Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-22
HANDS DOWN.
That's the Way the Commission.
Bills Goes Through the House.
All Amendments Offeredy Oted Down by
the Cast-IrOn Caucus Majority.
Arb0r Day for Texas.
Reception to Members of the Legislature
Heads OF Departments and Representa-
tiTes of the Press
READY For TIE SENATE.

Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX. Feb. 81 The commits
sion bill went through the house this
morning on the fly. The opponents Of
the bill offered some amendments which
were voted down with a good deal of
alacrity by the overpowering majority
and the bill passed by vote of IS to 81.
In discussing the amendment offered
by Col. Gresham to make the
bill include the Galveston wharf COM
pany, good deal of ginger was injected
into the matter by Judge Ham blen.
Mr.. Rentfro had made some remark
about the palladium of the people 5 lib
erty. Judge Hamblen told how
Troy, as long as she had
the palladium, was invincible, but
that her enemies crept in and stole away
the palladium, after which the city fell
an easy prey. Mr.. Rentfro. he said,
had been the palladium of the opponents
of the commission bill. AS long as they
had him they felt safe, but the friends
of the bill stole him away and
the opponents were easily vanquished.
Mr. Rentfro said: ''Wise men some
times change their minds, fools never
do. - He declared that he had been
strongly opposed TO the bin,
but investigation had shown him
that it was good measure
and he claimed the wise man 5
privilege of changing his mind which he
had done and was now heartily in favor
of the bill. Kincaid IS amendment to
include express companies in the prOvis
ion of the bill received 81 votes; the
lou no1f he
caucus majority at any time
during consideration of the bill
The scene OF interest will now be shifted
TO the senate, where the consideration of
railroad bills will begin on next Monday.
ARBOR DAY.
That some members of the legislature
are stubborn just for the sake of being
stubborn was beautifully illustrated III
the house to-day. The senate bill set
ting apart February % as arbor day
was before the house. The bill has for
its object the encouragement of the peo-
pie in planting trees, a motive of vital
Importance TO Texas. 1t places no obi
cations upon anybody, and ii costs the
state nothing, and yet it is believed
that it will do great good
in increasing the planting OF
trees All the same four members of the
house voted against it The member
from Tarraut was one of the four.
ROAD LEGISLATION.
The committee on road bill occupied
most of the day in the house and
was pending Mt the hour of al
jOurnmenU. The senate also took
turn at the road question
having under consideration the. Jarvis
bill providing for the issuing of county
bonds. 1t was postponed to a future
day, and the indications ara that il viii
be defeated.
THE GOVERNOR IS RECEPTION.
Governor and Mrs Ross tonight at the
executive mansion gave a brilliant recep-
ton to the members of the legislature,
heads of departments and representatives
of the press. A large number of guests
were in attendance. The legislators,
with few exceptions, attended. Mrs. Ross,
assisted by a number of other ladies,
received the guests. The mansion and
adjacent grounds were brilliantly illumi-
mated. A magnificent banquet and a
german, in which the younger portion OF
the assemblage participated, were among
the features of this, one Of the leading
social events of the winter in Austin.
Following were among the ladies who
assisted Mrs Ross: Mrs II M Holmes,
Mrs r. NJ Hall, Mrs F. R. Lubbock,
Mrs. J H. Harrison, Mrs. Jeffries of
Gonzales, Mrs. r. a. Ruth
erford, Houston; Mrs. j. Il Dunbar
of Austin, Mrs. A FL. Graham, Mrs.
Will Tobin, Mrs John Tobin, Mrs. Paul
Thornton, Mrs. B. F. Hughes, Mrs. Fl
NJ. House, Mrs. Withers, Mrs. MyFick.
The reception was informal.