state printer.
| Mr.. Strong, for free conference commit
tee on house bill 439 authorizing the gov
ernor to extend the time for furnishing
the capitol, reported recommending that
the senate amendments be changed so as
to read "not exceeding forty days" for the
work, and till the LIST OF May to wind up
the contract. Adopted.
Reports of standing committees were
sent up without reading.
The railway commission bill was taken
up on its third reading as the special
order.
Mr.. Gresham offered an amendment
that the commission shall also fix a maxi
mum rate and regulate wharfage.
| Mr., Brown hope that amendment
will be voted down. There is no provision
for such machinery in the bill 1t will dis
joint and disarrange the whole matter.
If the gentleman's proposition had been
presented in committee,I the bill might
have been adjusted to embrace it.
Mr.. Rentfro, reciting the story of the
Grecian horse, said he feared the Greeks
when they made presents, and he appre-
hended this amendment was such a pres
ent from the gentleman from Galveston.
The bill had but one purp ose-to regulate
railroads, not wharves. Let the gentleman
present his wharf measure at another
| time.
Mr.. Gresham-The gentleman may see
the time when he will not want to shut out
such a measure as he calls a wooden
horse.
Mr.. Rentfro-If should escape hope
to carry Anchises, meaning Mr.. Brown,
out with me.
Mr.. McComb-The whole bill may be a
Trojan horse. If it is good as whole it
should extend to such matters as the
amendment proposed.
Mr.. Hamblen spoke, showing accurate
classical knowledge, and contending that
the gentleman from Cameron and others
had been stolen as the palladium of the
| opponents of the bill.
Mr.. Rentfro (smiling)-I don't arros
gate so much to myself, but am opposed
to the bill, and after consulting ali the
authorizes could find, 1 am satisfied as to
the constitutionality of co nmission.
Mr.. Kincaid offered amendment making
it the duty of the commission to examine
the books of express companies, and fix