El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-27
TEXAS OFFICIAL
CHARGES BRIDE
Land Commissioner Says
He Is Offered Wealth by
Oil Men: Probe Planned.

AUSTIN Texas, FEB "a reSo-l %
I ton, proposing that the house ask the
{ Travis county district attorney 10 in
.vestigate charges made by land COM
missioner J., T. Robson that attempts
{ had been made to bribe him, was in
troduced today by representative Neill.
OF Eastland county. From discussion
OF the resolution on the floor Of the
I house, It developed that 1Ir. Robson
appeared before the house committee
on public lands and buildings, which
had under consideration a bin pro-
posing a resurYey and recovery Of ex-
cess lands.
Offered wealth and Power.
Representative Curtis said that he
heard the statements Of Mr. Robson
and that - they were true, the men
accused should be sent TO the peniteu-
rlarE. Representa- W H BledSOe
stated that commissioner Robson had
been offered great political prefer
ment and great wealth as well' 10 in
11uence mis- official acts representa-
tive Lee Satterwhite said that the land
involved was oil lease filings Rep
reseurative Sid Crumpton offered an
amendment, asking a legislative in
vestiEation- No action was taken on
either the resolution or the amend
ment- as the time for consideration
Of resolutions had expired.
Prominent Men Made Filings.
The resolution under discussion was
introduced by representative T. j. Til
son and before the committee. repre-
sentative D. J. Neil charged that pro
ponments Of the bin including a num-
Der Of men prominent in state poll
tics. have made 46l filings in Eastlaud
county alone in anticipation Of the
passage Of the bill Specific names in
connection with the charges were han
died freely before the committee.
Kills Repeal Of Tenant Law.
The Ferguson tenant farmer law
remained on the statute books when
the house today, by a vote Of 81 TO
90. killed the senate bill by senator
Bailey Of De Witt, which proposed to
repeal the act The bill had already
passed in the senate. This is the law
which fixes the proportions Of prod
ucts from land that may be taken bv
the landlord as rent from tenants.
Quarantine Measure 70 Governor.
The house concurred in the senate
amendments TO the house bill which
proposes TO transfer to the federal
government the state quarantine sys-
TEN The bill now goes to the gov
ernor for approval Under this bill
the federal government obtains full
control Of the border and gulf port
quarantine plants.
A senate bill. proposing a change in
the fees charged by the general land
office, was passed to engrossment by
the house. Several fees are affected
by the proposed change. Some are
lowered. while others are increased
The senate bill proposing to amend
the laws relating to fraudulent OBJ
tanning OF board and lodging was en-
crossed by the house. The bill pro-
poses TO repeal that section Of the
law which required copies Of the law
to be conEpieuously posted before
prosecution under it can be had.
Buchanan's on BIZ Killed.
The senate today, by a vote Of to
10. killed a bill by senator c. r
the sale and lease Of oil, gas, lime
and other minerals on lands hereto
fore sold by the state Senator r 1.
Carter OF Tarrant claimed that this
Bill would stifle the development Of
the oil industry IN Texas as the
measure proposed to place the sales
and lease Of the minerals on a com
petItive basis and also place a mini
mum Of 81 per acre for land leased TO
prospect for minerals. It was also
sought to increase the royalty the
state should get on the minerals ex-
tracted from the earth.
Court Reporter Salaries $500.
ne SENATE passed Al4Aal4Es DJ q NDLs
Of Is 10 10. the senate bill fixing the
salaries OF official court reporters
al $500 a year. plus transcript fees
In the counties Of Bexar. Harris.
Travis, Jefferson. Hill. Grayson, FL
Pasos Wichita. Bowie and Galveston.
This Increase also applies to all
judicial districts composed OF more
than one county
To Abolish Fee System.
The senate adonted the free confer
ence committee report on the house
joint resolution proposing an amend
ment 70 the constitution to abolish
the fee system Of county officials and
placing such officials on a straight
salary basis. The proposed amend