The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-17


as ''the Alien Land Law" This law is
effective only as to nonresident aliens
who after it's passage may acquire title to
land in the state. The law does not APP
ply to land owned by aliens at the date
of its adoption so long as it is held by
them; nor to those who acquire lands and
within due time become bona tide inhabi-
tants of the state. 1t gives all aliens the
right of acquiring land or interest there
in through the ordinary course of justice
in the collection of debts; and authorizes
them to loan money upon real estate and
to acquire title to it by foreclosure of their
lien thereon. 1t Intends however, that
all persons being nonresident aliens-peo-
pie not residents or citizens of the United
States-shall sell their real estate when
they acquire the title to it by de-
wise, descent or purchase, within 10 years
thereafter. Should those who are sub
ject to the provisions of the law not part
with their titles within the period named,
then it is made the duty of the states
attorney to institute proceedings in the
proper court to have the lands sold at
public auction, and the proceeds thereof,
less the costs, to be deposited with the
district clerk, subject to the order of the
owner. The law itself is just, reasona-
BILE and liberal, in that it does not attempt
to destroy vested rights, nor to prevent
with the title to the land except when the
nonresident alien fails or refuses to be-
come resident or citizen of some state
of the Union, or undertakes to hold the
title for period longer than ten years
while Il nonresident.
LAND CORPORATIONS.
To carry out the constitutional inhi
bition against perpetuities and monopo-
lies, the last legislature declared that the
unrestricted ownership in this state by
private corporations is n perpetuity, and
up what are known as land corpora
tions" having in view the ownership of
rural lands for agricultural, horticult-
ural, or speculative purposes 1T does
not interfere with the right of corpora
tons to acquire or own land for the pur-
pose of carrying on their legitimate bust
ness; and it gives to the then existing cor
porations whose main purpose or bust
ness was the acquisition or ownership
of lands, fifteen years from the date of
the act within which to part in good faith
with their titles. AS in the case of
aliens, those land corporations failing or
refusing to sell their lands within fif-
teen years from the date of the law, are
liable to have them sold under pro-
ceedings instituted by the states attor-
ney, and the money deposited subject to
the corporations order. Neither as to
aliens nor corporations, was the purpose
or effect of the law to cOnfiScate proper
ty or to destroy vested rights. They are
wise measures, adopted at Il suitable
time, for the purpose of protecting the
titles of our soil from the domination
and control of nonresident aliens and
corporations. Experience will more full
ly attest their efficacy when the people
realize the true condition of their neigh
Dor states who have failed to adopt like
THE FIVE LAWS.
1t is with much pride that these five
measures are pointed to as the future
safeguards of the peoples rights and lib
critics. They prevent the conhscation
of the peoples property through the meth
DDS of excessive, discriminating trans
portation charges. They save posterity
from the onerous burdens and contiscat-
ton through the method of fictitious
railway bonds and stocks. They secure
the people of today and of the future
| from eXtravagant municipal bonded in
debtedness, which unchecked, would
lead to their bankruptcy. They guard
| for all time the citizens of the state in
the enjoyment of the land for homes,
without the threat of absentee land
| lordism or the danger of corporate monop-
oily. Above all, they sound in justice and
obey the spirit of the constitution.
OTHER LAWS AND MEASURES.
MANY other laws have been passed
that directly or incidentally benefit the
people During the past four years a
home for the MANNED and helpless eX-
| Confederate soldiers has been establish
ed and maintained at the expense of the
state. without resOrting to
taxation. Injured women have
been permitted to testify against
hn nf 10
several counties have been given the
power. by local vote. to amply improve
the public roads. Adverse possession of
lands has been so defined as to prevent
the owners from losing their titles on
technical grounds. Fellow servants have
been defined so that corporation employees
are Justly protected in their persons and
lives from the negligence of other employ
es of the company they serve. Uncon-
Scionable conditions in contracts, limiting
the right of action, have been prevented.
Railway depots have been required to be
kept comfortable, clean, and lighted for
| the accommodation of the public Separ-
ate coaches on equal conditions for white
| and colored passengers are required to be
kept by the railways to prevent threaten
ed race troubles. The conventional rate
of interest on money has been reduced
| from II to 10 per cent, and the legal
rate lrOIn . 10 U per cent, lHuS SiNlhS
the people several millions of dollars an
nually. Express companies have been
placed under the charge, regulation and
control of the railway commission. Rail
way laborers have been protected against
the frauds, eXtortions, and abuse of guar
antee and fidelity insurance companies.
| The quarantine laws have been simplified
and enforced so as to guard the public
against epidemic and contagious diseases.
The school laws have been reformed so
as to increase the efficiency of the public
free schools.-The judiciary has been so
changed and reorganized that cases, when
they reach the higher courts, can be
speedily disposed of at slight additional
cost. The expenses of the educational
department., the Agricultural and Mocha
meal college, and of the medical branch
of the state university, heretofore paid
out of the public free school and university
funds. have been betrayed from the gen
eral revenue The local option laws have
been so remodeed that the disturbing
question of prohibition has been compare
lively settled and confined to limited dis
tricts. The bond debt of S24S,000 incur
red over 20 years ago, has been paid.
The live stock industry has been pro
NOTED by the creation of q sanitary com
mission to prevent the spread of conta-
gious and infectious diseases. The me-
chanics' lien law has been amended as to
better protect and secure laborers in their