San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-17
A GREAT DEAL OF COMMENT ON
EXISTING CONDITIONS, BUT
VERY LITTLE OF A
PRACTICAL SUG-
GESTI0N.
It Does Not Seem Calculated to Aid
the Legislature in Any Material
Way to Remedy the Evils in
the State and Improve
the Conditions of Its
Service.

Governor Culberson's message is
lengthy, yet deals with but few matters
of state. Attention is called to the ille-
gal assumption of land ownership by rail-
way companies, the amount OF which is
placed at not less than 100000 acres,
and the right of the state to these lands
argued, as we'll as to those illegally grant
ed them by the land department. He
recommends that where the titles OF these
lands are In actual holders, who have
bought in good faith from the railway
companies and made valuable improve
ments thereon, they be undsturbed, and
such titles validated by the Legislature.
All other holders OF these lands he claims
should be diSpoSeSSed.
TRADE CoNsPIRACIEs.
The efforts of the state TO carry out the
laws against trade combinations and
trusts are cited and their inadeQuacy de-
clared. Special attention is called to the
eyasions Of the laws and the Legislature
is called upon to pass such law as will
cover the needs Of the case, so defining
trade combinations and monopolies and
hurtful aggregations of business and leg
islating against them as to render etfec-
tive the work OF the state In its endeavor
to suppress them.
EQUITABLE INSURANCE,
The reinsurance clause of the inSur-
ance trust Is riddled and the remedy for
the evils complained of alleged TO be in
the employment of more competent agents
and wiser supervision Of their business.
The province OF the Legislature to weigh
the public interest, is set forth and IL is
for them to denounce the evils and pro-
vide the remedies.
RAILROAD COMMISSION, ETC.
L. 1T, ~ h. II
way commission is imperatively ordered,
except in so far as it Is amended and i'm
proved; the language being that 1t must
be maintained"
Consultations OF railway stocks and
properties and franchises are shown to be
directly In cOntraventiOn OF the constitu-
ton. The status of the Southern Pacific
railway, as foreign organization owning
and controlling majority of the stock OF
several Texas railways, is considered and
the attention Of the legislature directed
thereto, with instructions to enquire into
the matter, and ieclare forfeiture of
charters for such infracation OF law as the
associated companies holding charter
from the state have been guilty of.
The need Of legislation to render rail-
way travel more secure to life and prop
erty, and the pass abuse are treated OF,
with a suggestion favOring the prohibi-
btion OF all passes by the railways.
CRIMINAL MATTER.
The defects of the laws governing GRIM
inal procedure are shown in the frequent
miscarriage of justice; the advantage to
the criminal shown to be excessive, and
the evil results of compelling unani-
nous verdict. To overcome these and
other evils specified recommendations for
changes in the code are made.
TAXATION AND REVENUE.
Deficiency OF available school fund on
account OF lapsed leases ard defaulted In
terest is placed at 81 100000. The evil is
placed at the door of inadequate provis-
ions for collection Of defaulted payments
and suggestion made for change In the
law whereby all such matters shall be col
lected at Austin by the attorney generals
office.
General fund revenues are shown to
be equally unsatisfactory and short,
and schedule OF reductions is
given sVgreRatinR s77l.74s. To this
is added an Increase of S350,O0O rev.
enue from abolition of fees, increased
railroad receipts and taxes on telegraph
and carrying companies. Occupation tax
law should 6e extended to include insur-
ance agents, In the opinion OF the mes
sage.
The fee system is ella borately consider
ed and the remedies for excessive fees
suggested Extravaganza In the contin-
gent expenses of the legislature are
shown, condemned and retrenchment de-
manded.
Legislation is recommended on irriga-
tion fair ALIKE to capital and the water
consumer and the rest Of the various mat
tiers passed over for lack of space and
time. These are the University and its
branches, the charitable and penal inSti-
tutionS, county roads, coditicati ion Of the
laws. regulation Of primary election laws
and attention to the appropriate perpet-
uation of great historical events.