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


Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The house met at 10 O'Clock with
Speaker Cochran and quorum pres
ent.
A brief bat appropriate and well ex-
pressed prayer was made by the chap
lain, Rev. ID. Pennington, who allud-
cd TO the members as sentinels on
duty to guard the interests OF the peo-
pie.
substitute house bill No. 2, the bill
amending the mechanics and laborers
lien law, was taken up as the pending
business.
Mr.. Graham offered an amendment,
adding section lSc, to read: Nothing
in this act shall be- so construed as to
render the owner OF premises on
which improvements have been or
may hereafter be erecte liable to any
one tor u greater amount than the con-
tract price, unless il be satisfactorily
shown that the material furnished
and lab performed exceed in value
the contract price, and in that case he
shall ba liable Tor the labor performed
ant material furnished at u reasona-
bic valuation.
Pending consideration message
was received from the governor
touching the burning OF the negro,
Henry Smith, by the mob at Pare,
Texas.
The messrge was referred to the ju-
dietary committee with instructions
to report by bill or otherwise on me
subject matter suggested.
The lien bill was discussed by
MessIs. Graham, Cough, Henderson
of Milam, Peck, DashIelI. Breeding
Moore, James, Flnlay, Onion and
others on the question of the Graham,
amendment, which Was offeIe ed az a
substitute for the Henderson amend
ment which was considered Yes er.
day.
Mr.. Cough argued that the substi-
tute aimed To protect owners from
liability for an amount in excess u
the amount of C JntraCt for material OF
labor.
Most of the speakers spoke Of the
bill rs measure likely 20 affect the
Democratic party on account OF the
subject of such legislation being a
prominent feature in the Democratic
platform.
A motion TO postpone the bill until
Monday was lost. Yeas 65, says IS.
On motion of Mr.. curry TO recon-.
NIT 80 as to perfect the bill the house
refused 10y vote Of Oh To g.
Mr.. Hodges opposed the idea Of In
terventi'n III the contracts OF parties
The bill was 20 important IN the la
t-Iests of the party he wanted it post
poDed to perfect the measure
Mr. Beall spoke against the bill as
violative of private rights ii business.
Mr.. Chambers argued that the bill
was to protect the laiOrer by provd.
ing lien for him. The owner could
protect himself. He wanted the law
50 that security will be provided for
the labOrer.
Mr. Curry argued that the great
difficulty was to provide on either
hand against q contractor colluding
with the owner against the workman,
ur with the workman against the
owner.
Mr.. Wynn alluded to the danger OF
legislatiDg too far into the matter OF
private contracts.
Mr.. Finlay drew the parllel as to
Interference with cOntracts-the anti
option bill was in the line, 30 were the
laws regulating marriage or divorce
and other matters. What are we
here for but to enact laws by which
contracts can be enforced, aud thus
become part OF such contracts. AS 10
| the tund amental nature OF contracts
you can't make contract against
law. We are here to protect the
laborer and not the material men
against the owner, who can protect
| himself. You can't make q law that
won't infringe upon the right of con
tract and individual action.
Mr.. Dills said the more this meas
IRE was discussed the more there ap.
peared to be dynamite in the bill.
He didn't believe in holding man to
q contract in which he had had no
part. There had been good deal of