El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-10
FOURTH EXTRA
SESSION SURE
Texas Legislature to Meet
Again When Present
Session Ends.

called session of the S5th legislature
I is TO be called. According to present
plans the fourth extraordinary session
viii be convened Immediately at the
expiration OF the present session The
turn that the impeachment trial Of
/ governor Ferguson, in the senate, has
taken indicates that practically all OF
this session will be consumed in hear
Z ing this case. This viii leave no time
for the consideration Of a number Of
measures that have been submitted by
acting governor Hobby and Of addi-
tional matter that is yet to be sub
mitted TO the lawmakers.
Must Await Investigation Report.
The investigation Of the various
state departments and institutions
Will consume not less than three
weeks and the actual start on the
probe has not as yet been commenced
The investigation committee Is now
composed of ten members. Repre-
sentative Ely, Of Gonzales, chairman
I of the committee. said that the plans
now were TO divide the departments
and institutions amng the members
/ Of the committee. and the committee
viii add two or three members TO
assist in the work. consequently,
there viii be probably 80 or 40 mem
( bers enga ged in this work. An effort
viii be made to complete the investi-
/ cation during the present session, but
there viii then be the recommend
lions Of the committee TO be acted
on This, Mr.. Fly said, would come up
at the fourth called session
Enabling Legislation Needed.
mother matter which is to go over
! for the fourth called session, is the
enactment Of enabling legislation 10
carry into effect the conservation and
! irrigation amendment TO the constitu-
ton. In fact it viii be impossible TO
fconsider this proposition before DC
tober as the official returns viii not
be available before that time. There
are now upward Of a dozen bills,
some of them Of general nature,
pending in the legislature which viii
have to be acted on. and which may
not be reached during the present
session
says Governor Refused Statement.
Norman G. KittreL- r.. attorney of
Houston, was the first witness called
this morning in the trial OF Gov. FER
guson before the senate He repre-
sented Mr.. Masfield, Of Houston. and
told of his numerous requests for an
accounting Of the escrow funds IN
the Temple State bank and Of the re-
fusal of the governor to give a state
Had TroubIe Getting Funds.
+. A Gross. Of Waco. the contrac-
tor who handled the larger part OF
the construction Of the Canyon City
normal school was questioned Al
great length about his difficulty IN
getting his money when his monthly
estimates Of work were furnished
He said the general warrant clerk III
the controllers department ana soIne
one he could not name IN the treas
urer's office, told him there was no
money available for the payment OF
his warrants Finally. on the advice
Of the warrant clerk, he went IN per
son 70 the governor and whenever he
did 50 the governor looked at his
estimates and gave directions Tor
check 10 be drawn.
Asked to Present Books
II appeared from his testimony
that much Of Cross's difficulty was
due 10 not being familiar with the red
tape OF the state government, so ar
ter lengthy cross examination sew
eral senators announced that they
were still in doubt on material facts
and the witness was told 10 Drlns
his books. The purpose OF the pro-
pOnents is to show that CONFUSION
and unWarranted delay resulted from
not having the normal fund in the
treasury and the purpose Of the sc
spondent viii be 10 show that the
witness was misinformed about his
inability to get this money and that
as a matter Of fact II was promptly
paid into the treasury as the gov
ernor said il would be-
Relief Bill Discussed.
The senate bill. by Hudspeth and
McNealus, making an appropriation
Of $1,000, 900 for relief Of droutn
stricken citizens Of central west
Texas. was considered briefly in the
senate today. Some doubt was ex-
pressed by senator Henderson and
others as TO the constituuonality OF I
the act, so IL was decided that the at
torney general shall be asked as 10
the constitutionality Of the measure
In the meantime, action on the Dlll
was deferred until later in the week
To Exempt Adjustments Mt Fairs.
Acting governor Hobby today sub
mitted for the consideration OF the
legislature. the enactment Of a law
which will exempt hobby horses,
theaters, circuses, menageries, aero
battle performances and such other
forms Of entertainments from an &C
Cupation tax when such amusemenls
are operated in connection with ana
under the auspices and for the bene-
fit Of county or district agricultural
fairs. He also submitted the subject
Of providing for and fixing the salary
Of official shorthand reporters ana
each Of the judicial districts in the
No Quorum in House.
A quorum failed 10 materiallze IN
the house this morning when that
body was called TO order by speaker
Fuller. only &c members answering TO
roll cali.
Signs Salary Bills.
Acting governor Hobby has signed
the two money bills OF the third spe-
cial session Of the 35th legislature,
one carrying $4,000 for the -contin-
gent expenses and the other S65,O00
to pay the per diem Of the members
during this special session This is
the first salary the lawmakers got
since the present special session was
called.
ACTS CREATING WEST TEXAS