The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-08


good, honest patriot hsrangues over some
pet resolution with feigued look OF de-
spondency athwart his physiognomy as il
me whole State was going to the devil and
the popultst party In the midst of this
pandcmonium this gallImanfry OF confused
tongues, the suffering member doesn't
Know the difference between lager beer aud
goblet of branch water. between an
amendment and bill of lading. How any
son OF Adam could recIlue in his easy
chaif IN sedate manner amidst this hula.
baloo with an apparent feeling OF ipnoc-
uous Quictude, is one miracle we are UNI
able TO fathom. II man was like any other
machine that finally wears out by inces-
SAINT use, the tongues of some Of our repre-.
sen,a.iSes would be worn to FRAGILE, and
would resemble the remnant of some tat.
tered garment thrown over the SsclS yard
renee. Talking is as natural to the average
legislator as the science of mathematics
is 10 populist politician. and AS gall and
political hypocrisy Is 10 a Palmer ana
Buckncr democrat. We need more men
III the house who will study bill ana act
lnteliigentiy upon it. without expectorat-
ing lung at every breath, or going into
contest of physical endurance over some
nonsensical measure, In which the people
OF Iexas are not interested, and OF which
they care absolutely nothing.
l do not want 1t understood by these
somewhat disparagng remarks that our
representatives are possessed with loss
IMAM mediocre intelligence, because that
body Is composed of some men who will
rank In eloquence, acumen and legal sa-
gacity with the best in the State. Such
men as Dudley Wooten, Cecil Smith.
Sehluter, Prince, Kittrell, Wheless, Teagle
Bailey, Rolin and others | could mention
are gentlemen of ability and talent, and
by no means stand at the bottom of their
7
speet and influence among their colleagues
IN the house and they are held in lofty
esteem by their constituents. Often men
of culture and craftsmanship become indis-
Greet. when they let their judgment and
discretion become insubordinate to their
feelings and emotions. Some may not
believe 1t, but we are convinced of this
fact, that truth is seldom obtained by ami
mated and ll-humored controversies.
where passion always predominates over
reason and our better judgment; and after
all, ii men would read and think more
and argue less, 1t would be better for them
and for their country.
The only specific for this existing evil.
in our State legislation is a reduction in
the membership of the house to about
ninety three, and then enhance their SAL
aries. 1t is absolutely reproach upon the
citizenship of Texas that our State law
makers are made to leave their homes.
families and professions to come to Austin
and work for great State of over 3,000,-
600 population at salary half the time of
81 per diem, no more than the porters and
| pages, and not as much as the clerks in
! 10th houses. | understand our constitution
| provides that our representatives can be
| increased to $50 members this being the
maximum limit, and can never be reduced
| to less than nine.v-three members, this
! being the minimum, leaving 1t optionar'
3 Nstfh he 10 Ito ~
| number.
! At present the senate is in session about
three days in The week and If this body
/ did net meet again this year, II would take
! the house at least until August / 10 act on
all the bills that have passed the senate
! even If every lay was given to the con-
/ sderation Of senate bills. Not moro than
/ one third of the bills that have passed
the senate have been considered by
| the house, and there is little proba-
bility of them being considered, Many OF
these bills are of much significance, aud il
enacted into laws will greatly promote the
interest of the people of Texas, hut 1t is
almost certain that nearly all of them
will be ignored by the house and never
be heard of again litter the legislature adj
iourns.
There are two reasons for this evil,
which ought to be remedied by the people
of the State. /. The house is so cumher-
some that it is absolutely unfeasiole for "
to dispatch business with any degree OF
CELEBRITY 9 Each member of the house
is Interested in some measure of no con
sequence he is endesvoring to have passed
himself, and bills that have passed the
senate are completely ignossA ! believe
something ought to be done to compel the
house to give precedence 10 bills that have
passed the senate over those which have
not been considered by either house. If a
a
that body IL is certain to be brought up 10
the senate If the bill originates In the
senate and passes without dissenting
vote the chances are that it viii never be
called up in the house, even though tins
bill is one Of much consequence and merit
This places the senate On very efopar'
RAISING position. and although that dignt-
fed body is composed as whole OF mtr
Of superior talent and worth, yet 1T Is sc
handicapped and circumscribed by sucr
conditions that 1t becomes impractcable
for the senate 70 accomplish any great re
suits legislation, This is the reason
that very few laws fraught with mueh
good to the people of their state can nt
enacted,
Until these conditions are changed the
reople of Texas will not cease TO hurl the
darts of adverse criticism. animadversor
and apprehension at our legislators on ac'
CONT of existing evils that can not nt
remedied until an alteration is made in The
statutes and constitution of this State
For this reason | am in favor OF reduc'
ton in the membership of the house sc
that Il will thereby become less
cumbersome The salaries then o
the members of both houses SHOULD
he increased TO SIS per diem for a
least ninety days This would caus'
men of brains and merit, in lieu of sc
many intellectual shadows and oratorica
windiammers to be sent to the legisla
ture. and, on account OF the reduction II
the house, more work could be dispatched
in ninety days than Is now consummateC
+ in six months. This is the only remedy
that can be suggested or conceived OF this
evil. which stands as a barrier to all legis
lation that is indispensable to the mora
and financial advancement of our citizen
ship. The people can harangue about TN
intelligence of our legislative solons, ant
uniustly throw their irony, repIoach ant
ordinations at those irresponsible FOL
these conditions. but after all the only
solution of these evils with which we arr
menaced is that suggested In this letter
These are the facts in the case and m.
experience with our lawmakers makes nj
H. hoIf fhat hos