The Waco Daily Examiner

Austin, Feb. 26.

SENATE.

Mr. Hobby - A resolution that the Senate resolve itself into a high court of impeachment on Monday, to consider articles preferred against Judge William Chambers.
Adopted.

MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS PRESENTED AND REFERRED.

Mr. Westfall - A petition from the citizens of Burnet county; also, a petition of J. C. Killigrew, as page to the previous Legislature.
Mr. Flanagan - A petition from the citizens of Rusk county.
Mr. Ball - A petition from the citizens of Springtown, Parker county.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

Mr. Dillard, from Committee on Privileges and Elections, recommending the passage of an act providing for special registration in unorganized counties.

BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED.

Mr. Bradley - An act prescribing the duties of notaries public.

Mr. Wood presented the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Education be instructed to inquire into the expediency of a system of public free schools in this State, the object and purpose of which is, first, to provide for the payment of the tuition of those children whose parents or guardians have not the means to provide for their education; and if, after provision is made for this class of our scholastic population, there should be any of the public school fund remaining on hand, to divide the same pro rata for the benefit of any paying scholars. In other words, that the committee be required to inquire into the expediency and propriety of enacting the school law in force in this State antecedent to the war, with such changes and alterations as may be deemed necessary, and report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Burton - An act to confer additional jurisdiction upon justices of the peace.

Mr. Westfall - Asking leave of absence for Assistant-Sergeant-at-Arms, on account of ill-health. Adopted.

Mr. Allison - Asking leave of absence for Senator Morris, for ten days. Adopted.

Mr. Russell - An act providing for the printing of the laws in Spanish and German. Not to exceed one thousand copies in each language.

Mr. Burton - An act to attach the county of Waller to the Thirteenth Senatorial District.

Mr. Hobby - The House Bill authorizing incorporated cities to establish and manage free libraries, which, under suspension of the rules, was passed. Senator Hobby stated that he called this up that the Galveston Library might be placed under the charge of the Board of Aldermen of that city. This bill has been enrolled and signed by the Governor.

Mr. Ball - Calling up the Senate Bill relating to the expenses of suits to railroad companies, and moved the adoption of the substitute to the original report, made special order for Tuesday next, and from day to day till disposed of.

REGULAR ORDER.

The Senate Bill preventing speculation by officers and agents in county, city and town in contracts and liabilities. Passed.

Several House Bills were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees.

House Bill - An act providing for the apportionment of the school fund, which should have been apportioned in December, 1873, with Senate amendments to go back to apportionment of 1871, instead of taking the 1873 apportionment which the House refused to accept. The Senate refusing to recede, Senator Westfall called for a committee of conference, which was adopted. The committee appointed - Westfall, Dillard and Erath.

Senate Bill - An act amending an act prescribing the time of holding District Courts in the several counties. Passed.

Senate Bill - An act concerning the forfeiture of certain sheep and goats. Passed.

Senate Bill - An act to encourage stock raising and for the protection of stock raisers. Considered in Committee of the Whole, Flanagan in the chair. The bill, as amended, though not materially, engrossed, and, under the suspension of the rules, passed.

An act incorporating the Southern Railroad, and aiding in its construction. Passed.

An act amending an act concerning divorce and alimony. Passed.

An act incorporating the South-Western and Rio Grande Railroad, and aiding it in its construction. The bill passed.

Adjourned till to-morrow.

The House met pursuant to adjournment. A quorum present.

Mr. Simpson introduced joint resolution calling a constitutional commission, which proposed to pay the President thereof thirty-two dollars per diem, and members sixteen dollars, and that the tenure of the Fourteenth Legislature should not be abridged, nor that of the pay and tenure of officers of the Executive and officers of the State, and that the commission should not sit longer than one year, and appropriating $1,500,763 for the payment of the expenses of said commission.

Mr. Kessler moved to adopt.

Mr. Simpson's resolution was declared out of order.

Mr. Harris moved for a call of the House. Carried.

The call suspended, a quorum being present.

The Speaker said the substitute by Mr. Rainey, as adopted, was before the House.

Mr. Nicholson moved to substitute the calling of a convention on the first Tuesday of September, 1874, to consist of sixty members, to be elected on the first Tuesday in August.

Mr. Storey moved to amend by making it thirty members, one from each Senatorial District. Carried by a vote of 50 to 22.

Mr. German moved to amend the substitute by making the convention to consist of ninety members, to be appointed to representative districts as now apportioned.

Mr. Sayers said the question had been decided by the Senate.

Mr. Rainey said this was not so; that the Senate had only refused to pass the joint resolution to engrossment. The amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. Lee moved to amend the original bill by substituting thirty members from the State at large in the place of thirty from the Senatorial Districts.

Mr. Rainey moved the previous question, which was sustained.

Mr. Lee's amendment was voted down.

Mr. Nicholson's substitute was adopted by a vote of 54 to 23.

The main question was then put, being the engrossment of the House joint resolution, calling for a Constitutional Convention, as substituted by Rainey and Nicholson. The yeas and nays being ordered, resulted as follows: yeas, 42; nays, 43. (Applause)

The clerk read over the vote. After the result was announced, Mr. Middleton, of Tarrant, claimed to have voted "aye," which would change the result.

Mr. Sayers said it was a question between the gentleman from Tarrant and the Speaker. The Speaker said it was for the House to decide.

Mr. Moody said he voted "no," but he moved that Mr. Middleton be allowed to have his vote recorded as he desired.

Mr. Middleton then voted "aye," which changed the result, and the substitute was engrossed, by a vote of 48 to 42.

SPECIAL ORDERS.

On the Landlord and Tenant Bill, McLeary moved a substitute, which gives parties making advances a lien equal to the landlords, which, by the original bill, was superior to all others. The substitute also gives the laborer, who works the entire season, a lien above all others, except that on land and advancements made.

Mr. Storey moved to recommit the bill and substitute, which was opposed by O'Neal, and supported by Miller. Carried.

The Senate bill, providing for the holding of a District Court in Eastland county, was passed, under suspension of the rules.

The following were appointed as a Committee of Conference on the bill apportioning the school fund: Messrs. Rainey, McLeary, Goodwin, and Henderson, of Smith.

The printing bill came up on its third reading. It caused considerable debate and was recommitted.

The following bill was reported and enrolled: The bill making an appropriation for paying the per diem and mileage of witnesses.

Adjourned.