The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13

In his message Governor Culberson re-
views some of the laws passed during his
administration; he reviews the work Of
the San Jacinto battlefield commission and
refers to the legislature the request Of
the commission that the statute be re-
enacted; the appropriation asked for the
Confederate home should be granted; he
pays q compliment to the Federal judges
In Texas, but says Of the Federal bench
MS whole that the corporations regard 1t
as an ally; the fellow servant law he com
mends as a measure of much wisdom and
benefit to labor; the delinquent tax law has
proved very effective; the antt-mob law
has been violated In only three instances;
the land laws are Wise and efficaclous and
tions should be placed on the market; the
fee bill was expressly and decisively in
dorsed by the people in the recent election
and any Impairment OF its provisions would
be met with Just condemnation; the text
book law appears Ito be one OF the most
useful and beneficial ever enacted In the
State, and should be extended to cities
heretofore exempted.
review of matters of administration Is
then taken UP. The States charitable in
stitutions have been well conducted and
their benefits extended beyond former lin
its. the penitentiaries have been well
conducted both financially and in the care
Of convicts, the average number OF whom
has increased about 500; the board of par
dons has tended to materially increase the
number of pardons; the public schools are
on cash basis, the number of children Is
much larger and the school term has been
heightened; II the law transferring part
of the permanent to the available fund be
repealed. taxes for school purposes should
be raised to 90 cents; the States higher
schools have made gratifying progress.
The railroad commission has done most
excellent work for the people and the in
junction of its rates Is utterly indefensibie
upon legal or equitable grounds, though
1.-THE decision and subsequent action of the
railroads have strengthened the commits
sion and thoroughly established its ei-
ficiency and usefulness" The State should
certainly have some way In which to pro
tect the public from arbitrary and despotic
power which the present delay enforced
in securing hearing before the United
States supreme court denies 1t.
The public health has been very we'll
some valuable suggestions which should bs
acted on, the Rangers have rendered val
liable and important services; the volun-
teer guard should be well provided for that
its efficiency may be maintained.
During tho four years of the administra-
ton deficiency In the general revenue OF
$674,664 was wiped out and there Ia now
In the TREASURY a cash balance OF s63S, 534
a difference OF s1,313. 1873; expenses for the
four years wore more than million less
than those of the preceding four years.
Total appropriations for the ensuing two
years. including legislative expenses, are
placed by the comptroller at 81. 063. 24I
which does not include any pensions for
Confederates. which will probably re-
quire an additional sl2b, geo for the first
and $4,000 Tor the second year, TO meet
this there will be an estimated revenue OF
s5,7l29SS, including the present cash bal
ance. These estimates are considered ton
large and may be safely cut so that the
rate OF taxation may remain as now fixed.
The pledges Of the democratic platform
should be faithfully redeemed that the
people retain their faith in the par,y's
word: recommendations made to the
Twenty fifth In reference TO Johnson grass,
the department of agriculture aud invest
ments by life insurance companies are re-
newcd; the secretary OF state aud the COM
missioner OF insurance should be made
bonded officials; boards OF managers re-
gents and trustees OF educational and
charitable institutions should be entirely
divorced from personal and partisan poll
tics and suggestion In made as to how
this may be accomplished; recommended
that the governor be authorized to fund
outstanding bonds held by individuals.
amounting 10, s737. 800 payable In gold and
bearing per cent, into forty. year per
cent lawful money bonds, and in case this
be not feasible small tax should be levied
10 provide sinking fund for their ro-
demption nj maturity.
The proper Investment OF the permanent
school fund presents perplexlng problems.
and the better plan appears to b. TO re-
move restrictions ms to interest and pre-
miums In purchasing county bonds; oh
1ections to Investment In bonds OF ether
States and OF railroads are mentioned linz
peratlye necessity for action exists in re-
gard TO the matter
In framing a pension law the number OF
benehciari6s must be approximately csi-
mated and the amount OF the pension PER
capita them determined. that all may
share In the benefits OF the act; pension
board should be created tho pensions
should be made exempt from punishment.
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