Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-12
II VIII Begin To-day on the Land
NH.


Austin. Tex, March 1.-THE fight OF
the session is practically on tonight.
1t is over the land bill. and although
what is apparently an agreement was
reached tonight, Il IS not final. and
there is even strong likelihood that 1t
will fly to pieces and result in the
death Of the hill. Ever since section
OF the Goss bill was reached by the
house and amendment tackled ON there
to. permitting Redistribution of agri-
cultural lands upon recommendation
OF the commissioners court OF the
county wherein the land is located
there has been trouble brewing and
the price of sale and lease of the pub
lie lands preciptated the trouble. This
afternoon the opposing factions met
and each appointed a committee of
five to see IL u compromise could not
be effected, Mills heads the opposition
as chairman of Its caucus, and he,
Tray Henderson, Freeman, Bertram
and Burns were selected as its caucus
representatives. Bramlette is chair
man OF the caucus, and is friendly to
the bill. and Turney, Robbins, Cid
ding and Plemmons were named on his
qualification committee.
Before the conference took place
Mills enunciated to Il reporter the de-
mands OF his faction thus:
1--WE would be willing to accept as a
compromise on the reclassifying mat
ter an amendment which provided that
Reconsideration would obtain only when
a prospective purchaser applied for
such, and the land commissioner was
OF the opinion that the land In ques-
ton had been improperly classified, We
81. - anst fs.e.H No.. .
any public land brought under the
81 per acre act, and the consequent
lowering of interest on the same"
The friends of the bill have been
sturdily insisting on the reclassl-
flcation clause, on per cent rate OF
interest as against the per cent rate
now in force, and ON lowering lease
price to or cents per acre Instead OF
4 cents.
tees came together tonight they were
like Frenchmen In their endeavors as
10 who should be the more polite.
Bramlettc, the chief OF the bits
friendly caucus. nominated Mills as
chairman OF the Joint committee, but
Mills blushingly declined in favor Of
Bramlette, who wouldn't hear OF 1t,
Burns was then nominated as COM
promise, but being on the opposite side
TO Bramlette, he insisted on that gem
tleman occupying the chair. Conces-
slons as to the issues that had arisen
on the bill, however. were not by any
means so graceful or Frenchy. Mills
said he was not prepared TO close ar
ticles OF agreement, but whatever they
did in the joint session was tentative
and subject TO the revision and APP
proyal of his caucus. He then de-
ensued as to whether Mills and his
Bramlettes party had invited them
there to hear, whereupon a wrangle
ensured as TO whether Mills and his
friends he'd not invited the Bramlette
marty to hear concessions offered. The
point was finally waived and endless
discussion of how the points at Issue
affected different sections Of Texas en-
sued. Land Commissioner Baker was
nresent and addressed the committee
and elucidated various points. Finally.
few minutes before midnight, the
Bramlette faction practically con-
ceded everything In the following
agreement. stipulated In writing:
81 That there should be no reclassih-
cation OF land heretofore SOLD.
80, The purchaser Is 20 pay an inter-
est OF per cent per annum
~ Lands are to be leased at cents
per acre for all lands classified as agri-
cultural and not for immediate sale,
and 2 cents per acre for all lands CLASH
Ned as dry grazing land.
This practically covers every demand
Of the obstructionists; yet It remains TO
he seen whether it will consummate
harmony. 1t is fact that there is a
minority opposed to the passage OF any
bill at all on the subject, and they are
iubllant and rlbbing up the factions
quietly and unexpectedly. II the NILS
Freeman faction accepts the conces-
sions as a fair compromise, 1t may be
depended on that It win be because
their caucus will no longer I'LL the SAIL
OF dlctatorial and incorporating de-
"A