The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-21
THE ALIEN LAND LAW.
THE LAW AS AMENDED AND NOW ON
THE STATUTE BOOKS.
The More Objectionable Features Stricken
Out and the Bill Made in Accord
ance With the Rulings of the
Supreme Court.

Nv
the alien land law as it was passed by
the legislature and approved by Gov
ernor Hogg on last Tuesday:
Substitute house bill Nos. %, % and
81. A bill to be entitled: "An act t
limit and regulate the ownership by
aliens of real estate in the state of
trexas, and to provide for the escheat
of lands held contrary to law, and to
repeal all laws in conflict with this
act"
Section l. Be it enacted by the leg
islature of the state of Texas, that no
alien or person who is not citizen Of
the United States shall acquire title to
or own any land in the state of Texas,
except as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. This act shall not apply to
land now owned in this state by
aliens so long as it is held by the pres
ent owners, nor to any alien who is or
shall become bona fide inhabitant of
the state of Texas; and any alien who
is or shall become bona fide inhabi-
tant of the state of Texas shall have
the right to acquire and hold lands in
this state upon the same terms as citi-
zens of the state of Texas during the
continuance of the bona fide residence
of such alien in this state-provided,
that ifany such resident alien shall
cease to be bona tide inhabi-
tant of this state, then such
alien shall have ten years from the
time he ceases to be such bona fide in
habitant, in which to ALLEVIATE such
lands. This act shall not be con-
strued to prevent any persons not
citizens of the United States from ac-
curing or holding lots or parcels of
land in any incorporated or plated
city, town or village in this state; pro-
vided further that any alien who
shall become an actual resident of
this state and who shall in conformity
with the naturalization laws of the
United States, have declared his in
tention to become a citizen of the
limited States shall have the right to
Mcguire and hold real estate in this
state in the same manner as if he was
a citizen of the United States.
Sec. 8. This act shall not prevent
aliens from acquiring lands, or any
interests therein in the ordinary course
of Justice in the collection of debt; nor
from acquiring liens upon real estate
ing money and securing the same upon
real estate, or any interest therein;
nor from enforcing any such lien, nor
from acquiring and holding title to
such real estate, or any interest there
in, upon which a lien may have here
tofore or may hereafter De fixed, or
upon which D loan of money may have
been heretofore or hereafter made and
secured.
Sec. A. All non resident aliens who
may hereafter acquire real estate IN
Texas by device, descent or by pur-
chase, under the provisions OF this
act may hold the same for ten years,
provided that any such nonresident
alien, if a minor, may hold such real
estate for ten years from the time OF
reaching his or her majority, or ii OF
unsound mind, for ten years after the
appointment of legal guardian.
Sec. 5. Any alien who shall here
after hold lands in Texas in contra
vention of the provisions of this act
.xnay, nevertheless, convey the fee SIM
BILE title thereof at any time before the
institution OF escheat proceedings as
hereinafter provided however, that II
any such conveyance shall be made by
such alien either to an alien or to
citizen of the United States in trust
and for the purpose and with the III
tention of evading the provisions OF
this act. such convey ance be null and
void. and any such lands so conveyed
shall be forfeited and escheat to the
state absolutely.
Sec. G, 1t shall be the dutyuof the
attorney. general, or the district or
county attorney, when he shall be in
formed or have reason to believe that
lands in this state are being held con-
trary to the provisions of this act, to
institute suit in behalf of the state OF
Texas, in the district court of the
county where such lands are stu
ated, praying for the escheat OF
the same on tehalf OF the
state, as in cases of estates OF
persons dying without divise thereof
and having no heirs-providiDg be-
fore any such suit is instituted the at
torney general, district or county at
torney, as the case may be, shall give
ninety days. notice by registered let
tiers of his intention to sue, directed to
the owner of said land or person who
last rendered the same for taxes, OF
his agents, and to all other persons
having an interest in such lands OF
which the plaintiff has actual or con-
structive notice.
Sec. 7. If it shall be determined
upon the trial of any such escheat
proceedings that lands are held con-
trary to the provisions OF this act, the
court trying said cause shall render
Judgment condemning such lands and
Ashall order the same to be sold as I'M
der execution; and the proceeds OF
such sale, after deduc'ing the costs
of such suit shall be paid to
the clerk of such court so rem,
dering Judgment; and SAD
fund shall remain in the hands OF
such clerk for one year from the date
of such payment, suolec. W ' in. Giu o.
his heirs or legal representatives and
if not claimed within the period OF