San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-19

appropriations and the Sheppard
| 1Owner federal bill.
Amend Benevolent Society Law.
During the afternoon session in the
Senate, Senator Strong obtained the
final passage Of his bill, further regu-
lating fraternal beneficiary societies. 60
as 10 provide that where a member of
such society fails TO designate the bene-
ficIary, or if at the death of the men,
Der the beneficiary designated is dead
or has no insurable interest in the life
of the member, the death benefits shall
not be forfeited, but shalt be paid to
the relatives of the dead member, des-
ignatcd in the bill.
Senator Thomas has introduced bill
in the Senate making it possible for
cities to levy and collect a poll tax on
every inhabitant of such cities over the
age OF II. At present the law speci-
flcs that such n tax may be eXacted
only on the male" inhabitants, the act
having been passed before the women
suffrage amendment became effective.
The Thomas bill strikes out the word
male" and provides that all IN
habitants shall be required TO pay 81
poll tax when 1t is required by the
city.
1
| Sentiment in the Senate is apparently
against the action of the State Text
Book Commission in awarding contracts
for new text books, and some inter-
esting developments are promised, ac-
cording TO Senator Fairchild of An
gelina. In fact, Senator Fairchild said
that "threc-fourths of the Senate mem
bership are against the action of the
| Text Book Commission
Senator Fairchild was one of n party
of eight senators who went to see At
| torney General W. A. Keeling late
| Thursday to ascertain his attitude on
the text book question. General Keel
ing was busy and we did not get TO see
him. said Senator Fairchild, but we
are going again. Fairchild added. that
he understood that Keeling would de-
fend the Text Book Commission in
awarding the contracts.
You may rest assured" continued
Senator Fairchild, that we will do
something in the matter"
There are already two bills by Repre-
sentative Pope of Nueces. introduced in
the House, which. il enacted into law.
would abrogate the contracts made with
text book publishing companies. These
two bills would extend for three years
the present adoptions, and prohibit the
payment of money out OF the text book
fund for the new adoptions.
There is also pending the concurrent
resolution proposing a legislative inves-
tigation of the awarding of the con-
tracts which is TO come up for con-
sideration next Monday.
Amend Voting Law.
Senator McMillin of Grayson, has in
troduced a bill in the Senate amend
ing the absentee voting law so that
voters may vote by mail. although they
may be outside of the state. At pres.
ent, the law permits absentee voting
only when the voter is away from
home but within the State of Texas.
Senate committee on education has
made a favorable report on the Woods
Senate bill requiring teaching of the
Bible in the Texas public schools.
House committee on state affairs has
reported unfavorably on the House bill
by Pope of Nueces, which provided that
the parties 10 contract may agree to \
and stipulate for any rate of interest
not exceeding Z Per cent on the amount
of the contract.