Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-15
COMMITTEE
HEARINGS
ARE ON TAP
Sunday Movie Hearing
Will Be Held Next
Week In Austin

AUSTIN, Feb. 14-Pl-The legis-
lature this week entered the second
lap Of its four months grind with
about 1000 bills already introduced.
However. many Of this number were
Implications, the same bill being
a-tf0duced in both houses.
The period suggested by the con-
etitution for the introduction OF
bills ended Wednesday but that did
not mean no more bills would be
offered. Both the tOuse and senate
adopted rules 10 extend the time be-
yond the first 30 days Nevertheless,
observers believed more than two
thirds Of the proposed laws had
been introduced.
Several legislators felt that any
bills offered after last wednesday
might be unconstitutional if enacted
into law. The strength OF that feel
ing was shown in the rush OF legiS-
lators 10 send up bills Oh the last
day, 241 proposals being submitted
However, James v. Alfred. attorney
general, held IN an opinion today
that the legislature had the power
which It assumed in extending the
time for introduction of bills.
Hearings Begin.
For the next four weeks. the
public will have its turn. Public
hearings on most Of the important
proposed legislation will be conduct
cd during that time by the various
committees. Among the bills TO he
heard next week are the movie CEN
sorship and the Sunday movie pro-
posals Tuesday night. Inc proposed
drivers license Law Wednesday
night and the cotton acreage reduc-
ton bill Thursday night. Highway
bond issue and public utilities pro-
posals will wait until the following
week.
The house committee on highways
and motor traffic this week voted
to return an unfavorabe report on
the bill BY Representative Cox OF
Groesbeck to make the highway
commissioners elective instead OF
appointive. The vote was II to 4.
The fight will be carried TO the
floor on a minority report.
The house killed the bill by Re-
preventative Graves Of Georgetown
to repeal the evidence clause Of the
search and seizure act.
The vote which ended this pro-
posal for the session was Oh a motion
TO print on a minority report. The
Women's Christian Temperance
Union had asked for the enactment
OF this bill into law.
Race Track Bill
rr-- w.pv.n 20 o1fnut
pleading guilty in less than capital
cases TO waive the right of trial by
jury struck a temporary snag in the
senate but a slight majority was
returned for it in the only test vote.
The bill is to come UP for final
passage Monday. The house had
passed a bill on somewhat the same
order. but the house bill was not
acceptable 10 the senate.
Much Of the time OF the house
this week was spent in arguing the
bill which would allow less than
unanimous verdictS in civil cases in
district court. The bill was consid-
erably amended and was announced
as dead" but a check showed that
the amendment TO strike out the p
acting clause had failed instead OF
passed. AS a result. the bill will come
up again wednesday. The bill ORR
ginally allowed a verdict By nine Of
the tweve jurors. but 1t was amend
ed TO require ten.
The largest hearing 50 far this
session was held Thursday night on
the so-called race track bill. Pastors
we're here from all over the state 20
oppose the bill and its supporters
defended it as a proposal which
would help the agricultural and
livestock industries. Another hear
ing will be held before the house
committee takes any action.