Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-05-31
BIZ RAYMOND BROOKS

AUSTIN, May 3O.-A speakership
race is III the making that the
June special session may decide.
More than 60 OF 2 present house
members have signed pledges 10
support Rep. "A. r. Johnson of
Carrie Springs II they return to
the legislature after next years
elections.
This was a development OF the
race. previously c~hrOnlc-ed. IN
which Rep. johnson and Rep. Coke
Stevenson az Junction came TO the
front as the two group leaders
potentially IN the next race
MIR. Stevenson was an antl-bond
leader. Whether or not he Is so
strong personally IN his support OF
James Y. Ferguson. his following
Il largely that or members friend
ly ID the Ferguson policies.
Mr. Johnson was one Of the most
consistent workers for the high
way bond plan. He is a firm friend
OF Gov. Ross s. Sterling. H was
the leader I'D an important tax re-
form crusade that failed finally in
the senate.
In the special session. his friends
who are sponsoring the speaker
ship move. will bid fer the grand
slam OF assurances that the cleo
ton can be effected on the first
ballet. SO far as present members
are concerned.
IN the court redlstricting Dill eX-
nectcd AZ the special session. Rep.
I. J. Burns Of Brady Will have a
chance to rewrite the bill that be-
came famous IN los disappearance,
floating down the Brazos river a.
Waco. during the regular session.
Mr.. Burns likely will moderate the
bill. deciding that n abolishing
SO many district courts cannot be
passed at all.
one change will be 70 broaden
the territory az some OF the exist
ing courts. not TO cancel out tho
only existing court I'm any territory.
but 10 cut the MULTIPLICATION q!
courts in such counties as BeXar
Tarrant. Dallas and Harris. The
regrOuD!ng of the courts IS more
important than the possible elimi-
nation or 2 district judge some
where.
A check against the further Gre
alton Of new courts would be more
valuable than my other single
thing that judicial redistricting
might do.
The Texas civil judicial advisory
council. after spending soms pub
lie money ~ It's sessions. secured
passage az eight or nine minor
bills brought out as simplifying
civil procedure.
Their effect Will relate wholly ia
the lawyer and not 10 the client.
IT Will be recalled that the law
yers OF this civil advisory council
declined to approve the bill Great
ing the small claims courts in
which litigants could fight over
small items without having 10 hire
a couple OF lawyers. The small
claims courts were not created.
1t seems that practically the net
result OF the civil advisory judicial
councils creation, appointment. eX-
pendi.ures and report. was that
the legislature spent the time Of
passing eight or nine bis that viii
make II a little more convenien;
for the lawyer who has a case 10
prepare his part Of the record for
trial. without making very much
difference TO the plaintiff Or def
endant p way Or the other
So far as remedying conspicuous
defects that involved life and death
OF accused persons, of course the
ci-'I advisory council vas not con-
cerned, being limited ~ rs scope
Neither vas the legislatu-~ mucI
concerned, for the recommends
ton OF the criminal appeals court
was ignored. and now. IN the Dave
Goodwin case, Gov. Sterling. VINO
Is not q lawyer, must take over th.
administration or justice II what
criminal appeals court said j!
justice shall prevail.
AUSTIN. May 30.-When John J.
Raskoo, democratic national chair.
man. sent missionaries TO all ma
tional committeeman and state
ehairnen to get a line on their
attitude toward a prohibition mod
ification plank next year, IL vas
q considerable lob.
The writer has just seen copies
Of letters which Jcaett Shouse. the
national executive committee chair