Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-22
MANY IMPORTANT
LAWS TO COME IN
NEW LEGISLATURE
HUNDREDS OF BILL SExPECTED TO
BE DUMPED INTO HOPPERS FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE BODY
GOVERNOR FERGUSON NOW IS CIV
ING CONSIDERATION TO BlEN-
NAL MESSAGE


Thirty fifth legislature of Texas con
venes Tuesday, January 8, at noon what
promises to he one Of the most important
sessions of the lawmakers of the state
held III recent years will be under way
Hundreds Of bills are expected To be
dumped into the hoppers for consideration
There will be many new faces in both
branches, and, IT j. said, each member
likely will have at least three bills, for in
PRODUCTION During the past few weeks.
members of both houses have been in this
city gathering data 10 be used in the prep
aratlon OF measures 10 be submitted I'm
mcdiiately after organization is affect
ed, both houses are expected to get down
10 business.
Governor Ferguson now i giving con
sideration of his biennial message contain
ing recommendations for legislation whlc!f
he will send Ia the lawmakers. The mes
sage i expected 10 be comparatively brief
as the governor declares hdtwill adhere to
the democratic platform rs adopted al the
state convention last August II j. said
however. that he will make a number Of
recommendations outside of the platform
demands and party pledges.
Probably the two most important propo-
sitionS of general nature To- come up
for consideration will be submission Of
proposed amendments to the constitution
providing for state wide prohibition and
woman suffrage.
The people have voted in favor of sub
mission, and il IL said there j. no way the
lawmakers can escape discussing il. Since
a two-thirds vote s necessary in each
ease il canot be stated whether reso-
luton providing for submission or prohi-
bition will be adopted. The prohibition
lists claim they have the necessary two
thirds while the anti prohibitionists insist
the "drys" will fall few votes short in
the senate.
That the suffrage amendment to the
certain by women suffrage leaders in the
estate. Whether the amendment will be
adopted, however. is problcmaticsl, polit
zeal leaders say. The democratic platform
is silent on both prohibition and suffrage.
As to the Robertson insurance law, which
was an important issue in the last leglsla
ture, and which the people voted 10 retain
in the July primary, leaders predict that
an effort will be made to change II. They
express doubt, however, N to success Of
such efforts.
Judicial reform is another important
subject 10 be considered by the legislature.
The Texas law association plans 10 pre-
vent bill having for its object complete
change in the judicial system of the state.
II il said this bill will provide for a con
stitutional amendment which would have
the effect Of increasing the number of
judges on the supreme court bench to fif-
teen. The bill. il II said. also woud
change many respects the system Of the
appellate courts.
Representative Newton b. Williams, Of
McLennan county. with d view to rcliev-
ing congestion in the supreme court. will
introduce bill giving final jurisdiction 70
the courts Of civil appeals in all litiga-
tions involving $4,000 or less. Efforts
also will bcmade. il u said. to create addi-
tional courts Of civil appeals. There are
at present nine such courts IN Texas.
Following the platform pledges and
demands, Governor Ferguson. il j. under
stood. likely will recommend Ia the legis-
lature an appropriation of ~ 2,09n.n00 to be
expended Mt the rate Of II 100000 a year
in the aid of rural schools.
The one million dollars appropriated by
the last legislature has resulted in over
1000 schools hcing given aid
The governor has indicated he ~ill fol-
low tho platform demands. which j. taken
to mean he will recommend an appropria-
tion 10 increase the state ranger force to
its maximum Of eighty men.
Senator Gland Hudspe'h. of III Paso,
has announced he viii introduce bill on
the ranger subject.
Creation Of state highway commission
il another proposition which j. expected
to he recommended 70 the legislature.
Friends Of the governor say he has de-
cided to submit this proposition.
A measure advocated by the University
Of Texas il to be introduced authorizing
the authorities Of that institution TO Issue
approximately s4,oo0.0O0 in bonds and