The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-16
HOUSE COMMITTEES.

The report of the special joint COM
mittee of the senate and house TO visit
the pentent'aries, of which Repre-
sentative McGehee is chairman, aud
Mr.. J. z. Pool secretary, is quite elab
crate and generally favorable as to
the management and condition and
operations of the state convict system.
a among the findings reported cy the
cOmmltt- @ is embraced the statement
that while the kusk penitentiary has
been an expense to the stale, and
may be for years, the management
has been good, and the lack OF profit
trCm its industries is from no lack of
diligence or Zeal on the part of the
management, but is due to the high
price of coal and limited transporUa.
ton.
AS to the Huntsville penitentiary it
was noticed by the committee that the
space within the walls was rather
limited, and that the numerous in
dustries were crowded 80 as to pre-.
vent the free circulation of air, and
cause great danger from fire. Some
Improvements are suggested for bOIn
of ,he Prisons. The committee sug-
< SITS that one of the convict camps ON
the Cunningham plantation is not
good, on account OF there being stag
nant lake of water near tue camp
known as TO the general condition OF
the penitentiaries, the convict camps
aud work Of the convict.
Judiciary committee No. l reported
favOrably on house bill authorizing
county c0mmi siOners courts to issue
bonds to validate previous issues, and
to repeal ali laws authorizing the is
| issuance of county bonds. Messrs
Ball and Breeding signed minority
adverse report, favorng tue principl
of leaving such matters to local sell.
government, aud arguing that there
is large number of county bonds il.
| legally issued, to validate which
would entail u heavy burden upon
some of the counties.
The committee report in favor of
substitute for house bill No. 10,
limiting and regulating the owner.
ships of land by private corporations,
and to provide for escheat of lands
held contrary to law. This is sub.
stitute prepared by Mr.. Gossett for his
original bill, and prescrbes that Cor.
porations holding lands for sale must
ALLEVIATE the same in fifteen years, and
those holding them for the purpose of
their business occu patiOn must alien
ate within fifteen years any excess of
lands not required for their actual
business. Forfeiture of charter and
escheat of the lands are the penalties
tor violation of this act. No private
corporation shall be permitted to buy
lands in the future.
The Judiciary committee No. 2 re-
ported favOrably on senate bill No. 10,
which amends the law requiring
saloon keepers to give bond not to sell
Intoxicating liquors to miuors. Also
favorably on house bill precludipg
minors from billiard halls.
The special committee of the house
70 which WIS referred the mechanics.
labUrers and material mems lien bill,
has not yet come to final conclusion,
but will probably agree upon a salts.
factory bill to report early next week
possibly on Monday. 1t will in the
opinion of some of the committee be
on the basis OF M hing The owner of a
huildin! responsible in good faith to
the labOrers and material men in such
way as to secure them to the full eX.
tent of the contract price.
The committee on education heard
. Hon. W r Cavitt of Bryan on the
claims of the Agricultural and Me
chauicsl college for appropriations
asked from the legislature.