The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-30

| nicipal corporations which have not elect
ed officers for period OF more than ter
years.
on motion Of Mr.. Blair the regular or
der was once more suspended to pass I'm
ally Senator Lewis bill providiDs that
private corporations may own as much
land as they may desire for use In The
conduct Of their business and equalizing
| the rights of foreign and domestic cor
porations In the matter OF land ownership.
Mr. Wolters Introduced a concurrent
resolution providing for sine die adjourn
inent on May 10 and said II was offered in
good faith.
Mr.. Beard opposed the resolution and
said the gentleman from Fayette. knew
that the house would not adopt IL when he
sent 1t up and he would therefore move
that 1t be tabled. His motion prevailed by
a vote OF II TO 80.
Other attempts 10 suspend pending busi-
ness failed and the Wayland fee bill with
pending amendment by Beard was laid
before the house.
Mr.. Bealrd spoke In favor Of his amend
ment-
Mr.. Carpenter opposed II and declared
himself in favor Of the Wayland bill. as the
point had been reached where 1t was either
that or nothing. and that nothing would
mean broken party promises,
Mr.. Shropshire believed that platforms
wero built TO stand on as well as TO run
on. He had heretofore acted with the min
GRITTY but be was tired Of dilatory tactics
ana was ready TO lay down his individual
predictions and bow 10 the viii OF the
| majority. He would support the Wayland
| bill
Mr. Boyd had conscientiousiy opposed the
Wayland bill because he thought it did
| not metc out even handed Justice TO couu-
| " officials. but the people demanded fee
| legislation and 1t had been promised them
ana as II had become apparent that tho
| only way to redeem said promise was
through tho Wayland bill he would hence
| forth support It Furthermore, he thought
that enough talk had been INDUCED in on
the subject and moved the previous ques-
ton. and his motion was duly seconded,
whereupon Mr.. Blair moved call OF the
house and It Yves ordered.
call of the roll disclosed the absence
Of Messrs. Meade and Smyth.
\ motion 10 excuse the absentees was
rejected, the popuiists and the Two repub-
leans voting no and the sergeaut-at-
arms was Instructed to go and hunt them
up.
The fellow servant bill was laid before
| the house aud Mr. WEIGH moved tho adop-
ton OF tho favorable majority committee
report thereon. whereupon Mr.. Burns
moved n suspension OF the regular order
10 take up Il senate bill relating to the
jurisdiction of counties IN criminal cases
under certain circumstances, but the house
refused to suspend and Mr.. Bell moved 10
substitute the minority for the majority
REPORT on the fellow servant bill. said min
GRITTY report recommends that the bill do
not pass. but that substitute by Bell
and Neighbors be adopted instead
At this juncture Mr. smyth. one OF
the absentecs. walked Into the chamber
Gnd Mr. Bell proceeded TO explain why. in
hts opinion. the Lewis bill is objectionable
Al the conclusion OF MIR. Bells remarks.
Mr.. Blair moved that the house adjourn
until o'clock
Mr. Seabury, who was in tho chair,
ruled The motion out OF order because the
house was under call. the previous ques-
ton on the fee bill had been moved and
seconded ard tho house had refused to
excuse the absenteos.
Mt Blair called attention to the fact that
Speaker Dashiell ruled recently that the
house could adjourn under call. although
the previous question had been moved aud
seconded. just so il had not been ordered
MIR. Seabury declined TO follow the pre-
ccdent and MIR Blair appealed from the
decision Of the chair The chair was sus-
baned by a vote OF 81 to 30.
Meade entered the HAN at this iuucture
and Wolters raised the point OF no quorum
TO ascertain whether there were not
other members atscnt without excuse A
call of the roll developed the presence of
quorum, wherouIou MIR. Blair inquired
II 1t did not disclose the absence of six I'M |
EXCUSED members, and the chair replied
that the question was one OF quorum and |
not nf absence Of mcmbors
MIR. Wilcox moved that the ahsentees be |
excused. but the house refused to do so.
Woich. who had absentod himself while |
MIR Bell was speaking, walked In at this |
iuncturc and the point was raised that his |
return filled the house
The chair ruled otherwise, as Blackburn |
was absent
Bailey maintained that blackburn had |
answered 10 his name when the roll was
called in the first instance for tho purpose !
OF asceralnng who were absentaes ana |
Was. therefore, in effect present now lie |!
was an escape" and not an absentee, he |
said but the chair decided otherwise, and |
Moore OF Lamar appealed from the de- |
cislon The chair was sustained by vote |
OF - to 90
Fields OF Hin raised the point OF order
that there was a constitutional quorum |
present. and asked that pending business |
he proceeded with,
Blair moved that tho house take a re-
cess until $3.50. but Dashiell who had |
resumed the gavel, ruled his motion out !
OF order. Il
Blair appealed. ClG.ir sustained by a |
Motion by Maxwell TO excuse ahscntees
defeated.
Speaking to his point OF order, Fields OF
hin asked that an argument by Fidher |
made on the same proposition during the |
tlc-up over the assignment bill. be read |
which was done. In conclusion. Fields |
maintained that under tho rule requiring
u two-thirtls vote 10 excuse ahsontces 4 |
few members could hide out and defeat !
any kind of legislation.
Ward rotorted thar there was nothing in |
the constitution requiring the establish
mont OF the ruie complained Of IA u was |
simply rulo OF procedure, and that tnc |
house had the necessary authority 10 re |
luiro the presence OF its entire membership |
for the determination OF any question.
Soabury defended the rules,
Evans OF Hunt said the constitution en- |
powered the house to make rules Of ptu- |
cedure. but not 10 make rules To prevent |
procedure although quorum might be
present, which was tho effect of the rulo !
attacked by Fields
Carpenter supported tho Fields point OF
order, Burns opposed IT, and Pitts SUP
ported tho rule
MIR, blair thought It strange that such /
men as Tom Brown, Jim Browning, Walter |