Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-17
HIGHWAY and

Continued from page one.)
Houston with the central plant on
the Darlington farm, said today he
would bring his measure up in the
house Monday.
Moody Urges Prison Plan
With two Of the governors chief
legislative subjects to have right
of-way this week, Mr.. Moody is
planning to take personal command
OF his forces in the legislature.
He has been working on a mes
sage setting out his ideas of how
the prison system should be reor-
ganized and centralized. He intend
ed to send it up last week, but de-
cided to wait until this week in or
Ger to have his words fresh in the
minds Of the law makers when they
arc in the midst Of these bills.
He is likely to appear in person
before the legislature to expound
his views.
In the meantime he has been
working diligently, interviewing his
friends in both houses and explain
ing to them the prison and high
way measures.
II Is difficult for political observ-
ers to classify the legislature into
groups. friendly" and "unfriendly"
to the governor.
House Independent
The action of the house Friday in
killing the civil service bill recon-
mended by Governor Moody in his
message and advocated by him ever
since he has been In office. might
be pointed to as indicating the lower
house at least will act Independently
Of the administration.
The governor was disappointed at
losing the bill.
Senator Stevenson said today he
would vote to submit the constitu-
tional amendment bearing on issu-
ance Of road bonds.
Senator H~olbrook, without tying
himself to the wisdom of issuing
stats bonds, will vote TO submit the
amendment, he said.
The penitentiary solution has
three or four sides. with the con-
~troversy likely to simmer down to
a choice between the Hoibrook
plan, endorsed by the governor. Of
empowering the prison commission,
speaker Of the house. president pro
TEN Of the senate and attorney gen.
eral to sell and buy penitentiary
lands and relocate and concentrate
ss they decide best, and the Cou-
sins measure, (sponsored by Young
In the house) directing c~oncentra-
ton on the seven farms below
Houston with headquarters on the
Darlington farm.
Gas Tax Proposed
The house committee on peniten-
tiaries passed out n bill by Kayton
King providing that prisoners shall
be credited with double time for
overtime work. Ten hours would
constitute a days work in the
pe~nitentiary under the BILL
Violation Of any prison rule would
result in the loss Of the overtime
earned.
Repeal Of the occupation tax on
gasoline and substitution of a four
cent excise levy will be recommend
ed by the house committee on reve-
nue. and taxation, Re~presentativ
Tillotson said.
Tillotson said the bill was writ
ten by the attorney generals depart
ment after the committee had re-
ceived reports from the comptroller
that between IL and Is per cent OF
the gasoline used annually was
escaping the occupation tax. Based
on estimate sales for 1929, this rep
resents a loss Of between s2.500,000
and 100000 annually. Tillotson
said.
Senator Pollard prepared a bill
authorizing the board of control to
make contracts with the prison sys-
TEN for purchase Of supplies. equip
ment and materials for use by 9TH
er state institutions, and a resolu-
ton proposing a constitutional
amendment making IL possible for
the penitentiary and other state in
stitutions, such rs the deaf and
dumb school, to furnish the printing
and binding and other things re-
CURED by the state which they can
provide.