El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-04
JUDICIARY Of
STATE To Be
REFORMED
Mining and Irrigation Meas
ures of Interest to West
Texas to Be Up.
RAILROADS WANT
TO BE LET ALONE
Legislative Rest" VIII Be
a Joke When the New
Lawmakers Get Together.
Rr w.D. HornnaarO

Austin, Tex, Jan. IF present indi-
cations count for anything, the slogan
of 'Iegisltive rest which gained for
governor o. B. Colquitt the suppOrtso Of
the business element Of Texas In his
two campaigns for the office he now
holds, will be little observed by the
legislature which VIII convene in regu-
lar session January H. It is expected
that Mr.. COIquitt himself viii not be
rest policy as ne was two years ago
He has in mind, II is said, number
OF important recommendations ne VIII
submit to the legislature, ana Iness
of themselves viii keep that body busy
for a considerable time
The usual talk that is heard in ad-
vance of nearly every session that the
new members Of the law making body
are above the usual standard Of ability
IS now being made It IS now tsated
by the men who are claiming an eX-
ceptionally capable membership OF
both the senate and the house that
there is an unusually large number
OF young men in both branches, and
that this inSureS wiser and more eff
cient legislation than has character
lied former sessions It VIII be re-
called, however, that not many years
ago the cry went up over the state
that there were too many young men
in the legislature and that the I'M
mature and unWiSe laws which were
enacted were due TO the inexperience
and general lack. of intelligence on the
part OF the younger element
Only Guess Work.
As a result Of that widespread criti-
cism, there was ag1tated the necessity
OF sending older men to the IeSlsla-
ture- Many representative and sena-
tOrial districts hearkened to this de-
mand, and as q result the legislature
of six wears ago was controlled BY men
Of mature years The results accom-
plished by that legislature were not
any more notable in their efficiency
than those that were controlled by
young men. So 1t may be regarded
that the talk which is now made of an
unusually strong and able membership
due 20 the fact of ii being composed
chiefly of young men, IS altogether
guess work and Of no consequence
Measuring Lawmakers Worth.
There is no way OF measuring up a
new mans influence or ability in ad-
vance Of his actual service IN the legis-
lature- he may De quite generally re-
garded in his own community as an
exceptionally strong and influential
citizen, but IN many cases men OF this
sort prove utter failures when thew get
in the legislature On the contrary. IN
stances are known where men who
were considered by their home people
as being OF mediocre ability soon rose
to positions Of leadership in the legis-
lature and carried with them great
weight and influence over their asso-
ciate members.
Two Legislative Elements.
Viewed in the present light, the
forthcoming legislature viii be made
up of two opposing elements This d.
vision will not be upon the prohibit
L4D4 lE5LAQl. LnOuElLr Out upon the
basis Of carrying into fulfilment Ger
tain reforms of state government The
two elements may be characterized as
the prOSressIVes and standpatters.
Certain of the members hold the view
that the business interests of Texas,
particularly the railroads, should not
be moleSted by the enactment OF laws
that may IN any manner affect them
detr1mentally. In other words they in
slst that the legislature shall let well
enough alone and that there should be
real legislative rest If anything at
All is done IN regard to legislation az
IecunE corporation interests, this ele-
ment insists that the new measure
should be Of an encouraging nature.
To Repeal Railway Messure.
II viii be attempted to repeal the
present railroad stock and bond law.
but this prospective measure will re-
celVe the support only of the extrem-
uberaltty being shown the railroad and
general corporation interests on the
part Of the state. 1t is considered
practically assured that the stock and
bond law will be amended so as to en-
able the railroads to provide money
for improvements and betterments OF
their respective properties. but further
than that, there is little chance of the
law being mOlested The extremists
on the side of the radicals, or pro-
gresslves, will oppose the stock and
bond law being tempered with in any
respect, According to the present out
look. the division Of the membership
on this proposition will pretty well in
dicate the strength of the respective
Continued on next pSge0