The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-30
NO BILLS WERE VETOED.
ca,,fror Thus Disposed Of the Meas
res that Remained in His Hands.
M SPANISH LAND GRANT BILL
~ .he Measure Providing for Mutual
Fire Insurance Companies Did Not
Meet with Approval.

Austin, IeNis, Aprl <5.--lnls Dclny
ths last day In which the governor had
q dispose Of bills before him there being
Iii Two. he vetoed both Of them Tncy
uera the Spanish land grant bill, and the
Nm regulating Mutual Fire Insurance com.
panies, In the State.
The governor has vetoed thirteen bills
n al, two during the session of the lcgis.
lstilre and eleven since the lawmakers ad-
jeuued.
SPANISH LAND GRANT BILL.
IA me Secretary of State.
House bill No. 300, entitled, IAN act TO
ascertain and adJudicate by suit against,
Or BIZ the State, certain claims against. or
IN favor of the State, for land lying be-
10 adjust and settle the rights of the State
and the owners or claimants thereof res.
pectiyeiy, of such lands and il found
valid TO confirm, as against the State, the
right and title of such claimants or own
ers, and patent the same. or the recovery
thereof by the State. lis herewith trans
mitted dlsapproved.
The probable amount of land embraced
within the territory defined In the bill IS
24i32o6 acres, of which II is supposed
that from 22lO0O to ga 900 acres are Gov
cred by invalid claims and that title can
be shown as against the State to the re.
malnder
IN the first section right of action is
given against the State to any claimant
emanated from the Spanish or Mexican
governments without limitation as to the
date Of origin of such title or claim, ana
10 this particular the bill is different from
the acts of February 10. 1852. of February
H. 1860, and Of August 10. 1870, upon the
sane subject and for the same purpose.
The first two acts were predlcated upon
the reports of commissions previously an
pointed to receive and examine the titles
and claims to lands within the territory
described In the pending measure In them
Il was provided that snch titles or claims
nust have originated prior to Decent er
. 10, 1896. The bill under consideration em.
braces titles and claims originating prior
to the treaty of February s, ls4S, more
BY the acts mentioned. But, in any suit
Instituted under the bill by the attorney
general only such titles and claims can
be considered and adjudicated as origin
ited prior to December 10, 1876, section 10.
Il Is pertinent to ask in this connection,
why such distinction between the caim-
ants and the State?
Again. in the fifth section, we fnd
wide radical departure as to the character
81 evidence that may be used by the
eolaants upon the trial of their causes,
| from long and well established rules.
1t is provided that "copies from the
records of any county in this State snail
4 be admissible in evidence of any original
| ltle, or second original or testimony or
any such title, or part thereof. or copy
thereof, or other instrument In writing
o. copy thereof, certified by the clerk OF
TIE county court of any county In when
the same may now appear upon the rec
ords, and have been recorded or snread
apon such county records for at least tive
fears prior to the date of the passage or
this act and no further or other proof OF
he execution Of such title or second orr
final or testimonic of such title, or part
hereof. or other instrument in writing
Nail be necessary, and the fact that any
mch titlr, or second original or testlmonic
hereof or part thereof, or other instru-
uent in writing. or copy thereof was not
iuthenticated, proven up for, or admitted
10 record in accordance with the laws in
erce at the time II was so recorded or
Npled or spread upon such county records,
hall constitute no valid objection to its
idmisson in evidence. or to Its force ana
fleet as such Neither shall any proof or
the execution of any such original title OF
Rcond original or testlinonlc of such title,
wcopy thereof, be required in order. to ad-
nit It. when the same. Is offered In evil
dence upon such trial.
Ii must he admitted by every one at
al familiar with our judicial procedure
that such legislation is without precedent
and that with the advantage It would ar
ford the claimants 1t would hardly he pos
sible for the State to maintain Itself in
any suit that may he brought.
The opinion of the attorney general anu
! Communication from the commissioners
n the general land office upon the subject
are herewith transmitted.
There can be no question that provision
should be made To enable the holders or
these lands whose titles and claims are
| II the character protected and guaranteed
y the treaty of February :. 1883. 10 Is,
tshlish the same. and when so Established
patents should Issue directly from the
State.
II heartily concur with the suggestions
II the ATTORNEY general touching the pro-
nrlety of legislation that will enable those
whose claims are Just to obtain repose to
the possession and ownership or their
property.
BIT in whatever NAV he done the state
should not be put Mt the disadvantage, so
nanlfestly shown in the bill under con-
Joseph D. sayers, Governor
April 90 1901.
MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE BILL.
To the secretary of State. Senate bin
NJ % entitled IAN act to provide for
The Incorporation of Mutual Fire Insurance
companies, and define their powers ana
mites Is herewith transmitted disapprov-
The 'ground of objection being thar
sufficient protection Is not furnished the
poley holders In such companies rs may
oe organized hereunder. The commission
" q Insurance Is authorized by law
a'her In person or through an examiner
. acqulre free access 10 all books ana
papers OF any insurance company doinS
BUSINESS In this State; and also, TO revoke
Us permit to do business If the condition
q such company should, in his Judgment,
!lsliy such action. Companies organized
slaer the bill, should 1t become law.
roum Nc exempt from the exercise OF
Neo authority by the commissioner.
again. section ) and g. provides for the
mlahlishment OF guarantee fund not
~ than $4,000 divided into certificates
~ each. and only require 10 per cent OF
WE certificates shall be paid in cash. the
v,afrs OF these certificates, to be entitled
" per cent seml-annual dividend. II Will
July be perceived that the unpaid por-
WIZ that Is 10 per cent of these certin-
rseS representing the guarantee re-
rse fund would be valueless In secur-
-, me payment or claims. unless the
LIsnefs of such certificates sh0nld he imam
aaly Responsible. The sections also pro
,; aae that the holders OF each of these GER
snse Of so shall be entitled 70 one
~ ~ Tor every such certificate, therehy
issrs.,ng one thousand votes for coniroll-
~ we management OF the company. True
III. that the holders OF Insurance con-
sishs would be entitled to one vote. eien
szsapnt regard to the amount OF insur-
80 carried, but this small share In the