The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-01

HIS canvass OF the state was u UlOst re-
msrkable one, and it Is said by those who
ought to know that his speeches made
more votes for his party thnn were ever
made by any speaker In any previous cam
paign. He was attacked with a virulence
and vituperation unprecedented in the his
tory of Texas politics, but he did not heed
them. He stood for principles and the
greatest good to his State, and "mud-
singing" was not one OF his weapons
From Red river to the gulf, and from the
Sabine and Neches to the western borders,
he proclaimed the glad tidings" Of un-
adulterated democracy and fought with all
the valor OF a Trojan. From every point
of the compass he poured the "hot shot
OF democratic truth into the ranks of The
enemy with such deadly aim that none
ever dared to stand up against him. And
when the war was over" and the votes
were counted on the 9th of November, the
bushy scalp of Jerome G. Kearby was
found hanging alongside OF that OF Dan
Stuart, as a trophy won by the same mas
ter hand but In different fields OF battle.
Culberson was reelected by largely in
creased majority, and ON the 10th Of Janu-
airy last was installed for the second time
as governor of his State. During the cam
paign Just described State issues had fig
ured quite as largely as those OF Ma
tional character, and the democratic party
platform pledges" The regular session
OF the Twenty fifth legislature convened
on January IL, when the work Of redeem
Ing those pledges was begun. after being
forcibly reminded Of the duty Of their per-
formance by the governor in his first
message. The session was long one and
great many good laws were passed but
the body adjourned without fulfilling all
the pledges made to the people, and with
hpt ilr IA hn ,t.
tons for the support of the State govern
Inent, the appropriation bill passed by that
body having been vetoed by the governor
upon the ground that 1t was not sufficient
ly in keeping with the party pledges on
the score of economy. But the governor
was determined that the promises to the
people should be redeemed, and on the day
OF adjournment of the regular session Of
the Twenty-fifth legislature, he Issued his
proclamation converting it in extraordinary
session the next day. In his message TO
this body and in his proclamation. meas
ures for the redemption of the party
pledges were urged upon the members of
the legislature and the work was under
taken with complete recognition OF the
responsibilities resting upon them. The
full constitutional limit of thirty days was
occupied in the task, but that the work
was well done and the governor satisfied
We're shown by the following excerpt from
his special message sent in to the law
makers two days before their adjournment.
viz; with one material exception all the
pledges made the people In the demo
cratic platform have been redeemed" Then
follows reference to twelve laws passed
in pursuance Of those pledges, which COW
ers them all except the proposition to re-
district the State, which was defeated at
the regular session. Most prominent
among the laws passed by both sessions
OF this legislature may be mentioned the
following: Measures affecting roads,
bridges, schools and other purely local
providing for the purchase of the
San Jacinto battle ground corrections Of
errors and omissions in the Revised stat
utes of 1896, protection of the live stock
interests by amendment of the live stock
sanitary commission law. many impc, tant
land measures, measures relating 20 in
ternal improvements, such as oLauncl ard
dock companies, drainage, etc. cqualizing
the burden OF taxation by taxing CORONA
tDons which pay practically no ad valocem
taxes, measures affecting society ard the
public peace, regulating fidelity and su,ety
companies, protecting the homestead by
prohibiting the punishment of the PRO-
ceeds Of its sale, protecting bank dor cat
tors, preventing deficiencies in appropra-
tions, publishing exhausted appellate court
authorizing the railroad commis-
sion to make emergency freight rascs. reg
ulating the practice of dentistry, prcte
tion of game. regulating con.inuances in
civil suits, amending assessment law so
that money, notes. bonds and other prop
erty fraudulently sent out Of the State On
January l to evade taxation shall never
theless be assessed for taxes, providing for
the adoption of uniform primary text ooks
in the public free schools, and drastic
laws for the suppression of mob violence
Among the platform pledges redeemed may
be mentioned the following; Laws requir-
Ing express companies to maintain gem
eral offices In the State advancing the
cause of higher education by charging tie
of tho Sam Houston Normal In
stitute, tho Agricultural aud Mechanical
college and the University providing asY-
lum room for at least 700 additional pa-
TENTS, improving and enlarslhg the rene-
fits OF the Confederate Home, provic.ng
for the survey and setting apart of $4,000
acres OF land for tra12h university for
the coored people, extending the lenefts
of the mechanics lien law to clerks. TO-
countants, bookkeepers. artisans, craftS-
men, factory operatives. servants, quarry
men. farm hands and common laSo. ers,
Of the fellow servant law, pro-
viding important radical amendments to
the code OF criminal procedure. confirm.
expenditure OF the school fund to strictly
SeHooi Puiposes, llAiuS anu Ts1NciDS The
fees OF district and county officers. and
economizing in the public etccnditures ia
appropriations, On The whole, there is no
doubt that the work Of this legislature.
when properly understood. will meet the
approval OF the people. The length OF
time they devoted TO their lahors is e,i-
dence of consideration and care. and It Is
not believed the democratic party need
have any fear of going bc.sre the people
upon the work dome. in concluding the
message last above refereed TO. the Cos
oInor expressed his satisfaction in the IL.
lowing language: Looking 10 the work Of
both sessions, 1t can be said without ex-
trayagance that II has been the TO. tune
81 few legislatures to contribute so much
10 the general welfare. and for the work
done you are entitled TO the consideration
and gratitude of the people"
1t is perhaps but just to say In con-
Guiding this review that many important |
matters which form part of the record |
IF the present State administration have
necessarily been omitted. but what has !
been said Will serve to give at least a
General idea of its work About fourteen
AaE h.