The southern argus. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kan.) 1891-1???, 1891-08-06

makers of the Lone Star state ha,
| brought serious financial trouble tc
the bosoms of her inhabitants and
money lenders. On the 18th of Apri
the legislature passed an act common.
ly known as the alien land act. The
Legislators knew but little more about
the contents and real force of the bill
than the people, for the reason it being
near the close of that session of the
Legislature and at the mean time both
| bodies being pregnant with an over
dose of unanimity, the constitutional
rule which requires three several days
reading of bill before its final pass
cge, was suspended and the alien land
act became law. This act saws to
the foreign capitalists that "your mou-
ey is not wanted here" and that "we
give you but a short notice to hurry
the withdrawal of your investments
and to quit the great commonwealth"
1t is estimated that this act will drive
$35,OOO,O0O out of the state at the first
deal. The people only received a
knowlege of this very Objectionable
and nigh impracticable land law being
under the lids Of their statute books
two or three weeks ago when the prin-
ter handed them out. The Texas leg
lslature is almost capable of passing
any kind Of bill. She refuses TO do
today what she does tomorrow. We
cite the following incident as an illus
tration: A man by the name of Jones
from McLennan county, was mem
Der of the granger legislature a few
years ago. Jones was a horse breeder
prior to his becoming a member of the
legislature, and large number of the
persons who had sought the service of
his horse had failed to make payments
for such use of animal agreeable to
contract. Jones thought it would be
happy hit for him to chnk that hole
while law maker by passing an act
giving lien on the colt in favor of
the sire. The legislature tiptoed in
loud laughter at Jones bill, and after
that he was pointed at as "Jackass
Jones" and which sobriquet ever ruin
ed his reputation for a statesman. He
was held up as laughing stock and
his bill was laughed mute. Another
legislature took up the Jones bill and
seriously passed it.
The above goes to show that Texas
may do at one time what she may
not do at another time. Read section
of the alien land land act, it being
fair sample of the new land law i'm its
entity:
"NO alien or a person who is not
citizen of the United States of Ameri-
ca shall acquire title to or own any in
terest in the lands within the state of
Texas, and any deed or other convey
ance purpOrting to convey such title
or interest to any alien or unnatural
lied foreigner, or to any firm, COM
pany or corporation composed of such
in whole or in part shall be void"
Under this act no unnaturalized for
eiguer is permitted to invest in the
lands of the state. The acts of invest
ment companies or other corporations
which have foreign member are
void. 1t has been but a few years
since the press complained of a scare
ty of money in Texas. No corporation
hat has a foreign member can ac-
luire or convey any title to land. AT
Fort Worth is railroad official who
owns stocks in building associations
in this state, but because of his being
an alien the action of those assOcia- |
ions are void. Texas foreign money
enders living in and out of the state
IRE terribly alarmed in regard to the
present condition of money matters.
The poorer classes will suffer, too, as
'esult of this unwise legislation. 1t is
probable, however, that the supreme
court will declare the law unconstitu-
ional or that the legislature will re-
a