The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-26

branch university LOT Inc CpiuTed Isupics
liz. The sale of the remaining puoiit
the price ana Otherwise, by winch, while
maintaining the poiicy OF disposing or TIT
land TO actual settlers, the school fund
should be speedily Increased.
IA. The benefits OF the mechanics lier
have been extended TO clerks. accountants
operatives servants. ouarrymen farm
hands and common laborers.
10. fellow servant law has been en-
i acted which gives just protection to railway
employees against corporate negligence.
i IL. Important ana radical amendments
Ito tho Code of Criminal Procedure have
4 been made, which will sensibly reduce rub
4 lie expenditures and arrest miscarriages CT
justice. M
II Expenditure OF the school fund has
| been confined more distinctly to strictly
school purposes, so that the total school
1 dpportionment for the compensation of
teachers Will be materially greater than
heretofore.
1 Is. A comprehensive bill fixing and re-
ducing the fees OF district and county Off
GERS has been passed, which must challenge
public favor. The bill, In its general opyr-
alton, affects sixty-three counties--those
voting over 3000--but in some respects it
operates upon all. With reference to It'll
gants, those having business in the courts,
Il,
and many are left unchanged, only those
regarded as excessive having been reduced.
The reduction of the fees Of sheriiis and
clerks Of the district and county courts
paid by litigants will probably average 20
per cent. Conservative estimates place tie
saving to counties in the Limitation feature
of the bill at $4,000 and on collection of
taxes at $4,000 annually. In fees paid fy
the State, the reduction annually it is
estimated. will be $4,000 in collection OF
taxes, $4,000 by restricting the issuance CT
subpoenas. $4,000 cost of attached Wit
nesses. $4,000 limiting attachment OF wit
nesses before grand iuries, and $50. 600 in
fees paid sheriffs, attorneys, constables aud |
district clerks in felony cases, aggregating
$4,000 annually. Besides this. the fees of |
assessors were reduced, and the payment |
by the State and the county for assessment |
euualized.
10. uniform primary text book law was
passed, and contracts have been entered |
into under which the same or equally es
good books as those heretofore used Will |
be sold to the children in the public Tree
schools at reduction of 40 per cent. The
contracts extend for five years. and. COM
pared with previous prices. this will save
the people during the five years approxi-
mately s1,750.000.
20. Land suits. either originally ins.i-
tuted by Mr.. Culberson as attorney gen
y |
him. have been finally disposed of by the
attorney general, by which the State re-
covered 100000 acres OF land.
Il. AS attorney general, Mr. Culberson
brought suits against the Houston and
Texas Central Railway Company and the
Galveston. Harrisburg and San Antonio
Railway Company for more than a million
dollars due the school fund The suits
have since been tried by Attorney General I
Crane, and Judgment for the State recov- !
cred in all the State courts. and there is
every reason to believe the State Will suc- Y
coed in the supreme court of the United L
states. where the cases are now pending c
y. The psnitentiaries have been con-
iucted with marked success. Besides the
improvements effected under the first term, n
which have been continued, the annual
osses at Rusk, which have often amounted
% Sl50.oo0. have been entirely cut off, and G
That Institution is now also fairly self I
sustaining. .
49, The efficiency of the public schools
as been maintained. and cash basis Il
ontinued. Notwithstanding the number v
u Lupils has increased from 1864 iii 1896 Il
o H6,s69, the annual per capita aplor. a
comment should be increased from 81 to O.
.oo. and the school term from Eve and Il
'ne-haif to six months. n
"a. During the past year the railroad 10
reports that by reduction of d
ates there has been saved to the people "
l SUI 700, as compared with the wear I'M
heciately prior to the establishment Of the
commission. !,
20 The pledge of economy in public ex- :.
endltures was fully met in approximations -
The general appropriation bill was vetoed IL
y which s3s5,1S7 was cut off the bi,I II
nut the bill which was finally rassed. n
nough less than the one vetoed by The :,
Dove sum. does not fully show the ocon d
my which has been practiced. OF the fu
tai amount appropriated, s1i9.l29- tt
nonev refunded on the Bacon & Graves til
ma suit. raid into the treasury IN 1Sgl- A
~ IN no lust sense be charged n the tn
lpport OF the government for the ,wo ! til
ears II this sum be taken from the TO
sgregate Of appropriations, It an ,eaye fir
i'23o 1880, which is Silt 900 less than tho of
eneTai appropriation bill for the prnyious TO
NO years and s745.OO0 less than for tbe TIL
No years ending February 2S. 1895. Wien or
; mis- is added $4,000 heretofore Maid out So
the available school fund for Tho srn. te
'rt OF the Normal Institute and Denart- j.
ent OF Education, and $4,000 far the ri
eetlon OF new buildings at .he colored G
yum, orphans home, the Agriculi ,raI pr
"a Mechanical college, and The Torrou p,
10 san Antonio asylums, aggre,.ntina NJ
gsooo the full measure of retrenclmont Pa
III be seen ''''eil ,'d