The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-04-19
D LEGISLATURE.
uor ENOUGH SENATORS IN THE CITY
TO MAKE A QUORUM.
The House Further Considers the General
Appropriation Bill and Endeavors to
Practice Economy by Cutting Down
Salaries Of Department Clerks.

Salaries Of Department Clerks.
Following are the proceedings Of
Yesterdays session of the legislature:
THE SENATE.
Secretary Kennedy called the sem
ate to order yesterday morning at 10
o'clock.
Lieutenant Governor Crane and
President pro tenn Kearby being
absent.
Roll call showed the following pres
emit: Senators Agnew, Baldwin,
Crawford, Goss, Hutchinson, Imboden,
Jester, Lewis, Presler, Smith, Swayne
and Tips. No quorum present.
On motion of Senator Imboden the
senate adjourned till 10 O'Clock this
morning.
THE HOUSE.
The house met with Speaker Coch-
ran and quorum present.
PRAYER by Chaplain Pennington.
The house passed it's bill extending
the summer term for this year OF the
4 district court in Grayson county.
Mr.. Rudd's bill for the protection
of fish in ponds, lakes and streams
and prohibiting catching them except
upon ones own premises or taxing
by traps, nets, dynamite, etc, or by
! any than the ordinary mode by hook
and line or trot line, came up in its
order.
The fact of o person having nets or
|, such contrivances for capturing fish
is made prima facie evidence in
charges for violation Of the Jaw, ex-
cept as to regularly licensed dealers
in such articles. The penalty is fine
of from 500 to $500.
By Mr.. McGehee-Amendment that
fish may be taken at any time for
propagation.
Amendment by Mr.. Graves strik.
ing out the main features of the bill
was adopted and the bill was killed
by striking out the enacting clause.
1t was argued against the bill that
some big pasture men could fish any
way they pleased on streams running
through their pastures, and the house
went on record against such discrim-
nation by decided vote.
Mr.. Barron's bill amending the
code Ct criminal procedure as to re-
cognizances was next considered. 1t
provides that failure to state the Of
tense charged or like error shall not
preclude hearing and determining
the cases on appeal, provided the
amount of the bond is properly
stated.
The words "or like error" were
struck out and the bill passed.
The house suspended the rule so
that the general appropriation bill
may be considered directly by the
house instead ofin committee of the
whole.
Representative Turney's bill pro.
viding for leasing the school and uni
yersity lands near the Rio Ggande at
from 2 to 8 cents per acre was consid-
cred.
B Mr.. Turney said many and some
I large leases of the poorer classes of
! these lands had been perfected on ac-
count of the present law requiring 4
cents an acre.
Mr.. MurIell offered an amendment
changing to cents, claiming that
N u6 ldulS Ill lllO OOuhuASo bSbhSs 'O'
yGhe 8 cents leasing were worth 4 cents
4 Mr.. Hawkins spoke against the
amendment and in favor of the bill.
\ Mr.. Mills stated that the university
sections of the lands in the counties
mentioned in the bill were already
subject to lease at cents, and he was
opposed to turning the lands propos-
ed over to the stockmen at figures
which would amount to almost free
grazing. He was willing to concede
all he could to these men, but he
thought the law as it is was good
enough. In fact the original price
had been reduced to cents on the
suggestion that it would be satisfac-
tory to the stockmen.
The amendment was adopted and
the bill engrossed. Ayes 81, noes 30.
1t is claimed the bill will increase
the available school fund from $50, 900
to 100000.
The general appropriation bill was
considered directly by the house and
the amendments of the committee in
whole were adopted in bulk, as
printed.
Amendments were adopted chang
ing the salary of the chief clerk, de-
partment of agriculture, insurance,
etc., back to $500. The items Tor the
executive office were adopted as an
entirety at the instance of Mr.. Finlay,
who further suggested that the bill,
as far as acted on in committee of the
whole, should be accepted in the way
he proposed. He warmly urged going
\ ahead and getting through with the
bill at once and not fritter the time OF
the session away in passing upon a
bill a page or two day. He was
willing to act upon the previous ques-
ton and get through with it as he
believed we could, in two days.
Mr.. Fields did not approve of such
precipitate action in the matter of eX-
pending the money of the state, and
would stay here all summer rather
I. than do 30.
ID Both gentlemen spoke warmly and
applauded for their earnestness.
Adjourned until o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon session the general
appropriation bill was resumed.
Mr.. Cooke offered amendment re-