Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-05
LEGISLATIVE.
-
The Railroad Bond Bill De-
feated by the Senate.
IT GOES THROUGH AT LAST
By Decided Majority, But With Some
Amendments.
The House stu on tho Appropriation Bill
Some Salaries Cut DOwn--Lady Clerks
Provided lor--Ihe Proceedings.
The Afternoon Sessions

Az OoTex., April 4--(speeial.) The
ser ~, ~. us morning at 10 o'clock
WI. sle. Ias,.,o ten hearpy IN the
After % I9bo.al ain Briggs the
senator Bow - oduced n concur
rent resolution looA to the inyestiga-
| ton of the Australian system of regis
tration Of land titles by five commission,
ers, appointed by the governor. who shall
make their report to be submitted TO the
next legislature. Referred
Senator Agnew offered resolution re-
citing that as there are great many
mistakes I'm the names Of the notares
sent In by the governor. the senate 90
| into executive session on the appoint
ments on Saturday at IL A. ~, instead
of today, Tuesday, az IL a. M, as pre-
yiously ordered. Adopted.
The chair stated that the question pend
ing when the senate adjourned was the
motion to order the previous question
on the house railroad bond bill. and the
amendments. The motion was defeated
Senator Dean offered On amendment
80 as to limit the issue OF bonds for rail-
roads to be constructed to 30 per cent
| Of the whole value Of the property and the
| franchises
| Senator Dean said he represented
4
river that has yet 90 be developed by
railroads; many Of these counties were
mountainous aud the cost OF construction
| would be greater than In Othcr parts Of
| the state. He quoted from Walter Ores
ham Of Galveston that the bill would
have no effect upon the bonds Of existing
| railroads, but would stop railroad build
ing in the state. A few years ago the
| rate on lumber to that section was ~ 10
cents per 100 feet and groceries 10 Fort
Davis cost 4 cents per pound. These
hgurcs were cited 10 show the Importance
! OF railroads 10 that section. Many of
| the counties OF the west would remain
Inaccessible as at present, II this bill
| becomes law. Every mile Of ruilroad
built added that much TO the taxable
values of the state.
Senator Imboden moved TO table the
amendment Carried.
Senator Lewis said he had understand
that he had been excused this morning on
| count OF important business He had
been late nc breakfast and hadn't asked
cused.
Senator Steele said he tbougbt nm
effort would be made TO defeat the bond
bill by a call of the senate, as had been
attempted on Monday, and he had
moved 70 have the senator excused,
though he had not been requested by
him 10 do so
Senators Agnew and Imboden said sucb
motions We're common although not re
quired by the absentee.
Senator Lewis wanted 20 know from
Senator Steele who informed him that he
u'ewis) was absent. but he got no re-
sponse and the motion TO excuse the gena-
tor from Bexur was then reconsidered
and withdrawn
Senator ImbOden then moved n call of
the senate on the bin and Il was ordered
the cal showing no one absent,
Senator imboden said Senator McComb
was Just IN receipt OF n telegram an
nouncing the death of q member of his
family, and he moved that he be excused
from further attendance today. Carried
Senator Lewis offered 10 amend the
section providing that no bond or other
evidence of debt hereafter issued bv or
| under the authority of any person, firm.
corporation, court or railroad company,
whereby a lien is created on it's propnrfv
or franchise shall be valid until regis
tered, 50 that the words person, firm.
corporation court shall be stricken out.
Lost.
Senator Yoakum amended so that this
provision shall not apply to receivers
certificates not to exceed 100000.
Adopted
Senator Lewis amended so as TO make
II necessary for conviction for neroti-
ating bonds issued In violation of this act.
that Il shall bee done with knowledge of
such fraud Adopted.
Senator Lewis offered an amendment
so as to strike out the provision that the
venue Of criminal eases arising under
the act shall be fixed either I'm Travis
county or In the county in which the
lNl 0lee OF The railway company Is
located, He argued that the general law
hNlng the venue ought TO govern In cases
arising under this bill The amend
ment was lost. Ayes g; nays. 1Ss
Senator Simpson offered an amendment
TO strike out part OF the emergency clause
which reads as follows: Whereas Sc
curiues issued IN violation thereof alike
deiraud the taxpayers and investors
ana unless Immediately checked will do
irreparable damage 10 the name Of the
state and her commercial interests"
Senator Simpson said this was a false
hood on It's face and ought TO be stricken
out, but IL was lost by the usual vote
Senator Tips offered an amendment
50 as 20 strike out the provision allow
Ing existing railroads TO issue bonds 10
the amount Of so per cent over the value
Of the property. He said this provision
was contrary TO article 10, section g,
Of the constitution, which says; mo
corporation shall issue stock or bonds ex-
cept for money paid labor done. or
property actually received and all fc-
titious increase Of stock or indebtedness
shall be void. The section Of the bill
proposed 10 be amended provides "erhat
IN cases Of emergency or conclusive proof
shown by the company 20 the railroad
commission that public interest or pre-
seryation Of the property demand il, that
said commission may permit said bonds
together with the stock IN the aggregate
70 be executed 20 an amount not more
than % per cent over the value Of said
property"
Senator Alice made strong speech In
Ia ior Of the Amendment The nmend-
nent was adopted. leas. 20; nays, z.
lSenators Boren, Browning, CRAWFORD,
lawhon, Swayne, Woods and Yoakuni
voting 'no.'0
Senator lnb0den moved 70 reconsider
the vote BY which the amendment was
adopted, He voted IN the afiirmative
he said, IN order 20 move to reconsider
Adjourned till 3 b. m
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The senate met al 3 "a M