Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-27

Hidalgo county TO issss bonds for the
protection Of their county buildings from
erosion by the river Rio Grande. The
bill was engrossed and passed.
DIR. Woodward called up the bill re-
storing eivil and criminal jurisdiction to
Wilson county. Passed to engrossnsflt.
Adjourned to 2 80 this evening.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The senate was called to order ST 2:30
p. m. with a quorum present.
Mr.. Lane began his argument against
the commission bill. 4 bill he, with Mr..
Field, had introduced eonhieted with the
commission bill, hence he opposed the
latter, and be conscientiously did So.
He believed in senator standing on the
platform upon which be vas elected.
He did not believe in petitions or any
subsequent influence binding q senator to
vote against his honest convictions;
hence il every citizen in his district de-
manded that he vote for the commission
bill, believing as he did that it was not
right, he would refuse so to vote, but
would resign and go home telling them
he could not represent them. He be-
Heyed that the Democratic party of the
state had demanded a commission. II
the Dallas convention had done Hything
on this question it had repudiated COM
mission as it had voted down
proposition to that effect introduced by
its champion. He believed in certain
and specific law governing railways-that
was sufficient He had no faith in the
uncertain action of a commission COM
posed of three men, even If
the legislature shall deem them SUI
perhuman beings, endowed with Won
derful and extraordinary powers and
ability. He discussed for half
hour the constitutional phase of the
question, reading at length from Cooley
on the constitution and combating the
decisions of Judges Woods ana Brewer;
and showing that the argument that
other states had commissions was no
argument in favor of the constitutional
powers of the legislature of Texas to
empower such a commission TO regulate
railways. The people can get justice
against railways. The thousand and one
damage suits year prove how they will
assess penalties against railways. Texas
has plenty of courts and court officials
and the humblest citizens can get JUS
tfce. He did not believe it was
the sentiment of the people of Texas TO
have such wholesome slaughtering legis-
was impracticable, impohtic and made
quate.
Before Mr.. Lane finished his argument
the senate at o'clock adjourned to the
the house of representatives to hear the
picture presentation speech.
Upon returning to its chamber, the
senate adjourned to 10 O'Clock to-
morrow.
THE HOUSE.
Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, Feb. 2G.-The house
met at $50 CLOCK, with Speaker Alex
ander and a quorum present.
Mr.. Jones presented petition of eiti-
zens of Pamela county-Asking the APP
pointment of agents in each county to
solicit sales of articles manufactured in
the penitentiary.
Messrs. Fielder, Johnson, Parker,
Whitfield, Stevenson and Middlebrook pre-
sented petitions from their respective
counties Asking the state to purchase
copies of Sayles Il Wilson IS digest.
BY Mr.. Allison-A resolution amending
article 2, section 2, of the constitution,
so that counties can be excepted from the
provisions of general road law.
Mr.. Stevenson Of Parker--AInending
the constitution regulating railways so
as to authorize the creation of a railway
commission.
Mr.. Hamblen-A bill amending article
1850 of the Revised Statutes so as to pro-
vide for chartering anew or the reorga-
niZation of railways when sold out or
Mr.. McGehee sent up the report of the
special committee appointed to visit the
penitentiaries, and asked that it be
printed in TIE Journal, together with a
report TO be made by Mr.. Parker
of Fort Bend. Granted.
Various committee reports were sent
up without reading.
BY Mr.. Stevenson of Parker~-House
bills 572 and 573, amending the law as to
the form of oath to be administered, and
Furnishing assessors for failure to admin
lister the oath to parties rendering prop
erty for taxation.
BY Mr. Childers-Amending the law as
to courthouse and jail bonds.
Mr.. Handy S BILL regulating the con-
troll of public free schools in cities and |
towns where the same may be vested in q I
board of trustees, was considered and |
by Messrs. Handy, Hamblin |
and others.
An amendment by Mr.. Handy was
adopted providing that where trustees |
are named other than the municipal cor
poration itself in any instrument convey |
ing by donation or devise any money or |
other property for the benefit Of any city |
or town this act shall not interfere
A verbal amendment by Mr.. Owsley /
was adopted, and the bill as amended |
50; nays, 80.
Mr.. Moses-A bill extending the DOW |
ers of commissioners courts to lay out /
public roads and alter or discontinue /
them, was considered with the committee
amendment that no public road shall be |
changed except for shortening the dis
tanee from point of beginning TO destina-
ton, unless it be clearly shown that the
public interest win be subseryed by the
change.
An amendment by Err. Mills, requiring
the unanimous consent of the commits
sioners' court to make changes in roads,
was adopted.
After discussion by Messrs. Allison,
Jagoe, Moody Robinson of
Bastrop, Campbell of Cooke and others,
the bill was ordered engrossed.
Substitute house b1l1 allowing the sew
sral counties to work short term peniten-
tiary convicts on public roads was con-
;idered
The bill was discussed by Messrs. Me-
Gllire Bryan, Parker OF Tarrant, Camp