The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-14
legislative Notes.


The senate land committee will meet
this afternoon, and will consider the Greer
county bills.
The committee to visit the peniten-
Jiaries have performed their duty and
reached home yesterday. They went to
Rusk, Huntsville, the state plantations
and all the farms on which oonvicts are
worked. Members of the committee also
went to Gainesville and inspected the re-
formatory. Everything at all points
visited was found in satisfactory condi-
ton, and the report to be made to the
legislature in few days will so state.
There is something in the atmosphere
up about the capitol which creates the
impression that storm is brewing which
will have cyclone effect on some very
able people.
Mr.. W. s. Herndon, through Senator
johnson, had submitted to the senate
yesterday a draft of railroad commits
sion bill, the provisions of which are as
follows: His commission is composed of
five members--the governor, attorney
general, comptroller, commissioner of the
general land Office and treasurer and their
successors in Office. The commission
shall have to help it an experienced civil
engineer at $4,000 year and actual ex-
penses and one secretary at $1,000 salary,
and the members of the commission shall
receive an additional compensation of So
day for every day actually sitting as
commission. That no railroad shall in
the future be incorporated until written
permit is given by the commission, and
to obtain this permit the incorporators of
he ehon 10 ha
commission a correct map of the entire
line with number of miles, condition of
country along said line and its ability
to support such road, the plan
for constructing and equipping the
road and the amount and kind of
securities per mile that will
be issued. The commission may issue
permit to build if it concludes the rail
road will be one that in reasonable time
will be able to pay current expenses and
fixed charges on first mortgage bonds.
All railroads built or to be built shall be
brought to one standard of construction
and equipment, to be styled first-class. No
railroad shall hereafter issue any stocks or
bonds except for money actually expended
for the purpose for which the corporation
was organized; nor shall they issue any
preferred stock. The stock shall not be
sold for less than its par value in money
to actual subscribers, and no bond issued
shall be converted into the stock of the
company. The stockholders shall have
one vote for every 500. No railway shall
issue any second or third mortgage bonds,
terminal or bridge bonds, or general
equipment bonds without a permit from
the commission.
The joint committee on the improve
ment of the capitol grounds will meet to-
morrow morning at 8 o'clock.
Just as soon as the six immense chan
deliers are suspended from the ceilings of
the two houses the acoustics will be per-
fected and not before, and the sooner the
legislature provides for the lighting of
the capitol the better.
There was some talk yesterday that
possibly the legislature will adjourn
Thursday evening until Monday to enable
the workmen to put down the carpets and
put the new furniture into the legislative
halls.
The railroad commission men held an
other caucus last night, at which, cmong
other things, it is said the propriety of
moving the previous question was dis
oussed to end the debates and take vote
on the bill.
The house penitentiary committee was
in session last night but did nothing of
Importance.
We frequently hear of flight of steps,
but we have never yet been able to dis
cover where they fly to. Wonder where
all the coughs, colds and sore Threats go
to so speedily when they are attacked by
Scho!t's Hamburg Syrup.