PAIRED.

Mr. Blackburn (present), who would vote "yea," with Mr. Dies (absent), who would vote "nay."

I vote "yea" for the following reasons, to-wit: The last Democratic State platform, promulgated at Fort Worth, committed the Democratic party to the enactment of a law regulating the fees of county officials. In compliance with this demand, five bills were in troduced and referred to the Committee on State Affairs. The committee reported back to the House a commit

The

tee substitute for the five bills. commatee bill as nearly complied with the platform as one could. I warmly supported the committee bill, but it was defeated by a vote of 54 to 52. I am now compelled to either vote for or against a bill the object of which is the redemption of the Democratic party's platform demand. While I am not in sympathy with the bill for various reasons, yet will vote for its engrossment, with the hope that it will in a measure be accepted as our duty as Democrats on this line.

CARPENTER.

I vote "no," because it is not in con

formity with the Democratic platform; the "litigant" being entirely overlooked and the "previous question" having been moved by the friends of the bill, thus cutung off debate, as well as several important amend ments which I desired to offer and endeavored to get e floor to offer.

CHILDS.

I vote "yea," because the Democratic party is pledged to the passage of a fee bill, and this is the only opportunity now at command to secure such legislation, the House suostitute, which, in my judgment, was preferable, having been rejected by the House. BREWSTER.

I vote "yea," because the Democratic party stands pledged to economy in the administration of government, and a reduction of fees of office is one of the methods suggested in carrying out this pledge demanded in the State platform, adopted at Fort Worth in 1896. MARTIN.

I vote yea," not because it meets my entire approval, but because it is the only chance to pass a fee bill of any kind at this session of the Legislature and thereby make an honest endeavor to carry out the pledges contained in our party platform. I regard a half of a loaf better than no 56 House.

We vote "nay," because we believe the bill to be unconstitutional, not in accordance with the platform demand upon that subject, and because in our opinion it will impair the euiciency of the public service of the State, and particularly of that of the county which we in part represent. We believe the bill to be impracticable and unjust. It deprives the officers of the power to appoint their deputies, yet holds them responsible for the acts of their deputies. The bill confers nonjudicial functions upon county judges, which same judges can perform or not at their discretion. The bill takes

money of the taxpayers of little counties from the State treasury and donates the same to the large counties affected by the bill. The bill denies the poor access to the courts. The bill does not take effect until after the next general election, and was framed

and passed more as a political meas

ure to influence the next election than

a measure of true reform demanded by the Democratic platform. For these and other reasons, we vote against the bill, and request that these reasons be spread upon the Journal.

WARD, BLAIR, HARRIS,

AYERS,

WOLTERS, SCHLICK, LOGAN. FISHER, EWING. REUBELL, HILL of Travis, MCGAUGHEY, BOYD,

KIRK

BARKETT. STROTHER, McKAMY.

Mr. Maxwell moved to reconsider the vote by which Senate bill No. 83 was passed to a third reading, and to table the motion to reconsider.

Mr. Blair moved to adjourn until tomorrow at 9:30 a. m., upon which motion yeas and nays were demanded by Mr. Dean, Mr. Dennis, and Mr. Evans of Hunt.

have carefully examined and compared

House bill No. 518, entitled "An act to amend articles 52431, 5243j and 5243k, of chapter 9, title 104, of the Revised Civil Statutes, relating to the taxation of insurance, telephone, sleeping and dining car and other corporations, and to provide for forfeiting the charters of domestic corporations and permits of foreign_corporations to do business in this State for fanure to pay the franchise tax levied by this act, and to define and prescribe the notice to be given to said corporations previous to such forfeit

ure,"

Austin, Texas, April 9, 1897. Hon. L. T. Dashiell, Speaker of the House.

Your Committee on Engrossed Bills have carefully examined and compared

Substitute House bills Nos. 16 and 192, entitled "An act to make it a penal offense for any person in this State to unlawfully sow, scatter or place on any land the seed or roots of Johnson grass or Russian thistle, or sell or give away any hay, straw or oats or grain containing or intermixed with the seed or roots of Johnson grass or Russian thistle, or to transport same, or allow same to mature on his lands; providing adequate penalties therefor, and providing a right of action for all damages sustained thereby, and providing for the restraining of said acts by writ of injunction, and repealing all laws parts of laws in conflict with this act,"

or

And find the same correctly engrossed.

BREWSTER, Acting Chairman. MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.

Senate Chamber,

Austin, Texas, April 9, 1897. Hon. L. T. Dashiell, Speaker of the House:

I am instructed by the Senate to inform the House that the Senate adheres to its amendments to House bill No. 413, grants the request of the House for a free conference, and that Senators Greer, Burns, Kerr, Linn of Wharton and Colquitt have been appointed as such committee on the part of the Senate.

Also, that the Senate adheres to its amendments to House bill No. 180, grants the request of the House for a free conference, and that Senators Presler have been appointed as such Turney, Goss, Harrison, Terrell and committee on the part of the Senate. Also, that the Senate adheres to its amendments to House bill No. 309, grants the request of the House for a lee, Lewis, Linn of Victoria, Darwin free conference, and that Senators Atand Ross have been appointed as such committee upon the part of the Sen

ate.

Also, that the Senate has adopted the report of the free conference committee on Senate bill No. 13, being an act to abolish the unorganized counties of Buchel and Foley, etc.

Also, that the Senate has adopted the report of the free conference committee on Senate bill No. 240, being the delinquent tax bill, by a two-thirds vote: yeas 23, nays none.

I am further instructed to inform the House that the Senate has passed the following bills:

Senate bill No. 176, entitled "An act to prescribe the powers, duties and compensation of the State Board of Examiners, and to regulate the issuance of State certificates," By a nays 1.

two-thirds vote: yeas 21,

Senate bill No. 281, a bill to be entitled "An act to authorize towns and villages incorporated under the provisions of chapter 11, title 18, of the Revised Civil Statutes, to condemn the right of way over and across the road bed and right of way of any railway company, within the limits of such town or village, when deemed necessary by such town or village for the purpose of opening, widening or extending the public streets of such towns or villages; to define the duties