The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-17
Our Austin Letter.


hUsIlN, NHaa'
proposition to sever Montgomery
county from that Of Harris in matters
judicial. giving to Harris a separate
| junicial district and ia, king Mont
gomery on to neighborlng district
PASSED the nate this morning BY
very decisive vote, only two members
opposing. District Judge Brashesr,
Of the Houston district, is here, how
ever, opposing the change.
The scalp law discussion IN the
house Tuc.dsy varied the usual mo-
notony OF the proceedings. Several
members made speeches tavorlng the
repeal OF the law in its entirety, when
5 mmons, of Maverick, mounted h
fiery steed and sped away to the field
OF ciassic- for All Illustration. He
pictured a scene IN the old amphi
thea re az Rome, q combat between
two gladlators, resulting in the tn.
umph of ONE, who stood with his foot
on the nek Of his vanquished foe,
and gazed aloit TO those VINO occupied
the benches for cue as to whether or
not he should put the finishing TOUCHES
to his dowufallen antagonist Ga all
sides the demand came from the
spectators that he dispatch his victim,
when suddenly d beautiful Christian
maiden sprang into the arena and
cried, "Spare him, he is my lover"
He, the speaker, had gszed helplessly
about over the body he was addressing
to find one sympaf hetic look, and had
listened In vain for some one to rise
up and ask that the interests of West.
ern Texas be spared the blow which
the unconditional repeal Of this law
would il fict The illustration accom-
pished all that was intended, as it
WAS the means Of catching and holding
the attention OF the house, while the
speaker hammered in argument alter
argument in favor OF leaving the law
in such shape that sections needing 1t
could invoke its aid in the extermina.
ton of wolves and other pests. Sim.
mons speech saved the day and the
sub committee report was adopted.
Smith, of Hui county, followed
Simmons. He said when he had lis.
tened to the gladiator from Midland
and the gladiator from Limestone, and
the other gladiators who had spoken
he must confess he was thumbs
down. as far as this measure was
rnnanrpaJ h,,t ,uhor ho haa f,,1
maiden from Maverick (Simmons)
had sprung into the arena and cried
"spare, my lover he could doubt no
longer, and would cast his vote for
the bill.
Dashiel of Leon, opposing the bill,
moved to amend by adding
reward of fifty cents apiece for the
scalps of buffalo gnats. Judge Rogan
inquired if the gentleman wished to
commit suicide
judiciary No. 2, reports favorably
Cunningham bill to allow the defend.
ant in libel suits to plead the truth of
the alleged libellious matter as a
defense.
The friends of the measure are
very Jealous In the advocacy of the
same. and claim that while the present
law of SANDER allows the defendant to
prove the truth of the alleged SANDER.
Gus matter as a defense, and allows
the defendant to enquire into the
general reputation of the female, even
when want Of chastity is imputed to
her, and when the alleged SANDER is
matter that the public has a right to
know anything about,
At the same time, under the pres
ent law on libel. If one newspaper
publish the truth about another in
regard to matters which the public
ought to know, if it is not a violation
Of the criminal law, said newspaper
cannot plead the truth of said libelous
matter as defence, as some express
it, the present law protects newspa-
pers from exposure by another.
If the gentlemen are correct in re-
gard to the present law, then it ought
to be changed, for while newspapers
are the greatest blessings the civilized
world now has, still they are entitled
to no prot ection which other citizens
do not enjoy.
We presume the measure will pass,
for the representatives, OF the people I'm
der the present administration, hs. e
a keen blade for newspaper men.