The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-28
The House.
From Thursdays Daily. !

From Thursdays Daily.l
The house met at $3.50 an. Speaker
Alexander in the chair. Prayer by the
chaplain, Rev. H. W. Dodge.
The house receded from minor amend
ments to senate bills 62 and 167.
Mr.. Dunlap asked to take up senate bill
800, attaching certain counties to others
for judicial and other purposes. The bill
passed. 1t attaches Crane, E;tor and
Upton to Midland, and Glascock to How
ard.
Mr.. billiard presented resolution that
the senate, governor and lieutenant gov.
ernor and other officers in the employ OF
the state government and the veterans OF
1885 and 1886 and their families and
friends and the family and friends of
Gen. Sam Houston be invited to attend al
session of the house on the night of the
22d of March for the purpose of unveil-
ing and placing In position in the hall OF
the house a portrait of the lamented
statesman, hero and patriot, Gen. Sam
Houston.
The resolution was adopted.
By Mr.. Tolbert-Joint resolution for
final adjournment of the legislature April
l. Referred.
The general land bill, amending several
sections of the land law, came up as reg
uar order.
Mr.. Tolar moved to adopt the minority
report of the committee reporting his bill
house bill 40-favorably, and spoke at
length in favor of the bill, reviewing the
features of his measure, and claiming that
it was calculated to promote the develop
nf iha nf he OH 20
1t is my deliberate opinion, he said, based
on years of actual residence in that por
ton of the state, that under the provisions
of the bill l offer three persons will buy
where otherwise only one would do So;
and that of these three two will actually
settle within reasonable time, and the
third one, or some other person in his
place and right within FIVE years from date
of purchase.
Mr.. Strong argued that the Tolsr land
bill was contrary to the policy of the dem
Ocratic party as announced at the Calves
ton convention. 1t would reverse the
present policy, which had really settled
the great difficulties as to the land
question and secured quiet in the country.
He regarded the present law as better
calculated to secure revenue from the
school lands if given a fair trial. He
analysed the several features of the bill.
Under section 10 of the TOlar bill he con-
tended that a man could in two years get
all'the land he wished without being
citizen of the state. One great objection
to the bill was that it opened up the land
to such purchases without regard to the
question of securing actual settlement.
The bill would turn the lands over to
spectators and land sharks.
Mr.. Conuellee made forcible argument,
citing numerous cases to show how the
system which the Tolar bill proposes
would operate, similar to the operations
of the law in force in 1881, prior to the
present law. If you pass the TOlar bill
any man, he argued, could go out in the
west and get all the land he wanted with
out ever seeing it.
Mr.. McGaughey said there were features
in the law he could not understand, and
he was satisfied some amendment was
needed, or it would not be demanded. There
was thought to be danger years ago of
the rich cattlemen gobbling up that sec
ton, but there was no such danger now.
He favored the Tolar bill as the poor
mans friend, as under it any man could
acquire home in that section. With an
amendment he proposed to offer, the bill
could be perfected by giving settlers
further time to make settlements.
Pending discussion was interrupted by
the special order.
Mr.. Crayton introduced house bill
653, amending section 45 chapter 105 of
the school law passed at the regular ses
aim of tho rwaptiath Ianielatura
By Mr.. Brown, OF Grayson-Bill requir-
ing the attorney general to institute suits
TO ascertain and declare the forfeiture of
lands in certain cases and fix venue of
such suits.
By Mr.. Miller-Providing for elections
of county school superintendent in GER
tain cases.
On motion of M. Gresham the house
adhered to its amendments to substitute
senate bill 247 and asked for a committee
of free conference.-the bill is to confirm
title of the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe
Railway company to certain property.
The general appropriation bill, as
adopted il committee of the whole, was
considered by the house.
An amendment was offered strik-
ing out ths item of $4,000 for
the Galveston medical branch of the
State university. He argued that the ap-
preparation was contrary to the Constltu-
ton.
The question was further discussed by
Messrs. Gresham, Pope, Selman and
Woodruff, and the amendment was lost
ayes, 43; nays, As.
An amendment was offered striking
out the appropriation of $4,000 for the
Alamo monument. He argued that the
amount was not adequate for such a
monument as was deserved, and in view
of the heavy appropriations demanded,he
favored leaving the duty to a future legis-
lature when the state had more funds to
appropriate.
Mr.. Parker, of Tarrant, argued that an
appropriation should be made, even if the
amount was reduced.
Mr.. Dunlap advocated the appropris-
ton.
The question was further discussed by
Messrs. Moody, Bryan, Kincaid, Faubion
and Jones.
Mr.. Faubion cited article II, section 80
of the Constitution as authority for
making such appropriations. The amend
ment was defeated by vote of % to Ga.
Amendment by Mr.. Gresham was
adopted adding the words "or grounds"
after the word building" so the monu
ment may be placed ia the capitol or