Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-04
HIS SECOND MESSAGE.
Governor CuIbcrson Again Instruets
the Legislature.

the Lckihhtute.
Austin, Tex, oct. 3.-(Special.)-
governors today's message;
To the Senate and House of REPRE-
sentatiyes. In behalf OF the people OF
Texas / congratulate you upon the
prompt and decisive work of yester-
day. Accomplished without distinc-
ton of party. 1t is a proclamation by
the whole people that brutal and de.
grading practices thereby inhibited
have no place among us, and that there
will be no step backward In the pro-
gress of the state.
The meaning OF section 81. article .,
OF the constitution as TO the time with
in which bills may be passed prior to
final adjournment Is not entirely clear
but in view Of that provision II is re-
spectfully suggested that you should
not adjourn prior TO Monday next. IL
this suggestion IL accepted and acted
upon. attention Is called to the follow
ing subjeols Of legislation.
l. At the last session an appropriation
of sci 600 for first. second and third
classes OF public printing and binding,
and for printing papers for the first
and second classes OF public printing
was made, but In enrolment OF the
bill there was Il clerical error which
reduced the sum 10 $500, which should
be corrected. II also appears that at
the last session an appropriation Of
"
shoemaker and and $3.50 FOR an expert
binder and teacher at deaf and dumb
asylum. In the enrolment OF the
bill these two Items were consolidated,
making a single appropriation OF 500
each year for the two purposes.
?. one Of the sources OF the avail
able school fund with which the public
schools are supported Ia the Interest
derived from the investment OF the
permanent fund in municipal bonds.
There ls now on hand in the treasury
uninvested money belonging to the
permanent school fund. amounting to
about S23S.OO0. This accumulation
arises from two causes: /. The unpre-
cedented foreign demand for Texas
municipal securities, by which the state
board Of educauons limited to the pur-
chase Of bonds which bear at least
o per cent Interest, ~ practically driv-
en- out OF the market. ana .. The ac-
ton OF counties IA funding their bonds
now held by the state and which bear
6 per cent Interest, into per cent
bonds which they sell to foreign inves-
tors, oftenumes at q premium, the at
torney general holding that the state
board of education Is not authorized
to exchange 6 per cent for per cent
bonds IL Is recommended that eN-
isting law on the subject be SO amend
ed with appropriate safeguards us to
authorize the state board OF education
10 llANNak AlilH llNNfG AT COUNTY AhNAE
In cooperation with foreign investors,
for otherwise the money VIII remain
idle In the treasury. The rate Of In
tcrgst should either be reduced or the
requirement that the amount paid for
sucn bonds shall not exceed the par or
faer value thereof be repealed.
3. Under date Of September 30 the
commissioner OF tho land Office writes
me as follows: Under the twenty
second section OF chapter 80, acts Of
1887, and amendments thereof. authorl-
ty was conferred on the commissioner
OF the general land office 70 sell lands
isolated or detached 10 any person, eN-
cept to a corporation Under this pro-
vision of the law many thousand acres
OF land were sold, by both my prede-
cessUrs In this office, 10 persons other
than actual settlers, The supreme
court. during your term as attorney
. general decided IN the Liberty county
case that all sales made 20 others than
actual settlers OF lands not detached
or Isolated entirely from other public
/ lands In manner belonging to the
state were Illegal and void. The de-
partment was early advised by the at
torney general upon request OF the
7 land Office, Tor his opinion. that such
/ sales, being Illegal and void, It was
l his duty To cancel the sales, and put
! the lands on the market for resale,
! This course was pursued for some
[ weeks. when it became evident that
those Illegal sales were so numerous
I and their effects SO far reaching, and
was working SO great and irreparable
injury ON many more purchasers than
l could possibly have been supposed, that
! felt that 1 would do "A better service
/ to the state by suspendlng the work OF
| cancellation until the legislature should
assemble, IN the hope that you Nigh,
concur in my view and deem IL to the
interest OF the state to validate the
sales, where other interests have not
heretofore interviewed
! At FIRST IL was supposed that these
sales were only made by my immediate
predecessor, and that the purchaser
could be reimbursed for money ex-
pended in the Illegal purchase, and
the present legislature In the regular
session appropriated $4,000 part Of
which was intended To be so used.
l now have the honor TO suggest that
these sales are found TO have mad,
all the way through the past eight
years. and that to refund all the money
to the purchasers would probably re-
quirc sum OF not less than one hun.
dred to one hundred and fifty thousant
dollars certainly as much as the form
er amount
In view. therefore. Of the distressed
condition OF the treasury, and the
great Injury IL has already done anC
VIII do 10 many persons who hay,
made large and valuable improve
ments. II the sales are 10 be cancelled
would most respectfully and ur'
gently suggest that an act validating
these sales would be a wise act. ant
not only Just to purchasers, but IN tn,
interest OF wholesome economy l con
cur in this recommendation OF III,
commissioner and hope II viii b,
promptly acted upon.
c. A. CuLBERSON,
Executive Office, Austin, Oct. 4, 1895
LOOKS LIKE SECESSION.