El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-08
TEXAS OIL FIGHT
MAY END SOON
Texas Legislature Is Busy
Working on Ell Paso
Platform Pledges.


Gibson has prepared his program and
says he is well equipped with data to
show that it will be to the best inter-
est of the people of the state to wipe
the - from the statute books. On
the Cl.Ier hand, the insurance COM
par+2s are ready with some of the
ablest talent in the state to combat the
argument. 1t is not believed the hear
ing can be finished in less than a week
and it may consume two weeks time.
The insurance men Of the state held
conference "a few days ago and out
lined a campaign. 1t is said that at
that meeting fund was raised for
the employment of counsel and the
printing and dissemination of literature
among the members of the legisla-
ture in an effort to prevent disturb
ance of the law.
Proposes Graduated Land Tax.
Senator Darwin has introduced a
joint resolution in the senate propos-
ing an amendment to the constitution
which would so change the organic
law so as to provide for graduated
land tax system.
Senator Clark has obtained the pass
age to engrossment of his bill which
provides for an appropriation of $4,000
for the state health department to be
used for the prevention of the possible
entrance of bubonic plague, smallpox
or other contagious diseases in the
state.
Among the bills introduced in the
senate was one by senators Gibson,
telegraph and telephone companies
under the jurisdiction of the railroad
commission, and declare these corpora
tons common carriers.
Proposes State Charity Board.
Senator Darwin would rid the people
of Texas of beggars, dependents and de-
Hnquents generally by the creation of
a state board and department of char
tiles and corrections; a bill having that
purpose in view having been intro
duced by the senator from Delta cOun-
ty. The bill also carries a provision
for the organization of local assOcia-
tons throughout the state, and also re-
Quires that all persons engaged in
charitable and correctional work shall
be licensed.
A pure seed bill was introduced in
the senate by senators Darwin and As
tin. 1t seeks to regulate the sale of
and a standardization OF agricultural
planting seeds.
A new game protection bill was in
troduced by senator Bee which en-
larges the scope and activities Of the
game, fish and oyster commissioner and
permits him to employ more deputies
and also fixes the compensation of
game Wardens. lie also introduced a
bill charging the scope of the state
labor department
senate Passes Loan Shark Bill.
One OF the important bills passed
finally in the senate was the bill by
senator Bailey of Harris, known as the
Loan Shark bill Should the measure
pass in the house it will result in put
ting many usuriOus pawn brokers out
of business or make a radical change
in the operation of their business. The
measure as passed in the senate pro-
yides for drastic penalties for noncOn-
Torrance and requires a $4,000 bond to
be made by the broker payable to the
state for faithful compliance and to be
levied on in case of judgment against
the broker by individuals.
Enforcement Bill Passed.
The house finally passed the Cope
bill, divOrcing cotton gins and oil mills.
A hard fight was made against it and
an effort was made to adopt amend
ments to render it Ineffective but they
We're all voted down. The Cope bill
providing for the collection of delin-
quent taxes from 1885 was also passed.