The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-07
A Full Synopsis of the Proceed
ings OF Both Houses
Yesterday.
Chatty and Newsy Gossip Picked
Up In the LobbIes and
Committee Rooms,
The Senate.
From Thursdays Daily.l


acknowledgement Wheeler called tn
senate to order at 10 O'Clock. Roll cal
and quorum present. Prayer by Docto
Smoot, the chaplain.
Petitions against the railroad commits
sion bill by Senator Allen, from 40 citi
zens Of Denton county; by Senator Glass
cock, from citizens of Taylor.
Petitions favoring commission bill
by Senator Morris, from seventy-thret
farmers and voters of Cherokee county;
by Senator Townsend, from citizens Of
Colorado county; two petitions by Senator
Crawford, from citizens of Hunt county.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
Senator Frank minority report for
judiciary No. 2, on bill allowing the open
ing of places of business on Sunday be-
fore 8 and after 4o'clock. The report is
signed by Seniors Frank, Stephens, Aber-
crombie, Crawford and Scale.
Senator Scale for committee on agri-
culture, statistics and history, favorably
bill for purchase from j. X. Holland of
the records of statistical matter on these
subjects.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
fees to district and county attorneys in
quo warranto and injunction cases to
which the state is q party.
Senetor Townsend-Bill for the relief
of John Littleton, citizen of Lavaca
county.
Resolution by Senator Scale that the
senate continue in session, eating only
tamaes and drinking water, until the
commission bill is finally settled.
Senators Stephens and Frank were ad-
ded to the free conference committee on
the bill relating to the sales of the land
board.
The special order, the commission bill,
was taken up, and Senator Lane resumed
his argument. He read letter from
Tennessee showing a commission bill had
been failure there. He questioned
the success of the establishment of
commission in any of the
states. 1t had been claimed Iowa was
prosperous because they had prohibition
there.
He read statistics from the manufacto
ries of Dallas showing their profits and
declared the curse of the country was the
protection yielded by the federal govern
mont to manufactures. The consumers
do not pay the freight on dry goods, though
they do on heavy merchandise like flour
and general groceries, 30 that merchants
are interested in this matter as much as
the consumers. The railroads will control
a commission. He disputed Senator
Simkins' statement as to how railroads
were built. They were built not on paper
but by hard cash. 1t was not right to put
railways at the mercy of tramps and such
like, who can make complaints at will
against them and give them constant and
grievous annoyance. Such would the a re.
suit of a commission, being an invitation
to such complaints. He wanted the rail
roads regulated in some such way as pro-
posed by him in his and Senator Fields
bill and not by commission.
He finished his speech at IL 10 and SEN
ator Field began his argument in
favor of the bill he and Senator Lane
had introduced, though also in the
first instance favoring commits
sion bill. He began with most
elaborate and eloquent exordum on the
extent, variety of interests, topography, |
resources and grandeur of Texas, going to |
show what great part the railroads must
play in developing such a state. He Gov
cred the whole ground of opposition to |
commission bill-its constitutlonality, its |
necessity, its policy and its effects. He |
could not heed the stereotyped petitions
sent him against the bill. The speech |
abounded in elegant rhetoric and apt
classical illusions. He spoke for Just an
hour. Further consideration of the bill
was postponed until the afternoon session.
Three petitions were offered by Senator
Frank; one from l42 merchants and
farmers of Erath county favoring com
mission bill, and two opposing the bill,
one from thirty-six citizens of Bosque
county, the other from 12S citizens of
Hood county.
By Senator Maetze-Tbree petitions
from Austin county aud one from Wash
lngton county faVoring commission bill.
Senate bill 220, making a person who
escapes from work upon roads or else
where work out his time of punishment
for such escape and fixing punishment at
time not exceeding his unexpired term,
was passed to engrossment. Adjourned
at l O'Clock to 2:30 O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The senate was called to order at 2:30 p.
m, quorum being present.
Senator Sims at once began an argu-
ment against commission bill. He first
discussed the constitutional feature of the
question, declaring all the best authority
was against the creation of commission.
He covered in this and the other points
made about the same ground gone over .
by Senators Mcdonald and Lane. He
thought commission would result in re- $
straint of trade, and would discriminate !
for different sections. 1t would drive out :
strictly state business. 1t would result in !
,onfscation of railroad property without :
due course of law. He told monkey