The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-29
The WEEK IN The SENATE,
Hard Fight Is Probable on Presler
Text Book Bill.
DARWIN WANTS A STATE RAILROAD.
Proposes to Introduce Resolution
Calling for Survey From a
Port to the Red River.
HlN WANTS A STATE RAILROAD.

Austin. Texas, March 2S.-The feature of
next weeks business in the senate will
be disposing of the Presler text book bill,
provided it is brought up in its order
| Tuesday. The bill provides principally for
State uniformity of text books and is of
practically the same complexion as the
house bill on that subject by Representa-
tive s. Y. Evans of Grayson county.
| There has been brewing for some time,
idea. and next week may develop one of the
| hardest parliamentary fights the upper
house has witnessed in many days.
recent poll OF the members developed
the fact that there would be nearly an
equal division when 1t came to passing a
State uniformity measure. There are those
who look upon county uniformity with
considerable more favor, but frankly admit
that rather than see the legislature adjourn
without some action on this subject they
will support the Presler bill.
With this situation. the opposition say
they have nearly as many votes, and even
allowing the bill to go to engrossment
would not necessarily insure it's final pas
sage al a subsequent date
When the joint committee to consider
the question was appointed II was expected
they would draft Il bill in accordance with
their deliberations. but instead voted an
approval of the Presler bill Chairman
Goss Welded the chair to another member
of the committee. which gave the State
uniformity people the best OF the vote by
one member.
Senator Ross OF Lamar county, an ardent
supporter of the county idea, will probably
spring a minority report which may pre-
cipitate three handed fight, with no ap-
parent disastrous results
Those who are familiar with the text
book question recall the Page bill in the
Twenty second legislature. the provisions
OF which were In line with those OF Mr.
Presler's measure. II passed the senate
after discussion lasting fourteen days,
and at later day went through the house
with good majority. After the bill be-
came law. the caption was found to be
deficient. and when Governor Hogg calIe,
an extra session. the text book question
was counted as one OF the features. The
same bill started again in the upper house
but encountered a decisive defeat In the
representative hall. II the opposition to
the present legislation see that there is
no chance to defeat the State system idea,
they may employ the identical tactics OF
the members of the Twenty-second and
endeavor to talk the bill to death
senator Darwin proposes to introduce a
resolution some time during the week pro-
viding for survey to be made from some
port. or proposed deep water point, in
Texas designating the most practicable
route for State railroad. to some point
west of Paris. in the Red river district.
Mr.. Darwin is one of the polulist mem
bers. coming from Delta county, and says
his resolution will have the hearty support
of all members with populistic tendencies
The survey is to be made by the engineers
of the railroad commission. who are to
he ready to report at the next regular ses-
sion of the legislature with maps charts
and other data including stimates on the
cost Of constructing a substantial line to be
owned and operated by the State The
shipper from foreign points to Texas and
across the State, he says, gets far better
rate than Texans in the matter OF commo-
dity transportation. 1t is the purpose OF
another of the resolutions to recognize the
promising features of Houston's locality,
and. in view of the probability of securing
deep water in Buffalo bayou, that city may
be designated as the Southern terminus
Ct the proposed survey. Denison. in Gray
son county or Gainesville, IN Cooke Mr..
Red river district.
The calendar OF the senate shows de-
cidedly heavy increase in the introduction
of bills compared with the last session. Up
TO adjournment Friday afternoon 32S bills
had been introduced. while during the en-
tire session OF the Twenty fourth the up
per house calendar contained only 316. The
house managed 10 see 745 bills introduced
last session. but far only $50 have made
their appearance Colquitt's tax bill was the
longest document OF the Twenty fourth
This session Senator Kerr's Torrens land
system bill containing between $4,000 and
$1,000 words. and Dallas city charter amed-
ments. which took 100 pages of engrossing,
are the prodigious measures. The bouse
calendar, knowing ones say, will exceed the
figure of the previous legislature also be-
fore adjournment.
Representative Doyle. who returned TO |
his seat Saturday after several days Ill
ness. brought with him several bills which |
he introduced at the morning session. One
of the batch was looking to the establish
ment of a system whereby collectors may
be able TO gather in all that is coming 10 |,
the counties in the shape of taxes. Mr.. |
Doyle says there are 1000 men In Texas
who pay no poll tax. This is particularly |
due to the fact that there is no provision
for collectors or their deputies to go into
the remote districts and collect this
money. and his bill seeks to create fund
by imposing a tax of 81 on all delinquents. |
which fund is TO be used in defraying the |
expense OF the collectors in rounding up |
the tardy tax payers.
Another measure of Mr.. Doyle's revolu-
tionizes the method Of handling and EN-
panellng grand jurios by requiring six of |
the first jury TO remain as such until the |
next term of court and serve as half OF the |
succeeding jury. When the second jury |
concludes its work the holdover members |
are 10 be discharged and the new contingent |
serve In that capacity until another term OF |
court arrives This. MIR. Doyle says. win |
greatly facilitate the method of handling
evidence, by insuring the proper attention