The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-21

the sales amounted to 1,1T9,647 acres
and the leases to 5,126,967 acres. Two
years ago, when the last regular mes
sage was submitted to the legislature,
with no money in the treasury to the
account of general revenue, there was an
outstanding registered and estimated in
debtedness in that fund of $769,OOO This
condition of the treasury made it neces-
sary to reduce expenses, and accordingly
the reduction in public expenditures the
past two years, in general statutes and
far-reaching, embracing a reduction in
every branch of the government except
the colored deaf and dumb asylum, uni
versity, penitentiaries, Confederate
Home and reformatory. The comptroller
reports that for the two years ending
August 81, 1896, the total reduction of
expenses was $500, 520.O7, but as this in
cludes part of the years 1894 and 1895
under previous laws and ,omits considera-
ton of the period from August 81, 1896,
to March l, 1897, the end of the present
appropriation year, the entire reduction is
not shown. The full reduction in ap-
preparations, including legislative per
diem, mileage and contingent expenses,
was 1864 ,231. II, and the deficiencies only
S1S,O49 making the actual reduction,
measured by appropriations of the pre-
ceding term, $646, 1S2.11 for the two
years.
Matters of Notwithstanding condi-
ton Of the public schools and other edu-
cational institutions shows that they
have made material and gratifying prog
ress. During the term a deficit of $547,-
69O.0O in the public free school fund has
been discharged and school vouchers,
which were being discounted, are now
promptly paid on presentation. The
scholastic population has increased from
693, 1852 in 1894 to 751 1886 for the present
year, yet the schools were conducted for
four and one-half months the past year
on an apportionment of $3.50 per capita,
the same as the preceding year, and an
been declared for the present year. which
should maintain the schools for five and
one-half months. Under an act of the
legislature of 1856 part of the school
fund was loaned, prior to the war. to the
Houston and Texas Central Railway
company and the Galveston, Harrisburg
and San Antonio Railway company. For
many years controversy has existed be-
tween these companies and the state as
to the amount due on these loans, the
state claiming an Indebtedness of more
than S1,0O0,000, and the companies in
sisting that it had been fully satisfied by
payment in state warrants issued during
the war. Final default in payment was
made by the companies in 1894 and in
December of that year suits were begun
by me, as attorney general, to recover
the money. These suits have been sue
cssfully prosecuted to judgment by the
present attorney general in favor of the
state in the district court for $1.200,0 900,
from which appeals have been taken and
are yet undetermined in the court of
appeals Should the state finally sue
| coed in the suits the judgments will I'M
doubtedly be paid, as there is a lien on the
railway property amply sufficient to secure
payment, and the money collected will
be part of the school fund. Notwith-
standing the general financial depression,
the attendance of students at the univer-
sity and the medical branch has in
creased, and at the Agricultural and Me-
| chanical college and the Sam Houston
Normal institute has been maintained
The new lease law will probably increase
the income of the university from leases
$4,000 annually for use in current eX-
penses. The attendance at he blind in
stitute and the white and colored
Deaf and Dumb Institutes has grown ap-
preciably OF the educational institutions
| only the Prairie View Normal School
shows Il decrease in the number of stu
dents. due. no doubt, to the stringency
of the times. The conduct of the state
toward others entitled to her generosity