The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-23

termination of perpetuities in land BY cor
porations were left unsatiSfed An effor
was made 10 carry out the latter pledge
when the house tackled clause on the cor
poratlon bill requiring all corporations own
ing land to part with the same N seyeraly
to individuals within ten years, except 50
much as may be necessary TO carry on the
legitimate business of the corporation: gu
the senste objected on the ground that the
clause was not @ernane 10 the bill. and
struck it out II may be said, however.
that there did not appear 70 be any VERY
great eagerneSs among members. If Judge
Terrell be excepted for the enactment o.
such law. The Judge, when the clause 10
the corporation bill was under considera-
ton in the house, wanted 10 nix the time
within which corporations should
PART WITH THEIR LAND
at two years, and when the house finally
decided upon ten he got furious and
voted against il.
The demand for six months school
was not complied with partly because con
stitutional limitations prevented raising
taxes to an adequate figure (Which would
not be done ii allowablel and chiefly be
cause the legislature chose to fritter
away its time with text book uniformity
instead Of trying TO provide for 4 six
months school. However, TESTERS joint
resolution for a constitutional amend
each year / per cent OF the permanent
school fund to the maintenance of the
public schools viii, il adopted, be a big
stride in the direction indicated by the
state platform. Whether it is going to
MEET WITH POPULAR FAVOR
or not, can only be conIectured. The more
ii is studied by the ableSt men here. the
more favorably they think of it. When first
preached by its author, the idea was brand
new, and members hardly knew what to
SAY about it. But soon it began to acquire
converts, and when it finally passed the
legislature was nearly solid in its favor.
Not less than four-ffthS of both houses
voted Tor it. The failure of the legislature
to make any provision for diSpOsing of the
accommodating permanent school fund CON
tributed without doubt to its popularity
with its members. Ii the money cannot be
invested, then spend it in lettering the
public schools. Ii may to a certain extent
be regarded as an alternative or substitute
for the plan of investing the fund in first
mortgage railroad bonds, which plan the
legislature seemed TO fear, although many
of the most practical and thoughtful mem
bers gave it their approval.
Among the most important acts of the
legislature passed may be classed the rail
way commission bill. whose character
everybody is familiar with: the separate
coach act also well understood in its main
panies: the act providing for better county
road system. This bill became a law
througe much travail, aud after repeated
efforts had failed to accomplish anything.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT MEASURE
enacted into law was the Gossett bill pro-
hibiting alien ownership of land. The act
is a conservative one, and does not apply to
aliens in possession. Their heirs, however,
are required to become citizens in six years
after inheriting the property, or if they do
not, they must part with their land to indi-
vidual citizens. Alien corporations THAI
may acquire possession Of land taken as
security for money loaned, are required to
part with the same in six years also.
The passage in the last hours of the ses-
sion of Baker OF Tom Green's bill providing
for the sale or lease hereafter Of the public
free school and university lands, was l
very important item of legislation. There
shall be no more ten year leases OF these
lands north of the Texas and Pacific rail
road. nor il ten counties south of it. Leases |
shall be fer only five years for grazing pur-
poses, and shall be made subject TO settle !
lnent by any one who will take the proper |
steps, and by putting improvements to the |
value OF 800 on the desired tract of land |
This is regarded here Us one of the most de- |
sirable and
IMPORTANT ACTS OF THE SESSION.
Another weighty measure was the |
A'AOObS Jill iSNIIILIE INC SSIIS4 III IDA ICN y |
from 20 to 1873 this year and 10 cents for |
1892 II was the sense of the legislature
that the financial affairs of the state |
would warrant such re
iuction. This act leaves the levy for
school purposes whore it is now, that is,
l2l2 cents on the 500.
Several quite important bills that ought
to have passed got hung up in one or the
other house during the closing hours of
he session. One of the most important
If these was the bill authorizing the at
to bring suit for the col
ection of about six hundred thousand dol
ars defaulted interest on sales of free
school lands. Col Brown made an effert to |
GET TUE BILL Up MONDAY
Turing a suspension OF the rules, but failed |
N account OF the struggle for precedence
lmong the numerous advocates of other
bills, pet measures entirely. The general
rood was overlooked by tho members who
,ach thought only for himself, and his own
title bill.
In replying to a toast at Billeisen's ban
luet Monday night after adjournment,
Governor Hogg spoke i'll praise of the work
# the legislature, and congratulated the
,eople of the state on its great value to
hem. The general verdict is in full con-
onance with that of the governor.
Five joint resolutions for amending the
constitution passed. They will be submit
ed to the popular vote on the second Tues
ay in August, and are as follows: To
mend the constitution fixing the legal rate
f interest at per cent, and the conven-
iOnal rate at 10 per cent; to authorize local
ptiOn in subdivisions of counties, or in
OWNS and villages; to transfer per cent |
f the permanent to the available school
und; to reform the judiciary and to pro-
ide for registration of voters in towns of
or more.
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