Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-08

railroad from the operation or the sep
arate coach law. was reoommi:ted.
senittor ColQuitt moved to set to-
morrow at Il O'Clock for an executive
session. Carried.
Senator Harrison's bill 10 amend the
law SO as to raise the age Of consent
to is years. with the committee sub
stitute therefor fxing the age at "a
years. came up as the special order OF
the day.
The committee substitute was adopt
ed without discussion.
Senator Agnew moved to amend the
bill by striking out the provision allow
ing the defendant III prosecution to
show as defense that the female was
common prostitute.
After strong speech for TIE nmtnd-
ment by senator Agnew it was agrsed
to.
Senator Beall moved to amend by
striking out IA and inserting 10.
Senator Bowser moved TO amend the
amendment by making the age Is.
Senator Gos5 offered a substitute for
both. making the age 10.
The vote on Goss' substitute stood 40
follows;
Ayes -Agnew. Bailey, Goss. Greer
Shelburne. Simpsons.
Noes-B oall loren. Bowser, Crow
Icy. Colquitt. Darwin. Dean, Dlbrell
Dickson. Harnesn. Lawhon, Lewis.
McCOmb. Mckinney Rogers, Sheriff.,
Smith. Stafford. Steele. Tips, Whit
aker-2i.
The substitute being lost the vote
WAS taken upon the amenduent to the
amendment, fixing the age at Is, and
stood as follows:
Ayes.Nneall. Bowscr. Crowley, Dsr-
win. Harrison McComb. Rogers. Sher-
rill. Smith, Stafrord--i0.
Noes-ABnew. Bailey. Boren. Col
quitt Dean. Dlbrell Dickson. Goss,
shelburne, Simpson. Steele, Tips,
Whltaker--l7.
The amendment to the amendment
having been voted down Senator Bail
ey moved TO amend the amendment by
making the age 90.
Hls was voted down. with roll
call
senator Bowser moved to amend the
amendment by making the age n
Pending this amendment tie debate
opened.
senator sheriff. spoke IN favor OF
raising the age from IA, lie said the
chief argument against raising the age
OF consent was that II laid young men
liable 10 punishment after having fall
len within the snhrea OF fallen and
designing Girls, On the contrary, he
said, tine design Of the law was 10 pro-
tect innocent young girls, mere chill.
dren. from aged and experienced roues.
AZ civilization has advanced the age
OF consent has been raised. He called
attention 10 the fact that when stead
made his great expose OF. the traffic In
virtue OF young girls In London, II was
immediately followed by the enactment
Of law raising the age OF consent
from 10 10 10, and the grAHdest states
% cd
stone. wanted it put at rs.
Sonutor Buwger made a short, forci-
bic talk IN favor OF his amendment.
and Of the general proposition to raise
lie statutory age, lie said II was Il
blot upon our civilization that we should
roluau To protect RiiIS UP 10 tho age
Of rs. ana yet " she fall8 when
mere child, the law makes her an
outeaBt
Senator Bailey said he had not in
tended to say any thing, but those who
believed with hlul had seemed 10 shrink
from npcRlhng their sentiments, and
he could not refrain from raising his
voice against u proposition that hG
felt 10 DO wrong. He would be willing
to 20 az FAR aa u, but not higher, Bus
mess mon who are Ia the habit or on-
ploylng young ladies' 10 typewrlterB IN
thcir Offices Will be very wary OF taxi
ing young girls into their oulees In
this Southern country girls grow up
very rapidly and at "a a majority OF
them were fully developed physically
and mentally much mere 50 than boys
" the same agr, whom II " proposed
by this bill to punish for leading them
from the path OF virtue.
senator Harrison said the senator from
Hlrrant had madp discovery OF a
Fact that had heretofore been hidden
from the scientific world--that girls
were fully developed at "a years. When,
after Stund'a great exposures IN Lon
don, the age OF consent IN England was
raised from 10 To- 10 years, William
10. Gladstone had used his influence
TO fix the age az IS years. IN this he
differed from the senator from Tar
rant. but then. MI, Gladstone was
novice In these matters. as compared
with the distinguished senator
Senator Gosa said no knew tho at
tempt that had been made 10 cast
odium upon those who opposed rails
ing the age OF consent. but he would
face tho stortn of oriticlam that he
knew would arise, for the privilege Of
speaking his sentiments against n
measure that no could not approve.
The voice OF the demagogue had no
terror for him. The arguments had all
been for the girl; he wanted the soma
tors to think of young boys OF lmma-
tuTo years. VINO would Do called upon
20 spend years IA the penitentlary aa
the penalty FOR infringing the provis-
Ions OF this law with girl who, though
under the statutory age. was older and
more mature than the boy himself
BnwHcr's amendment TO Bealls
vote.
Ayes -Beall. Bowscr, Crowley, Oar.
win, Gage, Harrison. Rogers sheriff.,
Smith, Stafford--i0.
Noes--Agnew, Atlee, Bailey, Borcn,
Colquitt, Dean, Dibrell, Dickson, Goss,
Greer. Lawhon, Lewis. Mckinney, Shell
burne simpson, steele. Tips. Whitaker
Is
Tho question then recurring upon
Bealrs amendment, fNing the age at 10,
the vote was as follows.
Aycs-Beali Boron. Bowser, Crow
ley. Darwin, Dickson Gage. Harrison,
l.awhon, Mckinney, Rogers, Sheriff.,
Smith. stAiford--il,
Noes--Agnew, Atlee, Bailey. Colquitt,
Dean, plhrell. Gosa, Greer. Lcwis, Shell
burne, Simpson, Steele. Tips. Whitaker
Ii
This vote being a tie. Lieutenant
Governor Jcater Veted In the nfllrma-
tive, and the amendment was adopted.
Senator Simpson moved 20 amend by
adding the following;
Provided, that any woman over the
age Of 10 having earnal intercourse
with any male under 10 shall be deemed
guilty OF rape.
FNst..