The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-08
AFTERNOON SESSION.

AT the beginning of the afternoon ses-
sion, on motion of Mr.. Thomas Of Fannln
the order of business was suspended and
the bill introduced by himself and Mr.
Evans to prevent officials employees or
agents OF the State from receiving fees
perquisites, gifts or emoluments not stipu-
latd by law and provinding penalty, was
taken up and passed. 1t makes II unlawful
Tor any officer, employe or agent of the
State to receive fees, commission, gifts
perquisites or emolument for any services
rendered in his official capacity, OF by
virtue Of his position az an official, en-
ploye or agent of the State in addition, to
his stipulated salary; provided, that 1t
shall not apply to fees or commissions reg
tlarly provided by law. The bill contem-
pates that the consumption of provisions or
supplies intended for the inmates OF any
state institution by any official. agent or
employee of the State shall constitute a
violation Of the law. The penaly provided
for violation of tho act is a fine OF not
less than 800 nor more than $1,000 and
dismissal from office.
Mr.. Morrow offered au amendment pro-
,iding that board of the superlntendents
physicians and other employees OF State in
situations regularly employed. whose en-
tire time is required at said institutions,
shall not be prohibited.
Mr.. Childers offered q substitute for the
amendment to provide that employees may
board at the Institutions By paying $40
pc: moth therefor. The substitute and
ar endn ent v ere tabled,
Mr.. Kittrell offered an amendment to ex
clude domestic servants from the applica-
ton OF the bill.
An amendment by Mr.. Decker providing
that the act shall not be construed as pre-
venting officers and employees of the var
ious State institutions from boarding at
such Institutions when the appropriation
for such officers and employees provides
for bt ard in addition to such salary, was
adopted.
On motion OF Mr.. Blount the order Of
business was suspended and the bill in
troductd by himself and Mr.. Phillips OF
Lompasas, to provide for the working of
certain convicts upon the public roads, to
provide for stockades and prisons for the
confinement of such convicts and to pro-
vide for the levy OF q special tax to defray
the necessary expenses of the same was
taken up.
Mr.. Shelburne offered as a substitute
his bill to provide for the working OF all
short term convicts and all county convicts
on the public roads and highways and to
provide regulations therefor.
On motion of Mr.. Phillips of Lampasas
the further consideration of the bill and
at $3.50 O'Clock.
Mr. Dies moved to suspend consideration
of pending business and take up Mr.
Greenwood's bill TO define libel and privi-
legged communications and publications and
to more fully secure the liberty OF the
press and to provide protection against
libelous writings and publications and fix
ing the venue and suits therefor.
Mr.. Wooten moved as substitute that
It be taken up and made a special order
for o'clock Friday afternoon. Mr.. Dies
agreed TO this.
Mr.. Shropshire opposed the motion and
insisted that the house should call halt
in the practice Of making special orders
The motion was lost, aye H. iOes ~.
The house then proceeded to consider
Mr. Bolin's bill TO appropriate and set
apart TO the public free school fund all the
unappropriated public domain, includ-
ing the lands reserved and APP
propriated by the act OF July IL, 1879
and to provide for the sale, lease and
classification thereof and the o.atenting Of
homestead pre-emption surveys made prior
to Mry a. 1885, and TO repeal articles
1900 TO 1907. inclusive Of the Revised
Statutes, commonly known as the scrap
land act.
An amendment by Mr.. Decker was adopt
I'd reserving from sale all homestead DO
nations with the proviso that the home
cltduti uldF pSANIAnJ 'H-h AahA9 ~ ~
per acre on the same terms as other school
lands.
An amendment by Mr. Smith of Collin
to increase the price OF the detached and
isolated tracts from 81 10 $3.50 per core
was tabled.
An amendment by Mr.. Mcclellan was
adopted providing that all purchasers OF
public domain under chapter II. title 81,
Revised Statutes. who had complied with
the terms thereof prior 70 May g. 1888.
in the mstter Of filing, having surveyed.
paying the surveying and land office fees
and paying the purchase money into the
state treasury as provided for and other
wise complying with the law. shall be en-
titled TO receive patents therefor as therein
provided but ;he proceeds shall 20 en-
tirely to the permanent school fund, IN
stead or one-half 10 the school fund and
irc ether bali 10 he public debt as nrn-
lided in existing Law. The bill was pssFod;
ayes ~ NOES Is.
On notion Of Mr.. Rochelle the order Of