The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-16
LEGISLATIVE EXPRESSIONS.
,By JAMES HAYS ouARLEs.

\ "
Brenhana Texas. November Ii STAR
: Specially The reporter for The Post this
rnorisirg sought TO get an expression from
the Washington county members OF the
! Tweuty-sixth legislature icgarding prob
able legislation when she solons assemble
in January The first called on WIS Hon
Zen S. Rogers, representativeSof the For
seventh district. which is Washington
county. Mr.. Rogers IS one Of the leading
attorneys OF this part OF the State. has
I teen member Of the legislature FOR two
terms and is well known. He Is a g n
servatlve member Is cautious In everything
and never goes off half-cockcd. but consld-
crs carefully all subjects. He has Just
returned from a visi. to Austin, where he
discussed some matters with statesmen
n whom he found floating about the capital.
+ meeting some OF the newly elected mrri-
bers and seeing some Of the old ones.
Il When ] asked him about possibilities for
4 the Twenty sixth, he replied:
Mill support the llbel law which will
I be presented at the next session. or COURSE.
1 do not know exactly what kind of Il bill
i VIII be presented. but VIII be in favor or
j Hivlng the newspapers some relief from
Tie present oppression csuSed by the law
now on the Statutes. | believe Il news
paptr should be allowed to tell tho trnth
IN regard to legitimate news item.
N the matter of appropriations tncre
VIII be number OF large figures de-
branding attention. AN of the institutions
OF the State are filled to their capacity.
ana II VIII be nece ssary to do something
Tor them. The asylllms need more room
and .he Agricultural and Mechanical co..
iese was forced to turn off 100 students
| tins session because OF the want of room
4 TO accommodate them. There will be u
demand for an additional building or two
| and for more in the faculty. | will also
pc III favor OF an appropriation to fix up
the grounds OF the State capitol This
is matter which has too long been neg
lected and one which should have attention.
In the matter OF the fee bill, shall
FAVOR readjustment, | understand in
some counties il is working injuriously.
| We viii retain the law. but it can be inn
proved upon.
II snail favor constitutional amend
ment reducing the membership OF the house
| one half. 1t Us too large and too unwieldy
The membership should be just one-half
of tbs present number, and they should be
paid a salary, be allowed TO sit but 100 days
| IN session, and be en- caii of the governor
for matters OF an emergency nature
Fhe redistrcting matter will no doubt
come UP again. 1t always does. 1T is a
question which is hard TO dispose of, Blu.
we Will have to handle it the best we can
Some sections Of the State are demanding
changes, and we will have to devote some
time TO those things.
II do not Know of anything else which
will demand attention. OF course every
man going to the legislature for the FIRST
lime viii have his hobbies and his pledges
to put before the two houses. There " Ii
be as many bills as e usual and as mauy
as usual will be Killed | do not know who
viii be the speaker"
l next called on Hon. Heber Stone, sem
ator. Mr. Stone Is hod-over He is pres
ident of the First National bank in this
city. rs interested In n number of public
enterprises, and is altogether level head
ed man. He has invested great deal In
a furniture factory here, and is looking af-
Ter business FOR the future in a number a
INES. lie was ont of the State during
tne campaign. and did rot take any act va !
interest in matters political. When asked
him about probable Legislation, he replied:
TO tell yen THE truth. | do not know |
what Will be brought before The Twenty
sixth. For myself. | can say that have
not srgle measure in mind. The older |
members, as a rule, will not go to Austin |
with lot of bills TO introduce. The new !
members will start the ball to rolling. and |
what is done will grow out OF suggestions |
made by the many bills coming from tn.
various parts of the State"
VIII YOU support a libel bill3" asked
the senator.
"Well.ii do not know what the bill win |
he, he replied II will consider whatever
measure is presented. and if it is consist
ent With my ideas of good government and |
Justice. free Ensp4h OF will u,,tnort
it."
What are your ideas about the meas
ores that VIII be brought out promirent-
ly | asked the gentleman.
That can not answer. because / have
given the matter little thought | have
heen absent from the State SO much and
my private business has demanded so much
OF my time that ] have given tho matter
Very little thought. ] am in favor OF
short session. think that the work should
be done with as little legislation as i,
State
What do YOU think about tho defeat
Of the amendment providing for Increased
nay for the members" | asked him.
have never thought Of It m,rch" he
replied, II voted for the amendment but
u was defeated would be in favor ~ a !
change In the membership of the house,
IL Is too large, II there We're fewer mem
hers. and all paid a salary the State would
he better off. and Tho results would be diff !
ferent." {
Hon. Sam II. Goodlet elected from the
'otorial district composed of Burleson, Lee
ana Washington counties. will be new !
member When asked his ideas of pro-
'osed legislation he remarked
Il am new member, and can not of /
bn, N