The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-19
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.
The Texas Legislator Lets Memory Lead Him
by the Hand.-A Good Days Work.


yesterday morning.
His heart was in the past, his memory
had him by the hand, and once more LIE
heard the bugle note. the fife and drum
the tramp, tramp tramp, OF allied hosts
moving onward, onward to the held OF
| battle.
Responsive to country's call, the youth
and strength of Texas flew to arms. One
kiss upon the young wite's trembling lips,
moment to press the cooling baby IN his
arms. fearful farewell from the aged ia
Their and feeble mother, only moment,
and binding tears hide the loved form from
view.
With banners flying, with fond good
byes floating back on the breeze, the
mighty hosts advance, the strains of Dix
lie" die softly away in the distance, the dust
clouds settle slowly back to the earth again,
shrouding the dropping foliage in sombre
gray, sprinkling the bowed heads of those
who stayed behind 10 suffer and to sorrow,
while the loved son, the husband, the
brother, the father marched away
Texas grand old Texas, and her honor.
With her fighting men abroad, her weep
ing maids at home, all the poetry, all the
pathos, all the pure affection OF her great
heart, Texas poured out at the feet of her
brave defenders.
The battle clouds rolled up and enclosed
the contending hosts. With crash and
flash, with rattle and rumble and roar,
with the crack of musket the thunder OF
cannon, the flash of bayonet and sabre,
they came together.
On, the gasp and groan. the gaping
wound, the gushing blood. Oh, the shat.
tered limbs, the suffering and death. And
all for love of Texas.
Like funeral pail the smoke hung
above that field, only shaking loose its re-
luCtant clasp on the trembling tree tops TO
float off slowly on the gentle bree re which
blew Yer the fragrant fields and forests, to
reveal the still forms DER which the bend
ing grasses hung in silent sorrow, to let the
sunshine thread again with gold the locks
upon the cold dead brow where mother
ter was scarce yet dry, TO fan the
anguished faces of those whose torn ard
tortured limbs appealed in potent terms for
sympathy an appeal to touch the hardest
heart.
All this was years ago, and the Texas
Legislator entered the legislative halls TO
find a measure pending there to provide a
home for those who years ago had shed
their blood for Texas, who stood today, old
and feeble, helpless and homeless.
The question was argued pro and con,
and as the eloquent opponents and the elo
quent advocates of this bill to protect and
care for her time worn veteran defenders
measured steel, each with each, the clink of
chisel and stone coming family through
the open windoW US told how the monument
to the memory of the dead defenders of
grand Texas grew beneath the steady
strokes of sturdy workmen, told how the
world would see in that granite shaft last
ing testimonial of the undying gratitude
great state can feeI tor her brave sons.
The final moment came. Stroke by
stroke mallet and chisel kept time with the
call OF the roll, until the result announced
a good days work on monument to the
honor of Texas, grander and no
bier than any towering granite
shaft which may point upward to the skies,
and the record showed the house had
passed the Confederate Home bill by vote
of 70 to l6.
At O'Clock the house, having transacted
considerable work besides the Confederate
Home matter, well satisfied with the II
suits of their efforts, adjourned for the
Cay, and having done hungry mans duty
by good dinner the Texas Legislator re-
turned to the capitol and entered vigOr-
Ously into the work before the various
committees.
The committee OH county and county
boundaries met at 3 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon and put in an exciting half hour
kicking the sIuffing out of Rio county.
That is, it wanted to be a county, and Mr.
Baker of Tom Green, though he did not
favor the new county, introduced, by re
quest a bill to have it established.
In came into the committee poor little
friendless orphan, and it was kicked and
Cutfed about the committee room in a
heartless manner
With its trUck all torn and draggled.
its socks hanging down about its
heels, and its face Streaked with tear stains
and striped with smut 1t will be hauled up
before the house today with an "uufavora-
ble' report
The committee on internal Improvements
held brief session at 3 o'clock with quite
an amount of business before their clerx.
Mr.. Gresham's bill allowing the Calves
ton and Western and the Galve ton Air
Line railroads to be consolidated will be re
ported favorably.
Mr.. King bill (of Bowie county, provid-
log that railroads shall erect suitable de.
pots at points having rs many AS two stores
and II post Office, will be returned with an
report, and a minority report
favOring its passage.
House bill No. Is, by Mr.. Gresham, in re.
ference to the forfeiture of railroad charters
for not constructing the number of miles
by law, was taken up a commit
tee substitute was adopted, and the same
will be reported favorably.
House bill No. 2l0, by Mr. Derden, in re-
laton to the interchange of business BY
railroads was tabled, the subject matter be
ing embraced In the commission bill
House bill No. 264, by Mr.. McGregor. re.
curing the railroads to post bulletins at de-
pots, giving the time of arrival ard depart. |
ure of trains was tabled, the subject mat. |
Ter being embraced in the commits sion bill. |
House bill No. 362 by Mr.. Erskine, to |
provide a penalty of 500 for each day that |
any railroad company shall fail to have a |
fireman or brakeman on its switch engine, |
will be reported favorably.
House bill No. III, by Mr., Gerald, i'll re |
gard to railroad passes, prohibiting certain |
officials from enjoying the benefits of free |
corporal transportation, will be reported |
adversely.
House bill No. 1913, by Mr.. Browning of
Dolley, in reference to railroads designat |
Ing their proposed routes through different |
counties, before obtaining charters. This |
bill will be reported unfavorablv.
House bill No 425 by Mr. Robson re-