Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-14
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-, Austin, Tex, April 13.-CSpecial)-
Inc house met with Speaker Cochran and
quorum present.
Prayer by Chaplain Pennington
MT. Mills for the committee on rules
reported In favor of resembling the con
current resolution which set apart two
days Of each week for the special con.
siderotion IF the senate bills A motion
TO postpone was defeated and the resO-
luton itself was defeated.
Senate bill amending the law as 10
signals and switches on railroad cross.
ings of roads and streets by allowing full
stops TO be discontinued where there are
interlocldng switches provided was pass.
ed 20 third reading.
Senate bill extending the time within
which lands sold for taxes may be re-
deemed and providing the terms of re
demption was amended and passed.
Senate bill authorizing the penitentiary
board 10 purchase agricultural lands for
the purpose of utilizing convict labor and
allowing S3OO,0OO for that object being
in order Mr.. McGehee spoke in favor OF
the bill as presenting the proper policy
for the state to pursue and argue
that II was preferable TO keeping the
tonyicts entirely in the penitentiary. lie
cited figures 10 show that the cost 10
the stnte was from Sl50,0OO To $3.50, 900
annually to keep all the conVicts within
negroes under short term sentences who
could not be prohtably employed in the
state prison. The state should buy farms
and work its cOnvicts on state account
and not have them scattered by leasing
them all over the state. He concluded
by offering an amendment changing the
terms on which the money may be bor-
rowed II necessary from the school fund
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Wei
merit, Sheriff., Cunningham, Pagan OF
Lamar and Tankersley on the com
mittec Of conference on the senate
bill substitute, providing for additional
supreme judicial districts.
Mr., Henderson of Milan spoke in
opposition to the penitentiary bill. argu-
ing that the borrowing Of money for
such purposes was not contemplated by
the constitution and the amount was
100000 In excess of what the constitu
tion allowed for any purpose.
Mr.. Onion met this by say
ing it would be simple trans
fer Of funds without the state creating
a debt against itself
Messrs Hodges and Curry further dis
cussed the bill.
The McGehee amendment was adopted
and the bill was engrosed by vote Of
65 to 33.
Senate bill regulating the practice OF
the courts of civil appeals in cases of
reversal and remittitur when the judg
ment is excessive. l'nssed.
Senate bill diminishing jurisdiction Of
the county courts Of Castro and Hartley
counties. Passed,
Senate bin amending the law authoriz-
ing corporations 10 increase their capital
stock so that such increase shall be
valid under the construction of the law
by the secretary Of state was amended
aud passed
Mr. Wheless presented the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Whereas, IL has for some time been
often charged by certain well known per-
sons In the city of Austin. that the state
expert printer is interested in the con-
tracts awarded the firm of Ben g. Jones
& Co, and that the manner IN which
state printing has been, and Is being
done by said contractors under the sane
ton OF the expert printer, is q fraud
upOn the state, and has occasiOned the
unlawful expenditure Of large sums OF
money; and
Whereas A decent respect for the
rights of the state, as well as those Of the
expert printer, and the said contractors
70 defend themselves against these often
repeated imputatiOns, demands that the
said charges should be thoroughly and
speedily Investigated In order that the
truth may be presented TO the leglsla-
ture; therefore, be II
Resolved, by the house Of representa-
tives of the state of Texas, That special
committee 10 be composed OF hye repre-
sentatiyes be appointed 10 investigate as
10 the truth of such charges ana ~ r.
port the result of this investigation 10 the
legislature at the earliest practicable mo-
ment.
Resolved further, that said committee
be and is hereby empowered 10 issue
process 20 procure the attendance OF Wal
uesses and TO administer Oaths Tor une
purpose of such investigation
Mr. Wheless said he had the highest
confidence IN the parties named but had
been urged 60 present the matter
The committee Is Messrs. yields,
Graves Russol James rnd Turner.
Adjourned till o'clock.