The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-05
COMMITTEE WORK.
Clouds May Lower, and the House May
Hang on in Prolonged Session-The
Committee viii Sta Glance
in Among Them.

sky, or furl their flags and take tt
fight. The mud may make mortar
beds of the streets, or stitfen into ada
X mainline pavements. In fact the con
q dition of affairs outside may be what
Y it will, there yet remains one strong
citadel in which the Texan legislator
may Jake sanctuary, free from the
oppressive influence of rain above, far
from the depressing effects of mud
below.
# Massive, majestic, magnificent in
its gigantic proportions, the great
state capitol of Texas sits enthroned
upon the brow Of gentle eminence,
\ lifting itself above the surrounding
"A gables, turrets and spires of Austin,
in self complacent grandeur.
W Rain may descend upon his head,
mud may weight his footsteps, winds
may buffet him with boisterous disre-
spect, and his diurnal journey to the
scene OF his daily legislative triumphs
DO rendered a painful pilgrimage as it
4 may, yet the Texas legislator is ever
sustained by remembrance of the
comforts, conveniences and elegance
which await him within the shelter
of the capitol walls.
Though it may appear that the
rains and winds heed not his wi. hes
or his wants, and Austin clings fondly
TO its mud, despite his discomfort, the
a Texas legislator, once safe within this
a great state house, is independent of
! umbrellas, slickers or mud scows, and
in complacent dignity may pace the
floors while the clements war among
themselves outside, and the common
citizen struggles through the mud or
swelters in the sun.
X.
In the house yesterday much earn
est work was done. Mr.. Agnew's
usury law was discussed at length, and
was carried to a successful issue by
its friends, being read the third time
and p ssed.
House bill No. II, by Mr.. Rogan of
& Caldwell, providing that persons
3 charged with misdemeanor may plead
guilty during court vacation, was con.
Z sidered at length, and on motion of
Mr.. Baker OF Tom Green was recon-
nlitted to judiciary committee No. 2
J for further consideration.
***
8 The excellent work being done in
the committees is set forth in the de-
tailed record of their reports to the
house yesterday, which appears in
another column OF THE STATESMAN.
Many of the committee rooms are
7 but inadequately furnished, and "The
g Legislator, whose work has often
times been accomplished under much
difficulty, is certainly under obligations
to the house for providing for the
elimination of the inconvenient ar
engagements.
Nv
Thursday the house adopted reso-
luton by Mr.. Brietz, authorizing the
sergeant, alarms to purchase such ia.
bles and other furniture as may be
needed in the unfinished committee
rooms.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Nelson
moved to reconsider the vote by which
the resolution was adopted, stating
that four years ago some $4,000 had
been appropriated to furnish the hall
and committee rooms. The house OF
two years ago had seen no necessity
for such wholesale additional ex'
penditure as the resolution contem-
plated, and he thought it highly
improper to vest such an unlimited
power in the sergeant-at-arms. Al
ready the contingent expenses were
assuming immense proportions, and
to his mind it was improper to add to it
unnecessarily. Ii any committee was
inconvenienced by improperly fur
nished quarters, he shou d favor their
relief, but such indefinite measures he
should surely oppose.
N Mr.. Breitz explained that he had
INTRODUCED the resolution at the re-
quest OF the sergean t-at'arms, and he
thought it sufficiently restricted, ap-
plying as it did, to the fitting up OF
only such rooms as were unfinished.
After some further discussion Mr..
Mckinney, as substitute for the
4 pending motion, moved chat the &C
ton of the house in adopting the
resolution be rescinded.
This called forth some further dis
4 cussion which ended with the adoption
of the motion to rescind.
Mr.. Brown then offered resolution
recurring committee chairmen to
make report to the ergeant-at-arms
what additional furniture might be
needed, when he shoIld purchase the
same, and the accounts, approved by
the committee chairmen, should be
paid out OF the contingent fund.
An amendment by Mr.. Terrell re-
auiring the report and request for
furniture to come from the committee