The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-29
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Rainy Weather Puts Wet Blanket OIL
Them, But Can't Stop the Good Work,

Rainy Weather Puts Wet Blanket OIL
Them, But Can't Stop the Good Work.
The weary, dreary, damp, uncomfortable
day which the weather maker allotted to
Austin yesterday, had a depressing effect
OH all who came within the scope of its
dripping influence. Even the buoyant
spirits of the average legislator sank to-.
ward the zero score, and with his hat on
the back of his head and his hands thrust
deep into his breeches pocket, he thought
fully paced the red carpeted floors of the
state house.
The house especially felt the effects of the
clouds above ana the mud below. The
morning session was marked by an unusual
degree of contention, and when an adjourn
ment was had, at about o'clock, there
was more of disposition to retire to the
boarding house and smoke away the eve.
ming beside the fire place than there was to
continue the arduous work of making and
unmaking laws for people who some
times seem so hard to please. AS conse-
guenCe there was less work done in COM
mittees than usual, and that which
was accomplished seemed 10 require
more than the usual amount
of persuasion 10 bring it forth
than il usually the case, and the evidence
Il Of thoroughness on every action showed
that none but the most urgent measures
/, had been considered, and those carefully
and infinitely.
- 81 InI al
provementS met at 3 O'CLOCK, and in a two
hour session sustained the reputation for
close application and thorough industry.
The telegraph bill introduced by Mr..
Martin of Wise was taken up, and after
careful consideration was referred to a
speciai subcommittee, composed of Messrs
Connellee, Lewis and McCunningham.
This bill proposes to assess a penalty of
800 upon telegraph companies for failure
U to promptly deliver messages sent through
them.
Two bills, one by Mr.. Lloyd and one by
Mr. Connellee, both proposing to regulate
express companies and their charges, were
referred to the same subcommittee men-
toned above. This subcommittee will
probably hold its first session today, and
will report back to the parent committee at
an early day.
On a former day this committee on in
ternal improvements appointed a sub COM
mittee composed of Messrs. Brown, Gresh-
am, Owsley, Truit and Moody, to whom
have been referred some seven or eight
bills on the railroad commission question.
They were in session last night, and the
work before them will require their atten-
ton yet some three or tour days before
they can report back to the committee a
measure satisfactory to all.
,r The internal improvement committee S
sub. committee on the separate coach ques-
ton was in session yesterday afternoon,
and reported to the main committee the
result of their deliberations.
They have bad under consideration the
bills introduced by Messrs. Crayton and
Derden, and at yesterdays meeting re-
ported substitute bill providing for sepa-
rate coaches for whites and blacks, fixing a
penalty of not less than $500 nor more than
$1,000 for each train trip made without the
accommodations as provided for in the
bill. The measure also authorizes all con.
yductors to make the separation OF
races among the passengers, and
fixed a penalty of not less than $25 nor
more than$ 90 for each case wherein he
shall allow passengers of one race to ride in
coaches provided for the other. Any
passenger refusing to comply with the pro
vision CT the law snail be elected from the
train. The enforcement of the law as pro-
yided in this measure is vested in the rail-
road commission.
al This bill was considered in the main
a committee for some time, and pending the
discussion it announced the committee ad