Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-17
ON BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
Says the Honor and Integrity of Texas
Are Involved.
AN ALIEN LAND LAW NEEDED.
But Not one That VIII Prohibit LoaninE
of SIoney-The Senatorship-SchOoI
Recommendations - Usury To
Guard the BRIIOt-A
Lien Law.
Governor HOEg's Message.

Special to the Gazette
AUSTIN, TEX, March IA Joint COM
mittee of the senate and house of the Texas
legislature formally notified Governor Hogg
that the two bodies were ready to receive
any communication he might wish to make,
when he sent the following message:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, AUSTIN, TEX,
March Il 1892.
To the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives
of the 1wenty-Second Legislature:
On your return to the capital that IN
feigned welcome due from the governor TO
faithful representatives of the people is
most cordially rendered you. From the
midst of your confiding constituents you
have come, upon executive call, to spend a
few weeks for the public good. That har-
mony may prevail in your deliberations,
and that the peoples Will in all respects
may be observed and obeyed by your acts,
is the deliberate wish of every patriot.
Most of the work you performed during
the general session was in direct obedience
10 the peoples demands expressed in their
constitution, through their political platform
and at the ballot box. By virtue of the
laws you passed railway corporations have
been placed, for the first time, under state
control, and traffic rates reduced and put in
process of regulation; the public free
schools have been made possible of efficient
maintenance for at least six months of each
year without increased taxation; the rate
of interest on money has been reduced 2
per cent; delinquents in occupation taxes
made to pay their dues; express companies
regulated and placed under the control of
the commission; separate coaches re-
quired for white and colored passengers
over the railways, so as to prevent
threatened race troubles; frauds and
abuses in chattel mortgages pre-
vented; depots required to be Kept
warm, clean and lighted for the comfort of
tod NV
reason of technicalities when property is
held under attachment; corporation en-
ployes protected in their persons and lives
from the negligence Of other employees; IN
considerable conditions in contracts limit
ing the right of action prevented; home
for the MANNED and helpless ex-Confederate
soldiers established and maintained with
out resort to taxation; injured women per-
mitted to testify against their seducers;
the people of the several counties given the
power by local vote to improve the public
roads; adverse possession of lands defined
so as TO prevent owners losing their property
from technical causes; it made possible for
the state to resume control of penitentiary
convicts and keep them on her own ac-
count instead of having TO lease them; pro-
tecting labOrers against the frauds, extor-
tions and abuses of guaranty and fidelity
companies; simplifying quarantine laws so
as to efficiently and economically guard the
diseases; providing for the proper opera
ton and maintenance of all the penal and
charitable institutions; and with all these
and many other good laws passed and val
liable acts performed, the state taxes for
general revenue. purposes have been re-
duced % per cent
AS a whole your labors have proved
vastly beneficial ana will continue to grow
in importance and material advantage to
the public as long as free institutions last.
In all respects YOU deserve the thanks and
confidence of the people for your efficient
faithful services; and they may well con-
graduate themselves on their wisdom IN
your selection. Except for the
FINANCIAL sTRINGENCY,
beginning in Europe year before last, and
recoiling on all the states of this union last
Ind this year, caused by reckless specula-
hon, departure from conservative methods
pf business, and the maintenance of laws
by foreign countries and by the Federal
government discriminating IN favor OF
special interests against the welfare of the
masses everywhere, added to the low price
of cotton prevailing in all the Southern
states. Texas would to-day be enjoying an
era of prosperity never before experienced
by her people.
II is beyond the power of the legislature
to deal with these questions. Federal
finances. expanding or contracting the sup
ply of money demanded by the people, can
only be dealt with by congress. The price
Of cotton is controlled by European mar
kets. Diversiication of crops, reduction in
the acreage of cotton by the southern
planters, attention to domestic supplies Tor
home consumption, and other reforms upon
the farm are under adviSement and conSid-
Grafton by the agricultural classes, with
the prospect of material improvement of
their condition on that line. With these re-
forms substantially effected and blended
with those so recently and auspiciously be-
gun. and it is hoped at this session will be
finished by the wise action of
your honorable bodies, no state in
The American union can offer more whole
some or attractive inducements to the citi-
zen who desires a cheap home, low taxes,
equal laws faithfully enforced and gov
eminent that will not permit eXtortlons or
expressions of any form than Texas.
Invoking divine blessing on the efforts OF
the people to maintain their rights and
liberties, ueder all circumstances
and humbly acknowledge edg-
ing the power and wisdom OF
Almighty God in all things, your attention
Is now respectfully drawn to few sug-
gestions that may TO some extent ald you
In dispoiug of the subjects for the consld-
ton of which YOU have been called In extra
session.
ReaDportionment.
The constitution requires the legislature
at the first session after the publication OF
each decennial census of the United States
TO apportion the state into senatorial and