Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-13

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county, and same passed to its third
The chair laid before the senate
Bowser's libel bill No. /. on engross-
ment vs. N"h'V''
oenatw Lewis spoke In favor of the
pm, MSeh, he said, defined libel clear
~ win the mode OF procedure in suits
Tor damage, and would therefore be
penehcial both to the newspapers that
were sued and the injured parties who
brought tho suits
A. hAu been carefully considered by
luulclh,y committee No. and he hoped
1t would pass.
Senator Boren said. as a representa-
i've or the country press he desired to
say mat his bill was not in the interest
or the country press; II did not Indulge
IN sensational matters and was able to
take care OF itself. 1t was the daily
press which indulged in sensationalism
that needed this bill. He was IN favor
OF newspapers being held strictly ac-
countable for what they published.
He was opposed to the bill and should
so vote.
Senator Harrison moved to amend by
striking out reasonable time" in which
retrnction should be made and 10 in
sert ten days" The amendment was
lost.
on motion of Senator Alice. 'he bill
was amended so as to include negli-
gence among the causes for exemplary
damages.
Section 2 was also amended, on mo-
ton of Senator Atlee, so az to relieve
the plaintiffs in libel suits from too
onerous burden OF proof OF malice.
Senator Colqultt said he feared that
cprfinFn alinurtnfr rot
to be given in evidence, and considered
by the jury in estimating damages,
would work q hardship to those who
suffered from libelous publication. A
business might be broken up by pub
licatlon and the retraction come after
ward.
Senator Lewis sought to show Sena-
tor Colquitt that he did not understand
the matter The right TO show that re-
traction had been made only went to
mitigation OF damages when the jury
thought 1t should have such effect
Senator Colqultt replied to the effect
that Senator Lewis remarks had but
fortified his (Colquitt's) position.
Senator McComb said he favored the
bill. and argued to show that II only
went to lessen punitive damages which,
he said, under the liberal construction
OF our laws We're not needed by those
who had been injured by libel because
actual damages.
Senator Presler said he was surprfs-
ed to see Senator Boren. as the iepre-
sentative OF the country press, stand
ing a,4lrt from his brothers. OF course
the country press had no need of pro-
lection Against suits for libel. No man
would ever bring suit against a coun-
try newspaper for any purpose except
to forcclose a mortgage. An old say
ing has 1t that the beggar sings in the
presence OF the robber," and the coun-
try press might well stand defiant be-
fore the libel law.
The bill was ordered engrossed. by
the following vote:
Ayes-Atlee, Bailey, Beall Bowser,
Colquitt, Crowley. Dean, Dlbrell. Gage,
Greer, Lewis, McComb. Presler, Rogers,
Shelburne, Stafford, Tips and Whita-
ker-lS
Noes-Agnew, Boren, Darwin Harri-
son. Lawhon, Mckinney, Sheriff., Steele
and Woods-9.
Senator Colquitt moved TO reconsider
and had that motion spread upon the
record. but Senator Boren had II called
up Immediately, and upon his motion
1t was laid on the table.
Senator Preslers bill transferring
the control of the university lands to
the regents of the University of Texas
was considered.
speech in favor of the bill, arguing
that the lands had not been advan-
tageously managed by the state so far
as results We're concerned, only $4,000
having been realized in twelve years
from the 100000 acres of the lands.
1t might be the regents would not be
as successful as desired, but the facts
justified trusting the control of the
lands to them, as they would naturally
be more actively interested in realiz-
ing as soon as practicable all that they
could from them for the university.
The lands were in large bodies and
generally so much less desirable than
the school lands that they required
more active and immediate attention
to realize from them.
Senator Steele was the only speaker
opposing the bill, basing his argument
mainly on the ground that 1t was not
a desirable departure from the states
general policy for managing public
lands.
senator Sheriff. boldly contcnded
that some departure from that policy
was needed in the interests of the uni
yersity as well as OF the people con-
cerned In its success as state institu-
tion. 1t was time TO have more atten-
tlon given to doing some good with
these lands instead of spending money
on them without anything of conse-
ouence being realized from them for
The bill passed with but one dissent
ing vote, that of Senator Steele.
adjourned till 10 o'clock tomorrow.
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BuRNEY's BILL.