The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-10

maintaining convicts on the state. The
increase of the jurisdiction of the magis-
trates will very largely reduce the num-
| Der of convicts and the expense will be
decreased accordingly. On account of
| the expense of this institution q very
strong sentiment exists for the re-es-
Establishment of the whipping post, but this
reform, if it can be termed cannot be
brought about except by an amendment
to the constitution, which cannot be had
| in less than two years.
A new code of laws will most probably
be provided for, as the one now in exis-.
tence was codified and printed IL 1888.
and has been amended in so many par
ticulars biennially since that date that
! it has lost its utility.
A matter that is causing q stir all
over the state, and especially among the
Baptists, is the question of the continu-
ance of the appropriation in aid of the
University at Chapel Hill The Bap-
fist denomination have a college for males
at Wake Forest, about Is miles from this
city They contend that the financial
aid extended by the state is in opposi-
ton to their college, and also in oppo-
sition to the Methodist college at Dur
ham, and the Presbyterian college for.
males at Davidson
There is no doubt that there is q stron-
ger sentiment in the legislature against
the continuance of the appropriation to
te university than has ever been be-
IOfe, ana this opposition is shared by the
Democrats, Populists and Republicans. A
determined attempt will be made to defeat
any lurther appropriation, but it is not be-
lleved that it will succeed. And while the
Baptsts are nearly unit against the APP
Appropriation they have not taken any
organized Action thn cnhianf Th,,
majority of the Baptists are Democrats.
and they were afraid of hurting the.
party" had they drawn the line and made
this question an issue in the recent cam
paign. And their insincerity on the sub
ject is not calculated to strengthen theme
with the general public. j5"
Near Wake Forest College there is
a polling place, and at this box the Dem
ocratic candidates who were in favor of
state aid to Chapel Hill, received the Dem
ocratic vote against Republicans and
Populsts who were openly against such
aid. From this conduct it appears that
the politics of the Baptists are much
stronger than their opposition to Chapel
Hill as an institution of higher learning.
AS this question was not mentioned ia
the platform of the parties it is probable
that the decision of the legislature may
| resolve itself into proposition to amend
the constitution in this respect and to
be submitted to the people for their rati-
| fication or rejection.
A military organization under the
name of the State Guard has grown UP
under the Democrats which is now cost
ing the people about $4,000 each year.
The expense is regarded as unnecessary.
This appropriation will be discontinued.
In number of cities and towns the
mayor is elected by the board of alder
men, and the wards have been gerry
wandered so as to enable the majority
who are Democrats to elect majority
of the aldermen. The charters of such
cities and towns will be amended 30 az
to enable the majority of the people to
rule and elect the mayor. No general
disturbance of the present apportionment
of the legislature and senatorial districts
will take place. A county here and there
may be detached and placed elsewhere,
but this will be all, because according to
the recent vote, no change is needed to
give the Republicans and Populsts
every congressman and solicitor and
three.fourths of the general assembly
be had ut the next election.
There are number of officers with
good salaries whose terms will not ex-
pre- for two years and many of the ap-
plicants for these places are demanding
that the laws creating these offices be
repealed, and thus legislate out of officSr
the present officials; and after this he'd
enacted re-estabishing these offices, s6N
that they may be filled by The present
legislature. Such legislation as this
would be the eXemplification of partisan
ship run mad, and would degrade the
Republican and Populist parties into q
set OF spollsmen. 1t can be relied on that
no such hunt after patronage will re-
fyato ~
lature. Of course, every Office which
becomes vacant by limitation will be
filled by Republican or Populist. This
idea of legislating officers out of Office
applies to all the charitable institutions.
the normal schools, the penitentiary,
the railroad commission and the bureau
OF agricultural and labor statistics. There
will be more applicants for office than
ever before on account of the hard times.
and consequently there will be more dis
appointments
Another very important matter that
VIII come before the legislature will be
a proposition to repeal the lien which is
now allowed to be given by farmers on
tnelr implanted crops to secure money
ana agricultural supplies wherewith to
make the crop of the current year. This
system of mortgage renders the farmers
SNtraVagant because they can 90 to
tnelr merchant at any time and get any,
thing they want because they have cred
it TO the amount specified in the mort
gage, and therefore they buy a great
many articles which they would do
" Wyllnout II they were paying cash for
them: 1t makes them lazy in a measure
and forces them to plant nearly all their
land in cotton in order to pay off their
mortgage, because cotton is a cash arti-
Gle as soon as put on the market. A re-
peal OF TINS lien would put the farmers
on cash basis and would compel them
TO raise their meat, bread and forage
ana on their surplus land they would
pant cotton. This would
also decrease the cotton crop. and after
the, expiration of two wears nnder tho
cash system their condition would he
tkastiy improved over what it is now and
mas been for several yeors. The legal
rate ia 3 OF I'll interest will be reduced from 3
w W Il per on cent on special contract il.
there is no contract in writing