The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-12-13
BUSY SESSION AHEAD
OF THE LEGISLATURE
ALMOST Az UNLIMITED NUMBER
or MATTEns Will 49, III
ron CONFEDERATION.
Thief Among These j. the Proposal
&C. submit Prohibition
Amendment 60 the
Constitution.

ed number of important matters 10
pass upon.
Pre-eminent among these is the
prohibition amendment.
| An amendment to the state consti-
tation may only be proposed at q
regular session. and the democrats Of
Texas. In the July primary, demand
cd that the party platform should
contain this demand. by vote OF
1915 to 1892 The demand
however. was not incorporated in
the platform. because the anti-pro
hibitionists asserted that the primary
instructions do not bind statewide
but instead. each member of the leg
| islature is bound to follow the in
siruction of his district. as revealed
through the primary vote. Governor
Ferguson, among others. opposed the
incorporation of the submission
amendment. on this ground.
IT requires a two-thirds vote Of
both houses OF the legislature TO
amend the constitution. The vote
by districts shows that 20 members
ct the senate must vote for the pro
hibition amendment and IL against
u, which makes the vote fali one
short OF the required two-thirds.
Senator s. W. King. of Nacogdo-
ches, Gath district, an anti-prohi-
titionist will probably cast the decid-
ing vote. The unofficial primary
| returns from his district showed a
pro majority of Sc votes, while the
official count showed $50 majority
against IL. lie has pledged himself
| to act according to the instructions
Of his district
Bills to amend the election laws
| will also probably be introduced in
piofusion. The democratic platform
| calls for la. further limitation OF
campaign expenses, clearly defiping
| the purposes for which money may
be spent in political campaigns;
| (b), denunciation OF the campaign
liar" and providing that any persoa
| who shall make an untrue statement
concerning candidate for public
office shall be punished by confine-
pent in the penitentiary; and tc),
| requiring the signators OF petitions
to party executives to submit propo-
sitions in the primary election TO
make oath that they are qualified
voters and members of the party.
/ Other proposals not included in
the party platform demands will
| likely be introduced.
r. d.. Thompson, Of Greenville,
member of the house, will offer a
bill providing for majority nomna-
lions for all offices, and otherwise
amending the election law. This
| would apply the second primary"
provision now in force, to all county
offices.
Other important revisions of the
election law which will receive at
ttention are amendments designed to
facilitate the counting and returns
cf votes.
/ Toe creation of state highway
| commission and the imposition of an
estate tax on automobiles are de-
mands of the party platform which
/ will receive attention. A state high
| way commission must be created IN
order for Texas TO share in the feder-
n appropriation for road improve
ment
Judicial reform is another party
demand which will receive attention.
Methods OF expediting litigation are
demanded but the only specific
proposition mentioned is that the
judges Of the supreme court. court
of criminal appeals, and the nine
courts of civil appeals shall be nomi-
mated through the convention sys-
TEN. at conventions to be held after
| the regular state concleves. instead
of through the primary system, as
q, present
Legislation TO provide adequate
facilities for the insane viii be en-
acted. and the platform especially
recommends the erection Of an addi
tlonal asylum. There are now over
1000 insane persons in the Texas
iails. and the asylums have no room
/ foI them.
Attic no demand for the creation
OF public utilities commission is
\ included. 1t is probable that bills
providing for this will be introduced
and viii likely loom large in the
proceedings Some public service
corporations. telephone companies
I especially. seem to favor such
/ commission.