The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-05

THE HOT Sc.

until March. 1880.
THE HOUSE.
Austin, Texas. March l--senate bills be
lug the order in the house today Mr..
Terrelrs bill providing that the State shall
have an equal number OF peremptory chal-
lcnges with the defendant in felony cases
no, capital was finally passed without OPP
position.
Senator Linns tos Whartonl bill provid-
ing for local option no fence law. al
ieeting horses. cattle. jacks. jennets and
mules. was laid before the house on second
reading with an unfavorabIe majority and
Il favorable minority committee sroport.
| Mr. Kirk of Lavaca spoke for the adop-
ton of the minority report and explained
the bill He maintained that 1t was purely
local in its nature as any county could OK
empt itself from its operation, that it was
in the interest of the farmer, who, as a
general rule, got very little benefit from
legislation. All that was wanted was to
enable farmers TO protect themselves from
! tho Expectations of "ianc cattle
! Mr.. Bailey OF Dewitt opposed the bill
and said that II 1t became law there
would be no more free grass for the poor
mans COW.
Mr. MoGaughey agreed with Mr. bailey
and said the people of Texas were not ready
for herd law.
Messrs. Bell of Karnes and Holland of
| Bufnet also spoke against the bill.
The previous question having been or
| dercd. Mr.. Kirk again obtained the floor
and contended that the opponents of the
! hlli misunderstood its effect that 1t was
in no sense a herd law bill, but simply a
bill giving farmers the right to vote upon
themselves the obligation to keep up their
/ poor cattle.
The minority report was defeated by
vote Of So to 10 and the bill went by the
| board.
on motion OF Mr., Robbins the regular
order Of business was suspended and SEN
ator 1urney's bin providing for the for
/ iciiure without judicial asrcrta' nmeut OF
all sales of school, university or other lands
made under any act upon which there is
/ default in the payment Of interest was lad
( before the house on second reading.
/ Mr., Beard opposed the bill ana Mr. Rob
/ BINS explained that it, passage would save
/ the State at least Sl0OOOO in attorneys
I fees.
Who wrote the bile" querried MIR.
Beard.
I NAAFlufE tlaAtt replied MT.
| Robbins.
AN right. then" retortod Mr. BEARD
An amendment by MIR. Nm OF Com lies
, providing that no person forfeting under
the provisions Of the proposed act snail
| have a right to repurchasc TO the exclusion
| OF other applicants was supported hy sir
Freeman, whereupon Mr.. Shropshire Of
| i"rod an amendment to the Yin amend
| iuent providing that actual settlers uc-
] 0tliNtnR tnn land Nc a bnplpef l.,F ltu1 -.
excepted from the deprivatlous proposed
by said amendment
Mr.. Evans Of Hunt favored the bill on the
ground that IL could not affect contracts
heretofore made
MI Ward opposed the bill because in his
opinion It would complicate instead OF
simplifying matters. as no man with com o.
pctent LEGAL advice would surrender his
land upon the ipse dixit OF the lau--uuu.-
missioner and numoerless suits would fol
low an attempt to make office forfeitures
by said commissioner. Claimants would
deny that the commissioner is a court. a
Jury ard q sheriff and resiat him whenever
he undertook to dispassess them.
Mr., Hin spoke in support OF his amend
msnt and opposed the Shropshire amend
mont thereto.
MIR. Robbins explained that ~ per cen
OF the land affected had been purchase,
by spectators under the seven scctio,
act, which did not require occupancy. an,
that SAID lands We're not now orcuuied
MIR. Shropshire followed In support o
his amendment to the Hill amendment an,
disposed OF the objections raised agains
the bill by Mr., Ward by saying that il Ia,
oecn passed upon by the attorney goucfai
who WAS the peer of any lawyer liz thu
house, which was sufficient for him
'Mr. bailey wanted TO know, bef-., TAX
ing up his mind how 10 vote, whether tn,
| hill ll1 IN
| their property without due process Of law
No one volunteered to furnish the zen
ueman from Dewitt with the Information
ana the question was put on the Shroushir,
amendment to the Hin amendment and I
Was adopted by vote OF 80 to IS IN,
question recurring upon the Hin amend
ment' Mr.. Pltts moved to strike out th,
I enaotlng clause Of the bill and ohIecte.
to its passage because 1t had been prepare,
by the head OF the state department.
Mr.. Dean said he would support the hill
should the nm amendment be alopted
Mr. Tracy opposed the bill because i
would vest too much power in the com
missioner of the general land office.
The house refused to strike out m
enacting clause by vote OF 81 to to, ATTIC
which the Hlll amendment was adopted mn,
the bill passed to third reading
The house concurrod In senate arond
ments made 10 house bill No 81 relntin,
TO the bonds of county surveyors sai'
amendment fixing the minimum bond n
such surveyor at $500.
resolution nv NauFhan NJ Guadaiuno
providing that the speaker shall. nv wire
assure President Mckinley of the hearty
cooperation OF the people Of Ttyus in va
rious aud sundry ways and reeitipe the
In Wow OF the fact that the republican, vol,
Of Texas had been greatly Increased M IN,
last election. congratulatory remarks wsr,
In order. was tabled on motion OF Mr.
Fields of Hill, and the house adjourned un.
I'll p. III.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
AZ the afternoon session Marion Robert
son. who was last week ordere, nrrast,