The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-02

as 10 appeared from MS point VI Nie"' pue
to an impartial onlooker he too often APP
reared to regard the end as justifying |
the means, provided the means were up
right. with all his practical sense and
sterling integrity Of character 1t was evil
dent that he never appreciated the value
of law as applied to a parliamentary BODY
or the necessity of conforming to 1t strict
" in order to promote accuracy IN Dusi-
ness. economy of time order, uniformity,
and impartlality" The examples ana
teachings of history combine to convince
US that a neglect of or departure from
the rules of proceeding in such pouy'
not only gives arbitrary and dangerous
power to the presiding officer and the ma
jority which usually backs him, but is
invariably productive of errors, Irregular
tiles and abuses.
The confusion and Inaccuracies when |
have characterized the work Of our regis
latures in recent years may also De ao-
counted for in great measure py Tue
reckless practice of suspending the con-
stitutlonal rule providing against the |
hasty passage of bills. So cautiously was
this danger viewed and sought TO be
guarded against by the trainers OF the con-
stitution that it was provided that no Dill
! shall have the force Of law until IL mas
been read on three several days in each
house and free discussion allowed thereon
except in cases of Imperative pubic neces-
! sity (Which necessity must be set out IN
the bin. when four-fifths of the members
voting therefor and their votes recorded
in the journal, the rule may be suspended.
| This wise constitutional precaution is ig-
nored to the extent that the observance OF
the rule has become merely matter OF
form. and 1t is suspended for the passage
| of some of the most insignificant anu
worthless bills that are presented, whiie
| on the other hand measures of the graVest
Importance and demanding the utmost con-
sideration and elaboration, such for ex-
ample as the Confederate pension or the
tax commission law,will be rushed through
within day and before members have
had time to examine its provisions. In
the last session this abuse was carried to
the extent of passing bills through two
readings with only one suspension OF the
constitutional rule. This may result in
the invalidation of some of the laws enact
ed in the event of legal contest.
~
The special feature of the last legis-
lative session was the number of its type
writer statesmen. The typewriters have
created greater number of statesmen
than have all the. common schools, the
schools of political economy or the State
university. ! noticed in recent issue of
The Post an able article by Mr. Lester G.
4 Burbee on the subject of the Sources of
| Texas History" In that article the author
/ says
Texas history is an unworked field; 1t has
/ yet 10 be written from the sources nave
no hesitation in saying that such books as
Yoakum's, Thrall'si kennedy,s: browns . and
even the Comprehensive History recently
! published by Mr., Scarf, must in time de-
+ pend for their value upon the documents con-
tanned in them or upon the personal &C
quaintance of the author with the events re-
corded. These books were not evolved from
a close and laborious study OF the sources;
i Is very true that many highly important
documents were consulted by the authors,
/ that the accounts of active participants IN the
events recorded We're used. and that the ar
chiyes of the State and even OF Mexico were.
/ in some cases, seaChcd; but the fact remains
that untold treasures were passed over and
still lie buried in public and private colec-
/ lions.
Mr.. Burbee is eminently correct. There
is not thorough or correct history of
Texas in existence. The histories that
have been written were made up either
/ from "reminiscences, from the personal
observations and information of the au-
thors or from published accounts of oc-
currences and sketches usually partial,
par inc h. Vtbn
ured in executive or legislative affairs.
In the early days of our history there
were no typewriting machines. but doubt
less in those days there were typewriter
politicians as we have today. Then they
had to obtain the notoriety they sought
In different way, but then, as now, the
aspiring politician sought newspaper no
toriety
In the late session OF the legislature
some of the most undeserving political
characters received most distinction in
the newspapers. They accomplished this
through the medium of the typewrters.
1t is commonly understood among the re-
porters of legislative session in Austin
That those members who seek public no.
tce invariably have made type written
copies of whatever utterance. they give
forth, whether In the nature of speech,
BILL motion or amendment.
~ \
The theory is that the reporter, having
nothing to do but to mail the typewriter
matter in his daily mail budget, will
readily accept the contribution. In most
instances such matter is published. and
the legislator giving II out gets credit for
having been particularly prominent in
behalf of whatever measure he espouses
or IN opposition TO whatever measure, ac-
eording to his speech. he may have innu-
ehtlally opposed 1t is, OF course, known
TO those on the ground that the author
oil the speech had no such influence as the
publication of his remarks indicated, but
tue public In general, having no such op-
porlunlties 10 know, assumes that he was
a leading spirit on the eide that he es-
poused, and he goes into current history
as an influential representative. Perma-
hent history is largely made up from
newspaper reports OF current affairs. and d
at this time the ordinary practical iegir
ia'or statesman or politician has little
10 snow for distinction unless he is ex-
ceeaingly liberal in the use or employ
heht OF typewriting machine.
~
III the recent session OF the legislature
nQh ma,