The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13
A Brief Review OF the Four Years of His
Administration.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO NEW LAWS.
The pledges Should Be Conscentiousy
Some Made Investing the Permanent
School Fund--Suggested Provisions Of Pension Law.

past four years. and the popular demand
for legislation has been met BY the legis.
lature with such rare fidelity that there
are no measures of commanding impor.
lance for your consideration. and those Of
lesser consequence are neither numerous
nor difficult. So gratifying indeed Is the
general condition OF State affairs that II
should inspire congratulations and pride In
all who are concerned for the public veal
~
While they are beneficial, affecting some
times special and sometimes local interests
1t Will serve no good purpose to refer to
many laws passed during the last four
years. Others of more general usefulness
while deserving special mention, need not
be discussed or their operation stated
Among these, grouping them according ID
subjects, are those looking to the invest
mcnt of foreign capital and development OF
our material resources; further regulating
railway companies and establishing their
liability in shipments; equalizing taxation
and bringing other subjects under the tax
Ing power; settling and quieting land
titles: protection OF live stock interests
relating to internal improvements; affect
Ing society and public peace; and many
single laws OF Importance and general In
terest. such as the regulation of fidelity
and surety companies, protection of game
protecting the proceeds OF the sale OF the
homestead from garnishment, regulating
the practice OF dentistry, protecting depos.
itors In banks, regulating practice in civil
cases, publication of exhausted supreme
court reports, and providing for the as
sessment for taxation OF money, notes
bonds and other securities fraudulently
sent out OF the State on January in order
to escape taxation.
Other laws. because Of their exceptional
character or greater utility, merit more ex
Tended notice. both as to their characters.
lcs ana operation. and to these your at
tention Is now invited.
~
BATTLEFIELD OF SAN JACINTo.
1t was worthy the descendants of heroes
to provide for the purchase and dedication
OF the battlefield of San Jaclnto. Owning
the Alamo, where the noblest sacrifice to
liberty was offered. the State should also
possess the battle ground on which our
independence was subsequently won Act
Ing upon these patriotic sentiments, pro-
vision was made for the creation OF a
commission to acquire not exceeding $50
acres OF the property. and In the event no
agreement could be reached with the own
ers, to condemn 1t for the use of the State
before the county Judge OF Harris county,
where the property Is situated. The sum
OF 10000 was appropriated and the com
missioners whether they acted by agree
ment with the owners or through con-
demnation proceedings. were limited to
40 per acre THIS, upon careful inquiry
was considered price ut which the land
could certainly 4be secured, and the bal
ance OF the appropriation was to be used
for the payment of expenses Of the con,
mission and enclosing and improving the
land The commission provided for was
duly appointed, Its chairman being James
NJ. Hill. who participated In the battle and
Is yet spared to share the pride OF mil
lions In the growth OF the State his yalor
heiped TO form. This commission labored
with patriotic zeal, but has only been able
to acquire 67.45 acres, which was done BIZ
agreement at the price of s25 per acre
Failing to secure the balance desired by
negotiation the commission undertook to
condemn 1t under che terms of the act
but these proceedings were unsuccessful
the special commissioners In one instances
finding the value OF the land to be s2750
per acre and the owner insisting that 1t
was reasonably worth SlO1 per acre. 1t
Is the opinion Of the commission, and care
full investigation leads me to concur In
that view, that the land is not reasonably
worth exceeding $50 per acre for the pur-
pose desired. Prior to the passage OF the
law 1t was given In for taxes at about SO
per acre. II is not particularly fertile land
and the improvements are not OF much
value. Lands In that general section of
the State, suitable not only for corn and
cotton, but also for cane. have recently
been offered tn the State ut prices ranging
from s. to SIS per acre. II II be admitted
that this land is worth s15 per acre for,
the ordinary purposes for which 1t can BIO
used, the additional $40 per acre should
meet any sentimental value attached to
II TINT can be bought. II can not be ex-
pcctcd that the State shall pay the full
I'm lie. OH
and above price, and consequently what
should be paid on this account should
correspond In some degree with the market
value. There Is a middle ground. II soems
70 me, on which tho acquisition should bs
made. The State should not seek owner
ship of the property In any but broad
and generous spirit nor has abe done So
and on the othor hand none should be
permitted to deal with her glorious NOM
cries on avarlcioiis aud sordld limos TIL.
act has expired BY limitation. but tho com
mission believes that conditions are now
such that II II be substantially re- enacted
the property can be secured on terms not
exceeding SIS per acre.
THE CONFEDERATE HOME
Sentiments OF gratitude and patriotism
like those which would preserve and beau
tify the consecrated places OF the revolution
actuated the legislature In establishing
the Confederate home upon safe and per-
manent basis. No State can remain free
or perpetuate her Institutions that does
not honor and chcvish her defenders. The
Confederate soldier Is immortal, and
through all the years OF the South tho
gray will to her badge OF glory. The
home 10 which the disabled survivors of the
mighty struggle OF the Confederacy can
go without loss OF pride. Is the highest ex-
preston Of the affection Ut great people
Tor those who upheld their cause and creat
cd their heroic age. Previous to 1898. this
institution was maintained by fees paid /,
certain State officials by persons and cor
porations, and consequently It's support
was precariotis and uncertain. II IL now
placed on tho same grade with other insti-
tutiOls. and sustained by direct taxation.
Not only has the change made the SUPPORT
Of the home more certain and stable. hui
there has been married. enlargement OF is
benetts. New buildihgs have been crested.
many improvements made and the num-
ber. Of inmates has increased from 1850 in
1884 to 80 the present year. The state
should deal literally with these old heroes.
and - recommended In previous messages
the appropriation asked by the MANAGE
ment eh0uld be granted freely and rener-
cusly, 20 that al who desire and ara en-
titled 70 do - may enjoy the ADVANTAGES
end comforts Of the home.
PRIZE rI0HrIN0.
No greater contribution 10 good govern