The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-09

bill as amended by the committee was
passed. 1t makes the county Judge
aud commissioners an auditing board
to pass upon the claims.
House joint resolution 10, amending
section 3, article 7, Of the constitution,
was next considered. 1t provides that
One-iourth OF The occupation taxes, 81
poll tax on each voter, shall De set
apart annually for the free schools,
ard in addition thereto an advalUrem
taXol such amount not exceeding ~
cents on the 500 as with the available
school fund arising from all other
sources as will sntfice to maintain the
schools for six mouths each year.
1t further provides Tor district
school tax if authorized by three
iturths vote of the property tax
payers, not to exceed 50 Cents on the
500, provided the limital ion upon the
amount of district tax shall not apply
to Incorporated cities or towns form
ing independent districts.
MIR. Hodges, author of the bill,
moved to substitute the favorable
minority for the adverse majority re-
port, and spoke at length and quite
forcibiy On the merits OF the bill. con-
tending that the prevailing system
operated as a severe Discrimination in
favor of city over county schools.
Mr. Kirk SAID he admired The gen
tleman's earnestness, but commended
it was on the wrong side of the ques-
ton. The country did not want to
tax themselve. so much for the reason
that the children could not be spared
go long from the fields.
Mr.. Peck spoke in favor of the mi
nority report.
Mr.. Cain opposed the bill, arguing
the people We're overtaxed and didn't
want 10 be taxed so much.
Mr.. Chambers said it was not right
to cut people off from the schools
simply because some OF them might be
too poor to send their children. The
taxing provision was not compulsory,
and it was noticeable that those who
pay no taxes were the ones who OPP
posed taxation for the schools. The
tax is to be voted bv the Iuen who tax
themselves and they should have that
privilege.
Mr.. Martin spoke in opposition to
the bill, arguing that the present law
afforded facilities adequate to the OPP.
portunities for sending the children
TO school.
The minority report was defeated,
killing the bill.
Petitions were sent up on various
subjects by Messrs. McLemore, Kirk,
White, Rodriguez, Graves and Haw-
kins anu were referred.
The committee on contested cleo
ti0ns reported in FAVOR of retaining
MIR Cain of Wood in his seat, the con-
test in the case havi z been with
drawn. The report was adopted.
The house then considered the case
of Williamson vs. Davis of Falls, OF
which there is minority as we'll as
majority report, and after discussion
by Messrs. Calhoun, Davis and bills
similar to previous discussion in the
case, the majority report OF the COM
mittee retaining Mr.. Davis in his seat
was adopted.
Bills were introduced and referred
as follows:
BY Mr.. Wheless-Providing that
the amount OF mortgages of property
at the time pr scriHed for rendition
tor taxation shall be prima facie evil
dence that it's value is not less than
the amount Tor which it Is mortgaged.
BY MIR. MISUNDERSTANDING juris-
dictIOn in Nueces county.
BY Mr.. BolIowe-Making the schOl-
astic age from over eight to unt er
eighteen years without regardless o.
c Tor of children.
BY Mr.. Floyd-Making scholastic
age from over eight to under twenty
one years, regardless OF color.
BY Mr.. lankersly - Requiring
married women to refu money paid
for their separate estate before t. ey
can recover the same on ACCOUNT OF de-
tective acknOaledg ment.
BY Mr. Tan Kersly-Validating IT,
ties to lands located by virtue OF GER
,ificates to railroads in this state and
patented to them or their vendees,
and now owned by private persons
who purchased them for value prior
to January, 1891; provides this act
shall not be construed to validate IT,
ties to any land now owned by the
railroads or titles to any col porations
or vendees of such railroad compan-
les.
By Mr.. Urbahn - Repeating the |
provision of the law which requires
ieYying of local taxation for educa.
tional purposes in cities aud towns
which have assumed control of their
schools.
Mr.. White sent up concurrent reso-
luton declaring in effect that as the
federal government had provided a
bounty on sugar it should distribute
it's gratuities SCIENTIFICALLY and fix a
bounty say l per cent on cotton of
middling and s 4c on lower grades,
and Sc bushel on wheat. Referred.
House adjourned until 10 O'Clock
this morning.
The committee on constitutional
amendments has decided to report
on the Fields amendment
to an, horize nine jurors to bri e in a
verdict in criminal cases. There will
he minority report signed by McFall
and White of the committee in favor
of the bill, with an amendment ex
cepting capital cases. /
A subcommittee of the general
on education will recon
mend abolishing the community
school system and adopting general
L,iatrict aYstem