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LAND CORPORATIONS.

To carry out the Constitutional inhibition against perpetuities and monopolies, the last Legislature declared that the unrestricted ownership of lands in this State by private corporations is a perpetuity, and therefore prohibited. It simply winds up what are known as "land corporations" having in view the ownership of rural lands for agricultural, horticultural, or speculative purposes. It does not interfere with the right of corporations to acquire or own lands for the purpose of carrying on their legitimate business; and it gives to the then existing private corporations whose main purpose or business was the acquisition or ownership of lands, fifteen years from the date of the act within which to part in good faith with their titles. As in the case of aliens, those land corporations failing or refusing to sell their lands within fifteen years from the date of the law, are liable to have them sold under proceedings instituted by the State's attorney, and the money deposited subject to the corporation's order. Neither as to aliens nor corporations, was the purpose or effect of the law to confiscate property or to destroy vested rights. They are wise measures, adopted at a suitable time, for the purpose of protecting the titles of our soil from the domination and control of non-resident aliens and corporations. Experience will more fully attest their efficacy when the people realize the true condition of their neighbor States who have failed to adopt like measures.

THE FIVE LAWS.

It is with much pride that these five measures are pointed to as the future safeguards of the people's rights and liberties. They prevent the confiscation of the people's property through the methods of excessive, discriminating transportation charges. They save posterity from the onerous burdens and confiscation through the method of fictitious railway bonds and stocks. They secure the people of to-day and of the future from extravagant municipal bonded indebtedness, which, unchecked, would lead to their bankruptcy. They guard for all time the citizens of the State in the enjoyment of the land for homes, without the threat of absentee landlordism or the danger of corporate monopoly. Above all, they sound in justice and obey the spirit of the Constitution.

OTHER LAWS AND MEASURES.

Many other laws have been passed that directly or incidentally benefit the people. During the past four years a home for the maimed and helpless ex-Confederate soldiers has been established and maintained at the expense of the State, without resorting to taxation. Injured women have been permitted to testify against their seducers. The people of the several counties have been given the power, by local vote, to amply improve the public roads. Adverse possession of lands has been so defined as to prevent the owners from losing their titles on technical grounds. Fellow servants have been defined so that corporation employes are justly protected in their persons and lives from the negligence of other employes of the companies they serve. Unconscionable conditions in contracts, limiting the right of action, have been prevented. Railway de

pots have been required to be kept comfortable, clean, and lighted for the accommodation of the public. Separate coaches on equal conditions for white and colored passengers are required to be kept by the railways to prevent threatened race troubles. The conventional rate of interest on money has been reduced from 12 to 10 per cent, and the legal rate from 8 to 6 per cent, thus saving the people several millions of dollars annually. Express companies have been placed under the charge, regulation, and control of the Railway Commission. Railway laborers have been protected against the frauds, extortions, and abuses of guaranteeand fidelity insurance companies. The quarantine laws have been simplified and enforced so as to guard the public against epidemic and contagious diseases. The school laws have been reformed so as to increase the efficiency of the public free schools. The judiciary has been so changed and reorganized that cases, when they reach the higher courts, can be speedily disposed of at slight additional cost. The expenses of the Educational Department, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and of the Medical Branch of the State University, heretofore paid out of the public free school and University funds, have been defrayed from the general revenue. The local option laws have been so remodeled that the disturbing question of prohibition has been comparatively settled and confined to limited districts. The bond debt of $248,000 incurred over twenty years ago, has been paid.

The live stock industry has been promoted by the creation of a sanitary commission to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases. The mechanics' lien law has been so amended as to better protect and secure laborers in their rights. Fraud in the execution sales of lands has been prevented by causing notices of such sales to be published in the newspapers. Cheap excursion rates throughout the State have been encouraged by the suppression of frauds among ticket scalpers. Franchise and other taxes have been levied upon corporations that have heretofore escaped the burdens of government. A law to protect voters in cities from intimidation and frauds, to the end that they may have an unrestricted, free ballot and a fair count, has been passed. The employment of armed forces and private detectives and other non-resident armed persons has been prohibited. The direct taxes, amounting to $205,172, due by the Federal Government to the people, have been collected without agent's commissions. Judgments for recovery of 1,800,000 acres of land formerly illegally withheld from the State have been obtained. The construction of the Southwestern Asylum has been paid for. Public educational, charitable, and penal institutions have been erected and improved to the value of over $700,000. And among many other things that may be pointed to as beneficial to the public, it is but just to state that the rate of taxation has been reduced 25 per cent, saving the people over $1,305,000; and all the public institutions of the State have been operated efficiently, without scandal, at the lowest possible expense consistent with good order.

STATE FINANCES.

No better work can be performed by the Legislature than to remodel the whole financial system of the State. To call it a system is a misnomer. It lacks every substantial element of system. We have the calendar year

beginning January 1, the appropriations year beginning March 1, and the fiscal year beginning September 1, with no clear legislative direction as to how public accounts shall begin, end, or be kept for any period.

We have no auditor, and no consistent method of balances and checks by which abuses may be detected or prevented. Be it said to the honor and credit of the State, that up to this time the public servants have been honorable and faithful. Notwithstanding the very indifferent system alluded to, not the slightest suspicion has ever been cast upon the integrity or fidelity of a single State official, nor has there been reason for it. Aside from the safeguards guaranteed by good business methods, it would be of great advantage to the public to have the appropriations and fiscal years to begin and end alike, and to have a complete system of balances and checks provided for. Owing to the embarrassments alluded to, I have found much trouble in presenting to your honorable bodies a succinct, clear exhibit of the financial operations of the Government during my administration. Following, I submit for your consideration the financial transactions of the State for each of the past four years ending August 31, furnished by the Comptroller's very capable bookkeeper:

RECEIPTS.

The total net receipts each year from September 1, 1890, to August 31, 1894, of the State revenue fund:

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The difference in the receipts of the first year is due to the State tax being 20 cents and the amount received from the United States Government on the indemnity fund, the amount of penitentiary proceeds paid into the treasury, and an unusually large sale of public domain under the act of July 14, 1879. The tax rate for the second year was reduced to 16 cents, and for the third and fourth years to 15 cents each year.

DISBURSEMENTS.

The following are the total disbursements out of the State revenue fund for the four years named:

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The principal amounts disbursed were for the following purposes:

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Public printing..

121.419 66

Bounty for the destruction of wild animals in the west.

50.000 00

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Out of the above amounts the following will show the totals expended for permanent and public improvements and additions to buildings, etc.

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Refunded to purchasers of public domain under act of 1883..
Expenses of presidential electors..

30,000 00

1,280 80

$1,167,993 59

In addition to the foregoing, there has been appropriated in the last four years, for purposes not before on the appropriation bills, the following amounts out of State revenue:

Support and maintenance Southwest Texas Insane Asylum.
Support and maintenance Medical Branch..
Support and maintenance Confederate Home..
Railway Commission

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$158,050

108,900

140,090

168.900

41,220

80,500

25.500

$723,160

The item of Confederate Home appropriations has been paid out of office fees of the several departments, which otherwise would have been paid to the State revenue fund, and the amounts were, therefore, the same as paid out of that fund. The last Legislature made all the expenses of the Educational Department, and of the Sam Houston Normal, Prairie View Normal, and Medical Branch of the State University payable out of the State revenue. The total amounts of extraordinary expenses in building and improving public buildings, and other expenses paid out of revenue during the four years, amount to $1,891,153.59.

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