The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-24
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

O'Clock by Lieutenant-goVerhor "heeiei
Roll call developed aquorum present.
Prayer by the chaplain, Doctor smoot'
Reading of the Journal dispensed with.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Senator stephens-Petition from citi-
zens of Lipsoomb county requesting
change in the law regulating the sale OF
school lands.
Referred to committee on public lands
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
BY Senator Mcdonald, Judiciary No.
Favorable report on senate bill No. 81
providing for the incorporation oftowns
and cities lying on both sides a line di-
viding two counties.
BY Senator acknowledgement the
bill providing for pensioning of INDECENT
soldiers of Texas revolution and INDECENT
signers of the declaration of independ-
ence be referred to committee on state
affairs.
By Senator cDonald--FavOrable re-
port on bill exempting firemen from jury
service.
By Senator cDonald-Favorable re-
port on bill providing for continuance
Of the commission of arbitration and
award and defining its powers and duties.
By Senator acknowledgements re-
port on bill dividing the Dallas judicial
district into two judicial districts.
BY Senator ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS re-
port on bill exem pting personal property
where debt is due for purchase money.
BY Senator Mcdonald Favorable re-
port on bill fixing burden of proof for
damages TO persons or property on ac-
count of injuries inflicted by barbed wire
fences outside the limits of cities and
towns.
BY Senator McDonald-Reported sub
stitute for bill providing defendant in
garnishment suit may replevy the debt or
effects garnished.
BY Senator Acknowledgement re
port on bill impending cattle running at
large.
By Senator oDonald-Favorable re-
port on bill making each ward in incor-
porated towns and villages an election
district
BY Senator McDonald-Bill for lien in
cases of tax sale. Referred to committee
on finance.
Finance committee, by Senator Jarvis
Favorable report with amendments on
bill, TO appoint commission to investi-
gate the financial management of institn
tions of the state.
BY Senator Jarvls-Favorable report on
bill allowing counties to fund their debts
10 40 Vne hn tharpnf
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS,
By Senator Cranford-To amend the
Code in relation to theft of horses cattle,
etc, and making those certain offenses
misdemeanors.
BY Senator Experimenting the law
regulating private corporations and call
ing for reports of mercantile houses to
the comptroller.
BY Senator Stephens-To change price
of school, University and asylum lands,
making price of agricultural lands $l.25
and So 80 for opposite quarter sections,
timber lands SO an acre, grazing lands
$1.50. Forfeiture two years after default.
Senate bill No. 3, the special order, was
laid before the senate. The bill calls for
punishment by fine of not more than
5000 for carrying on or about the per-
son, saddle or in saddle-bngs, any pistol,
dirk, dagger, slungshot, sword-cane, spear
or knuckles made Of any metal or any
hard distance, bowie knife or any other
knife manufactured or sold for purposes
of offense or defense" The majority re-
port of judiciary committee No. changes
punishment to "fne of not less than $50
nor more than $500, or by imprisonment
in the county jail not less than ten or
more than thirty days, or both by suoh
fine or imprisonment" The minority re-
port of this committee, signed by Senators
Field, Crawford, Stephens and Frank, in
sists upon the obligatory feature of i'm
prisonment as it deters many more per
sons from carrying deadly weapons than
a mere fine.
Senator Field spoke tor the minority
report. He declared he did not expect to
change the minds of these wonderful per-
ponal liberty democrats upon whom the
decisions of the highest courts of the land
fell as things of no weight. Bat he in
sisted upon this progressive move and
wanted imprisonment to do away with
the practice OF carrying arms.
Senator Pope made strong speech
against the proposed imprisonment feat
ure Of the law. He claimed the small
number of convictions under the impris-
onment law of the Twentieth Legislature
proved the unwisdom of adding an i'm
prisonment penalty to fine that before
then was assessed and collected.
Senator Lane declared if Senator Fields
remarks on personal liberty democrats
we're directed 20 him he would gladly
plead guilty. He gloried in such liberty
He did not believe in the obligatory feat
ure OF imprisonment. There were times
possibly when men should be allowed "a
use their own judgment in this matter and
not be confronted with certain imprison-
ment therefor.
Senator Crawford spoke eloquently for
the minority report, demanding imprison-
ment absolutely.
Senator Simkins stood upon the law as
il is to-day. He denominated as anarch
istic the theory that "the least governed
people are the best governed people,
Upon being asked by Senator Upshaw il
that sentiment had not been Endorsed by
the governor in his augural yesterday
Senator Simkins answered, "if il had that
would not make it right"
Senator Burgess was delighted to hear
the governor give expression to the senti
ment Senator Simkins so harshly criti
cized. He believed in holding steadfas
10 the cardinal "bill of rights" as the
atate,s and the PEOPLES best safeguard.