Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-18
Big OFFENSIVE
OF SESSION TO
CETUNDER WAY.
FaFctional Difficulties
Now Looming For
The Last 3 Weeks of
Legislature

AUSTIN, Feb. Is.-fP-The big
offensive Of the 4lst legislature is
az hand. The grand rush 10 pass
hundreds Of bills before sine die ad-
journf1cnb only three weeks re-
moved. is about to start. Some 500
bills are on the calendar in the
house, and there remain only IL
working days Of the regular session,
IL the legislators labor on Washing
tons birthday and Saturdays.
Lieutenant Governor Barry Miller
in the senate and Speaker W. S. Bar
ron in the house have taken double
ditch on the reins TO check a STAN
pede which might result in the pas
sing hurriedly of scores Of meas
ures which under leisurely consid-
Grafton might be kept from the stat
ute books.
Off to Sluggish Start
II is customary for legislators 10
start their biennial work with re-
luctance an da characteristic to fin
ism up at top speed. This legislature
is no exception 70 the rule. III any
thing, IL got off to an eve more
sluggish start han many of its pre-
decessors. But a large amount Of
work can be done in the closing days.
Night sessions will be started this
week in the house.
The legislature has accomplished
little in big things so far. Ii has
passed the resolution calling for a
constitutional amendment TO in
crease the supreme court membership
10 nine, thus accepting n OF the
governors recommendations for
"court reform" 1t has rejected the
governors suggestion that employees
Of the state be placed under the civil
service merit system.
This week IL will consider the
highway bond issue proposal and
bills effecting n reorganization and
concentration Of the penitentiary
system, both of which are advocated
by Governor Moody. Interest in the
outcome is keen with the governor
personally active in support of both.
Renew fractional Fight
Although the rivalry between the
two factions who split the democratic
party during the presidential election
was lessened somewhat by the
houses defeat OF the Mankin bill
barring as candidates in the 1880
party primary anyone who scratched
the ticket last November, the fires
of political differences were renewed
by Senator A. j. Wirtz Of Seguin.
when he SEN up q bill signed BY Is
Senator's majority-which would
give the state democratic state ex-
ccutive committee increased powers.
Under the present Law the commit
tee had the power 10 prescribe
qualifications" or candidates or vot-
ers in the primaries, but these are
restricted by this language: "Pro-
vided that no person shall ever be
denied the right 10 participate In n
primary in this state because Of for
mer political views or affiliations"
Senator Wirtz's bill would delete
this restriction and permit the COM
mittee TO 20 "the whole route" il il
cares TO.
There Is a movement on 70 bring
peace to the party and IL was this
sentiment that likely brought about
defeat Of the Mankin measure. Some
OF the legislators pointed out that
since Senator Loves bills seeking
20 give party voters freedom Of con-
science" in the matter Of adhering
TO the pledge. was ruthlessly killed.
20 take action such rs Representa-
tive Luke Mankin Of Georgetown
proposed would provoke a breach
that might rebound TO the advantage
Of Love and his following.