The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-11
Houston in the Journal.

A communication was read from Of
ficers OF the Firemen's State conven-
ton returning thanks for the rendered
use of the hall for their convention.
A resolution of thanks 10 the clerks
OF the enrolling and engr0ssing COM
mittoes was adopted.
The house porters, through j p. Ell
lott as spokesman, presented the
speaker with n fine Dunlap hat, and
were compliniented by the speaker.
The speaker signed the concurrent
resoIu ion to amend the constitution
increasing the terms OF the legislature
and pay OF members.
Speaker Cochran made the follow
ing farewell address to the house:
The time has come for the lose of
the labors of the regular session Of the
is done and we go hence, each to our
respective constituency, to render an
account for the part we played in the
work done. And now, with CRATE.
full heart, sincerely thank each of you
for the uniform courtesy and kind
consideration shown me as your pre-
siding officer My heart swells with
love, gratitude and admiration for
each OF you when / think Of the kind.
ness you have extended to me during
one long and arduous session.
Our work follows us, and time alone
can unfold the good or evil results of
our acts. The demise of legislative
body IL unlike that of an individual,
where the mantle of charity is thrown
over the shortcomings of the departed.
In the latter the individual actor Is
dead and can do no more harm or
good In the former, while the body
as body, may have passed away and
ceased to exist as an organized body,
yet the individual members OF that
deceased body still live, active mem.
bers of society, either to be honored or
censured not only for their individual
acts as members of the demised legis,
lative body but for The acts of the en-.
tire legislative body of which they
were members.
Texas Is so vast In territory, go de-
versified In climate, soil and material
interests, Astounding in almost unllm-
| tied undeveloped resources, requiring
wise conservative legislation, that IL Is
indeed unfortunate that the time allot.
ted by the state constitution to each
Legislature is SO limited and restricted
as to practically terminate its labors
at time when the legislature has
just become prepared TO do good work.
Not only this, but the legislature In
considering NJ easures of vital inter- st
Is attributed to this constitutional linn
itation. Hasty, immature, dangerous.
undigested, crude Legislation is ex-
tremely dangerous, and often entails
evils and burdens on the people that
even time, the healer of all ills, may
be slow in curing. Many ofthe wrongs
we now endure may be traced to crude
and hasty legislation. The legisla-
ture vitalizes and puts into active OPP
GRAFTON all the departments of the
other state government which is
hasty and unskilled, The whole fabric
disjointed. Disorder, confusion and
unnecessary expense in the admins
tration of the vast machinery of the
government will he the inevitable re-
suit entailing unnecessary burden on
the people; often retarding develop
ment and progress to higher and
better civilization.
The enactment of the laws affecting
vital interest of so great people OF so
grand a state as Texas, an undevelOp-
ed empire IL a grave question, which,
above all others should receive
thoughtful and deliberate considera-
ton, which should not be precipitated
by unwise or false economic cOnstitU-
tional environments, preventing that
patient, thoughtful consideration es-
sential to wise and conservative ac-
ton
do not offer this as an apology for
the acts of this legislature, more than
of past and future Legislatures which
have or may assemble under the pres
emit constitutional limitations OF our
state. | believe that time will reveal
the fact that this legislature has done
much good Tor the people OF Texas
Permit me 10 assure you one and all
that each of you have, and take with
you my highest regard ard esteem,
aud my earnest prayer for your future
prosperity and happiness.
Should we never meet again, you
each OF yOu-will ever hold a warm
place in my heart. One of the hap
piest and proudest reflections of my
future life will be the recall of the
many pleasant hours we have spent
together as the representatives of the
great people of Texas, and more espec-
tally the kind consideration shown
me by the members, officers and en-
ployes of this house. In bidding you
farewell, my earnest prayer is that
each of you may find on your return
home, welcoming friends and con-
stituency that will extend 10 you a
cordial welcome, such as good and
faithful servants should receive. /
now bid you loving farewell.
The speaker signed the sugar boun-
ty bill and the resolution auth )rizing
the committee on capitol grounds to
accept plans for their improvement.
Resolution of thanks to the chief