The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-16

fittingly obser ge the day and bid al
| people Of the Lone Star state to one,
again record on memory's page tn,
wondrous history OF her past, it is
Resolved, by the house of representa-
tives OF the state of Texas, that we as
semble on that day at o'clock D. M
to listen to memorial address on the
life OF General Houston; and that the
senate be invited to join Us in the ex
ercises of the hour.
Resolved further, That the Rev. DR.
II. U. Burleson, a companion of Hous
ION and his intimate personal friend
be invited to deliver said address.
The resolution was amended go as tC
include an address by Hon a. w. Ter.
rell of Travis, and adopted.
TIE house considered and ordered
the enGrossment of the emergency de.
ficiency bill, making sundry small ap
preparations.
On motion of Mr.. Moore, the report
of the committee on rules, recon-
mending rule for the recording Of
the names of three members calling
for ayes and nays on any question
was considered.
1t was argued that the proposed
change was intended as b party gag
to ohstruct the minority, to which the
speaker replied that he was bound ia
recognize all alike in such matters. 1t
was, he suggested, sometimes difficult
lobbyists made the call.
The report of the committee was
adopted. Ayes, 58; nays, %.
The emergency deficiency bill was
again taken up and tie emergency
clause was adopted and passed.
Senate bill IA, amending articles
1927 and several following regulating
local option as to the sale of intoxl
cants, came up in regular order.
An amendment by Mr.. Graves limit
ing local option elections to districts
not less than a precinct was defeated
and the bill went over without fur.
Their action as the pending business.
Committee reports were su bmitted:
From finance committee in favor of
the bill authorizing acceptance of the
sugar bounty from Washington and
from the c,nmittee on education rec.
ommending that the bills to divide
the public domain between the free
schools and the state university be re.
ferred to the committee on public
lands.
The committee on printing reported
favOrably on the house bill amending
the law for the distribution of the di-
gests of the law, and adversely on
house bill 427, providing for pu blica-
ton and circulation of The Journals o.
the legislature.
The house adjourned until 10 O'Clock
this morning.
The house judiciary committee has
agreed to report favorably the bill of
Mr. Smith of Hill, amending the as
Segment law and prohibiting pre-
terred creditors. There will be a mi
narity report.
The finance committee will eport in
favor of the bill allowing Mrs. Aquilla
Nichols to sue the state for work done
by her hus band in building the state
land office.
The committee on cities and towns
reported favorably on the Dover bill
emendipg the election provisions in
the charter of Brenham. Also favor
ably on bills limiting the territory for
OF cities and towns and
the territory that may be Incorporated
for school purposes.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The following Dill will be introduce
ed by Representative Cunningt am:
An act to amend article 642 of the
Penal Code of the stale of Texas go as
to permit parties charged with the Of
fence of libel to plead the truth of the
alleged matter as q defense.
Sec. l. Be it enacted by the legisla-
ture of the state of Texas:
That article GAP of the Penal Code of
the state of Texas be 80 amended so as
t he eater read as follows, to- wit.
Art. 642. In all trials and wherein
the parties are charged with the of.
fence of libel, the truth of the alleged
matter may be plead by the
q defendant in justification ofthe Offences
charged. Provided, that this article
shall not apply to offenses wherein
the alleged libelous matter imputes to
any one want OF chastity or virtue
or that he or she has been guilty OF
having sexual ,carnal Intercourse with
each other or with some one else not
prohibited by penal statutes.
Sec. 2. The fact that parties in this
state are being prosecuted tor publish
ing facts that are true, and the iurh her
fact that the law as it now stands
DIES not permit the truth of the libel
Gus matter to be plead by the defend.
ant in many instances, creates an inn
peritive public necessity that the con-
5titutional rule requiring bills to be
read on three several days be sus-
pended aud il i5 so enacted.
~
The Texas Legislature is about
to spring an innovation in leg
sIative affairs, if the talk and specula-
ton that is now floating around the
granite corridors of the capitol
amounts to anything. The scheme is
10 adjourn the Twenty-third and let
the members go to Washington in a
body with his eXceliency, James
at their head and then as
the banner Democratic state OF
the Union participate in the
attendant upon the
of Cleveland. The
leaders of he movement are doing
good deal of work and the Legislators
seem to generally favor the idea. 1t
Is also reported that Gouernor Hogg
has consented to lead them should the
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