The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-14
THE EXTRA SESSION.
AN INTERESTING DAY IN BOTH OF THE
ri HOUSES.
A photographic Photograph Of the Legisla,
ture in Active Operation
Local Proceedings in
Both Houses.

The local option bills came up and
were passed with little opposition.
Mr.. Baker of Tom Green came val
iantly to the front and moved that the
Australian ballot box bill be taken up,
but despite his vigorous efforts to get
the bill on top the House incontinently
sat down on it, by refusing to bring it
up.
. The bill locating the three courts of
criminal appeals came up and Mr..
Crawford moved that one of them be
located at Dallas.
Mr.. Swayre said he hoped that one
of the courts would go to Dallas.
Mr.. Adkins moved as a substitute
that the three courts be consolidated
at Austin, giving a whole hatful of
logical reasons why it shonld be done.
Mr.. Terrell stated that the represen-
tative of Travis county had made no
effort to get the courts so located and
the matter was with the Legislature.
Mr.. Doggett squared his broad
shoulders and braced himself in sup
port of the consolidation proposition.
Mr.. O'Brien Immediately inserted
the sharp edge of his logic under the
structure and threw the weight of his
argument on it in one effort to over
turn it, He thought the court of
criminal appeals should be located in
the same town with the court of civil
appeals.
Mr.. Williamson was in favor of con-
solidatory at Austin and set himself
solidly against any disposition on the
part of the House to console any of
the disappointed candidates for the
courts of civil appeals. If there was
any consoling done, he wanted to see
San Antonio consoled, but he failed
to see any argument advanced against
the location of all three of the courts
at Austin.
Mr.. Riddle thought the courts
\. should be permanently located in
Austin.
Mr.. Davis thought the House had a
little principle and a great deal of
policy in the work of the House.
Mr.. Swan favored the location of
the courts at Austin as looking to the
greatest convenience of the greatest
number of people.
Mr.. Adkins again took the floor and
planted the flowers of his eloquence
on the heights of enthusiasm.
Mr.. Crawford could see no good
reason for the location of the courts at
Austin, and ably argued in support
of his position.
The substitute as offered by Mr..
Adkins was lost by close vote.
Mr.. O'Brien offered substitute for
the pending amendment, by locating
the courts at Austin, Fort Worth and
Galveston, thus putting the civil and
criminal courts OF appeals in the same
cities.
Mr.. Graham opposed the amend
ment, and Mr.. Swayne stated Fort
Worth was not a candidate for the
honor.
Mr.. O'Brien's substitute was lost.
The courts were then located at
Austin, Dallas and Tyler, and the / III
was passed,
Mr.. Baker of Tom Green, moved to
take up the Australian ballot box H..
= Mr.. Hamblen rose up in his mig ut
and smote the bill mighty blow De-
tween the eyes. He characterized it
as a part of the platform of the ReF ub-
lican party, and thought the gentle
man of Tom Green was mistaken in
the bill.
IN RECESS.
A recess of three hours was then
taken, and calls for meeting of judi
ciary committee No. l were made.
Mr.. Pool shot his voice out into the
House and walloping it about among
the members, admonishing them of
the duty that lay before them in the
committee.
The committee considered the bill
arraying the three districts for the
supreme courts of civil appeals, and
agreed to report it with amendments
as set forth in the journal.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House being called to order in
the afternoon, Mr.. Baker of Tom
Green made another valiant effort TO
get up the Australian ballot bill. He
has long given his thoughts to this
subject and is one of the most
thoroughly informed members on this
subject and with fervid earnestness
he urged the necessity of taking the
bill up.
Mr.. Gerald seconded the efforts of
Mr.. Baker Of Tom Green, forcing with
fiery eloquence, the true features of
the issue before the House for careful
inspection.
Mr.. Bats remarked that the gentle.
men had made very pretty speeches
but the country had lived long time
without any such action and he OPP
posed the consideration of the bill at
this time, on the ground of the super
, ior claim of other and more important
/. bills for immediate consideration.
4 Mr.. Erskine urged the action of the
q House on the bill measure of vital
Importance, especially to that portion
{ of the State lying on the border.
Mr.. Robson was unwilling to con-
cede that the ballot in Texas is cor
rapt enough to need such legislation.
He didn't think the members who
surrounded him had found their legis-
lative existence in rotton elections. He
thought the time inopportune, and he