The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-14
THE EXTRA SESSION.
.A.susY DAY AMONG The LAWMAKERS.
Both Sides of the Legislature Pulling Hard
to Draw Their Work to Focus.

and passed the Special Judicial dis
trict bill by Mr.. Rogan of Caldwell
and then the Australian ballot box
bill was taken up.
Mr.. Baker Of Tom Green, has been
fighting like hero for this bill and
he has made constant and untiring
efforts during the past week to get it
taken up for consideration.
Mr.. Bakers interest in the AUS
tralian ballot box law has long been
known in the House and there Is no
question that his efforts are due the
fact that the measure was considered
at all i'm the House. The bill is long
one and there was an evident dispo-
sition OK the part of the House to
avoid 1t, but there was no escaping
such untiring, unyieldipg assaults as
those made by the gentleman from
Tom Green. He was determined the
bill should be considered, and 1T was
considered.
The bill was read at length, the
reading consuming over an hour.
Immediately Mr.. Baker came at
the bill with number OF amend
ments which were adopted. Other
amendments as shown in the official
journal were considered.
Mr.. McGFegor offered Gn amend
ment providing that every voter shall
prepare his own ballot, absolutely
without assistance.
AS Mr.. Wilson of Hill remarked
this would keep out the man who
can't read or write, and considerable
discussion followed
Mr.. Robson favored the amend
ment and thought the object of the
bill could hardly be accomplished
without it. He saw no crying need
for the bill, but Il the object aimed at
were reached it could be reached in
no other way.
MIR. Bats characterized the amend
ment as vicious and villainous and
proceeded to cuff IL about unmereiful-
iy. When he wearied Mr.. Jones took
his place and hit it few vigorous
ticks.
Mr.. Baker of Tom Green offered q
substitute las shown in the OH cial
Journal
Mr.. Robson again took up the
amendment as offered by Mr.. Nc
Gregor and scientifically pulled it into
shape, grooming Off the marks OF
oratoricai abuse it had received.
The substitute as offered by Mr..
Baker was adopted.
Mr.. Malone said if the bill passed
great detriment would result, and he
hoped it would. He voted down.
Mr.. Browning of Donley, spoke in
favor of the bill be showed there
are thirty-seven states that already
have the law and with beneficial re-
suits, and having pumped the bill full
of his eloquence, he took his seat.
Mr.. Connellee hung the bill up tenn
porarily by unanimous consent, and
left it to drip, while he submitted the
report of the conference committee on
the senatorial district bill, stating
they had done their best to get up q
satisfactory bill which should assure
the state Of democratic districts.
The report was adopted, and Mr..
Hamblen calmly removed the pend
ing ballot box bill from it's suspense
and proceeded to squeeze 1T in the
iron grip OF his logic. Between the
upper and the neither millstones of his
condemnation and his righteous in
dignation he ground it to powder,
throwing it as chaf to the winds, and
characterizing it as unnecessary and
uncalled for.
GThe House here received the Jester
bill on the one per cent. school fund,
with Senate amendments and on
motion of Mr.. Jester, the amendments
were agreed to.
Mr.. Nelson advanced number OF
able arguments in behalf of the pend
ing bill, and urged its favorable con-
sideration. Mr.. Gerald favored the
bill, and hoped 1t would become
law. He said the Democratic party is
one of purity and of power, upon
which the future of this country and
people depend. 1t cannot be perpet-
uated in fraud and corruption. He
pictured condition of rottenness in
city politics which needs purifying.
Mr.. Bakers amendment was
adopted.
Mr.. Connellee called attention to
the local option feature of the bill.
Various amendments, as shown else
where. were adopted.
Mr.. Martin of Wise stated that the
miscellaneous manner in which
amendments had been fired into
the bill precluded the possibility OF
any Ineligible conception of the
character it was assuming. The MEM
bers, many of them satisfied the bill
would be killed in the wind up, were
paying no attention, and the gravity
of the step contemplated in the bill,
demanded that every vote be cast adj
visedly. That this might be done, he
moved to table, which was lost.
Mr.. O'Brien addressed himself to
the bill, pausing occasionally to per-
NIT the long and continued applause
to get out of the doors and windows.
During his address the House took a
recess until o'clock.
AFTER THE RECESS.
A o'clock Mr.. O'Brien again took
the floor, declared the pending bill
was just the one that all parts of the
State did not need, did not want and
ought not to have. He then yielded
the floor to Mr.. Martin of Wise, who
moved call of the House, a half
dozen absentees were reported.
Mr.. Browning of Donley introduced
a concurrent resolution calling for a
Joint committee to confer with the
officers and directors of the Texas
Worlds Fair association, looking to