San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-14
STATE LEGISLATURE.
PAY DAY CAUGHT MANY REPRE-
SENTATIVBS ABSENT.
A Protest Against the Scalp Law-Waco's
Charter Bill, Considerably Amended,
Passes-The Fee Bill Other I'm
portant Legislative Measures
Special Wire to Sunday Light.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
Austin, Tex, Feb. 13.-This was pay
day in the House, and this morning
before the speaker called for order, the
members were punched around the
clerks desk, and We're drawing their
monetary rations with smiles. Had
the pay feature been generally known
among the members, there would not
have been so many vacant seats.
1t looked as if half of the House was
absent, but the clerk announced
quorum and everything began to move
in its regular order.
A telegram was read to the House
from the 1. e G. n. Railway regarding
the trip to San Antonio this afternoon.
Several members were excused on
account of sickness and business.
A couple of protests were sent up
regarding the passage of the Waco
charter amendments.
The commissioners court of Nueces
county sent in a protest against the
passage of the scalp law.
Peery, of Taylor tried to get the
House to set a time for the cOnsidera-
ton Of a bill, but no quorum voted,
and the speaker ordered a roll call. Mr..
Peery withdrew his motion and the
Harris county court bill was laid be-
fore the House for it's third reading
and final passage. The bill was pass
ed and the motion to reconsider was
tabled.
The Travis county road bill, creating
a more sufficient road law for the
county, was taken up and passed.
The House concurred in Senate
amendments to House bill regarding
special county judges.
The speaker signed, in the presence
of the House, the Austin city charter
bill, for a water and light commission.
Here the Waco charter bill was laid
before the House for it's final passage.
Studer sent up an amendment, re-
garding the firm and corporation part
of the bill. That the city treasurer be
adopted
Several other amendments were
adopted, which changed the bill con-
siderably, from it's standing a week
ago.
Wolters took the floor against the
bill and was loudly cheered, as he
scored the advocates on account of the
principle involved.
Burns, of Browne, and Childs,of Bex-
ar, also made speeches, and so did Col.
McGaughey.
Childs made an argument against
the stand VOTERS made, and by the
way the members cheered, he must
have made some converts. He was
friendly to the bill, and said that the
protests came from colored voters who
were not taxpayers.
Representative Studer took the
floor for the final argument in favor of
the bill. He made the speech of his
life, and withstood the war of ques-
tions in fine form. He demonstrated
to the House that he was debater Of
the first magnitude, and some of the
solons discovered that fact before the
Waco statesman was seated.
Bird, of McLennan, and Fisher, Of
Williamson, arose to a question of per-
sonal privilege and publicly asked each
others pardon for the hot words Of last
Saturday.
The bill was then taken up for it's
final passage and passed by a vote Of
GA to q, but the vote was reconsidered
and tabled.
Hendersons bill exempting one hun
bred counties from the inspection of
animals, went to engrOssment.
The bill comforting on the county
court of Hardin county. civil and Grim
inal jurisdiction, passed to engrOss-
ment.
Several bills were set for next week.
Nearly all of them will be called up
Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Titus county court bill was also
passed to engrossment.
A motion was made to adjourn till
10 o'clock a. m. Monday;ayes and nays
were demanded. The House defeated
the motion and then adjourned till 9
| a. m. Monday.