Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1911-02-09

VIII soon SEM 10 lne legislature on
other message to show the condition
of the States finances. This message
will go In just as soon as the various
subcommittee of the two finance
committees return and complete their
estimates of the needs of the various
State institutions. He gave notice
that he would submit special mes
sage upon the question of finances
when he submitted his first message.
He has collected vast amount of da-
ia along this line, and all of 1t Will
be contained in q special message.
The Penitentlary System and Laws.
, A special message upon the peni-
Tertiary system and the laws govern
ing 1t, in which Governor Colquitt is
to make recommendations for certain
changes, will also be forthcoming just
as soon as the legislative committee
returns from its inspection of the
States penal institutions. Material
for this message has also been gath
cred by the governor, and 1t promises
to be interesting.
1t was indicated several days ago
that the redistricting of the State is
very doubtful This idea is continu-
ing to grow daily. Governor Colquitt
will not call special session for this
purpose, is the information, and it is
said that he doubts himself that the
legislature will pass suitable reds
trlcting bill.
Basis of Representation.
Congress has not fixed the basis of
apportionment for the congressional
districts, and no steps have been TAX
en- relative to the representative and
senatorial districts.
In this connection 1t Is interesting
to note that many of the legislators
are not aware of the basis of appor-
tionment for senatorial districts. The
apportionment is based upon the num-
Der of qualified voters and not upon
population, as many seem to believe.
The representative and congressional
49, iis2at, nonilati1n;
fixed upon an entirely different basis.
Some of the most populous districts
do not show as large a proportion of
poll taxes paid as do some of the
smaller communities where a consist
ent effort has been made to have the
right of suffrage exercised by all who
are qualified under the law and are
entitled to poll tax receipts upon the
payment of the necessary fee.
The State Railroad Problem.
That Governor Colquitt intends
shortly to communicate to the 'legis-
lature his views toward the DISPOSE
ton of, the Texas State railroad is
now apparent,
The commission was furnished the
governor with copy of the report
made by Auditor Fitzgerald and the
governor is studying these figures
with the result that it is expected
that before long special message
touching on the disposition of this
property will be submitted to the law
makers for action with the recommen-
dations of the governor.
State Sustains Heavy Loss.
The report made by Auditor Fitz-
gerald discloses that this road has not
proved paying investment at any
period of Its existence, and Governor
Colquitt may be said to have inherited
an elephant and now he is consider
ing the best means OF disposing OF
this elephant. 1t is shown that the
total loss from the operation of the
road since last January to the pres
ent time has been approximately $780,
900.
1t was at the instance of Governor
Colquitt, when he was railroad COM
missioner, that tne first investigation
into the affairs of this property was
made, and the governor was interest
ed In the second investigation.