The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-12
SOME LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Austin, Texas, August 10.-The idea Of
increasing the membership of the house OF
representatives to the constitutional limit
Of l50 Is meeting with popular favor
among the solons Of the lower house and
before the session adjourns II is believed
the present membership Of 12s viii be
put up to 15O for the next legislature. The
friends OF the scheme say that the big
increase in the population OF the state
demands the change, as the more law
makers the State has the closer the Off
cinis can get to the people
in this connection IL might be well to
state that the expense Of maintaining the
legislature would be greater, and If the
members win agree to submit constltu-
tional amendment, reducing the mileage per
diem from 40 cents going and coming
then the talk Of increasing the member
ship would be more in order.
~
The first week of the session has deyel-
oped only a few asplrants for congress IN
the house. From what can be learned some
Of the present congressman are getting
tlckllsh over the situation and are anxious
for something definite to be done, so they
will know where they are 'at." L might
be well to say right here that they are
likely to be in the balance for some time
TO come ana while the old-time political
battles In their districts were more or
less bother TO them, they will not com
pare with the contest now on before the
legislature.
Then again the congressman are not the
only people who are somewhat disturbed
over the situation. Several district judges
have paid their respects 70 tue capitol IN
their own Individual interests. Several
well known district attorneys are also
somewhat upprehensive, and while they
are not here IL person they have some
friends In the background, who are keep
ing in touch with affairs generally.
~
The biggest kind of a crowd Is looked
for here when the questions get squnrely
before the legislature Then is when the
"blg thing will be pulled OF. This com
mittee work makes very little difference, MS
IT Is understood and IL is a wei! known
facts that no committee w6 be able TO
frame bill which will meet with
spontaneous outburst of approval from all
sides. Mr.. Satterwhlte's bill to repeal the
present rcdistrlctlng law MS To congress
men is causing some comment. Should
Il pass and the legislature fail TO redis
trict the State Texas viii have sixteen
congressman running at large and politi-
cal battle well worth watching
~
The finance committees Of both honses are
hard at work, and have subdlvided their
labors, in order to reach n conclusion In "a
hurry They listen to the desires and
complaints of certain parties the same
as they always done and try to please
everybody Both committees ure very i'm
portunt parts OF the legislature, ana if the
committee bin would he taken nv anl |
passed, ms recommended, there would hard |
ly be any harm done.
~
Five days Of the session have passed |
into history and 1t is a hard matter to
forecast the length OF the session, that is |
for another call at the end of thirty days |
The senate Is inclined to finish It's labors |
and adjourn at the end Of the call. as
the committee which visited the governor |,
the other day, which requested him not |
to submit any additional legislation, was /
composed Of majority Of senators, and |
efforts
Some talk was INDUCED in the early
part of the week MS to the governor sub.
mttlng the doublcheader bill If he was
assured that the measures would be dis
posed Of which were embraced in the Off
cial call. Such talk soon died natural
death. as it had nothing on which to
survive. There are two or three things
which need remedy that would come
nearer catching the eye Of the governor.
II Is well known fact that the mineral
laws of the State need an overhuuling the
worst kind, MS a man can get the finest !
kind Of a mineral eand section taken an |
the market for twelve months lust by
making an. application for it, With the
mineral on II. Then he mas Ave years to
pay for il, and by paying the interest each