the government of the United States and Mexico, as will result in the establishment by the government of Mexico of such quarantine laws and sanitary regulations as will prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases along the border of the two republics.

Sec. 2. That the Secretary of State be requested to furnish immediately a copy of this joint resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Sec. 3. The danger of not being able to reach this measure in regular order creates a necessity for suspending the rule requiring it to be read on three several days: and it is so suspended.

Approved April 14, 1883.

No. 8.

JOINT RESOLUTION.-Requiring the Governor to submit all constitutional amendments passed by the 18th Legislature to a vote of the people and fixing the time at which the election shall be held.

Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas: That all amendments to the Constitution, passed by the 18th. Legislature shall be submitted to a vote of the people at an election for that purpose to be held on the second Tuesday in August A. D. 1883, unless a different time is fixed in the amendment to be submitted.

Sec. 2. That the Governor shall issue his proclamation calling said election and designating the manner of voting in accordance with Article 17, Section 1, of the Constitution and shall also cause advertisements to be made in accordance therewith.

Sec. 3. The near approach of the close of the session is such an imperative public necessity as justifies the suspension of the constitutional rule requiring this resolution to be read on three several days and said rule is hereby suspended.

Approved April 14, 1883.

Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS.

No. 1.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION-Requesting the Senators and Representatives from Texas to aid in the passage of an act to equip and support an agricultural experiment station in each State under the control of the State Agricultural and Mechanical College.

Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas: That the Senators and Representatives in Congress aid in the passage of an act to equip and support an agricultural experiment station in each State under the control of the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. Sec. 2. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each Senator and Representative in Congress from Texas. by the Secretary of State.

No. 2.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION-Requesting Texas Senators and Representatives to secure division of work, on Texas Coast in two or more districts and for additional engineer officers.

Whereas, the great length of the coast line of Texas, the number of places thereon which are receiving appropriations from the National government have only such limited facilities of communication between them, that it is impossible for any one engineer officer, however capable or efficient, to properly superintend to the best advantage the various works of improvement, which are now being conducted by the National government: and whereas, while all the works at the various points on the coast are of great importance to the immediate sections, as well as to the country at large, yet the works at Galveston and on Buffalo Bayou between the cities of Houston and Galveston-are of such magnitude as to require the constant attention and the entire time and capacity of any one engineer officer; and whereas, it is believed that the best interest of Texas, as well as that of the National government requires that an additional number of engineer officers be assigned to duty at the different works on the coast of Texas, therefore—

Section 1. Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Texas, the House of Representatives concurring; That the senators and represen

tatives from Texas in Congress be and they are hereby requested to take such action as will result in securing a division of the works on the coast of Texas, into two or more districts, and to secure the assignments to duty of an engineer officer to each of said districts, such officer to have charge of the works in said district, and to report directly to the department at Washington.

Sec. 2. Be it further resolved, that the Secretary of State furnish a copy of this concurrent resolution to each of the Texas Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved April 7th, 1883.

No. 3

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION.-Revoking the Leases of the Penitentiaries of the State of Texas

Whereas, the Penitentiary Board of the State of Texas did on the 29th day of November A. D. 1882 enter into a contract with Ed. H. Cunningham and L. A. Ellis to let to said Cunningham and Ellis the State Pentitentiary at Huntsville on the following terms and conditions, to

wit:

State of Texas

County of Travis.

This indenture or contract of lease, made the twenty-ninth day of November A. D. 1882, by and between O. M. Roberts, Governor of the State of Texas, of the first part, and E. H. Cunningham and L. A. Ellis, under the firm name of Cunningham and Ellis of the second part, witnesseth: That the said O. M. Roberts as Governor aforesaid, acting for and in behalf of the State of Texas, and with the concurrence of the Penitentiary Board of said State, and by virtue of the authority vested in him by act of the Seventeenth Legislature of said State, entitled "An Act to provide for the organization of the State penitentiaries, and the more efficient management of the same" approved March 17th A. D. 1881, and in accordance with the provisions of said act, and for and in consideration of the covenants hereinafter mentioned and agreed to be kept and performed by the said Cunningham and Ellis and their agents and representatives, have granted, demised, leased and hired, and by these presents do grant, demise, lease and hire unto the said Cunningham and Ellis, lessees, the State Penitentiary, together with all the property of said State, real, personal or mixed, pertaining or incident to said penitentiary, whether within or without the prison walls, and the labor of all the convicts which may, on the first day of January, A. D. 1883 and thereafter, be assigned to said penitentiary, whether within or without the prison walls, to have and to hold the said property and labor herein leased unto the said lessees and their representatives for the term of fifteen years, unless sooner determined, as hereafter provided, beginning January 1st A. D. 1883, and ending December 31st A. D. 1897. This lease is made and accepted upon the following terms, conditions, restrictions, limitations, considerations and understandings, to wit:

First. Said lessees shall have the use of all lands, buildings, ma

chinery, tools and other property constructed with said penitentiary. They shall also have the use of any unexpended appropriations made by the Legislature, and which the Penitentiary Board now has at its disposal, for the purchase of machinery and for improvements for said penitentiary, which said appropriation the said lessees shall expend, as contemplated, under the direction of said board: said machinery when purchased to be placed in position by said lessees free of cost to the State.

Second. On or before January 1st, A. D. 1883, the Superintendent of Penitentiaries shall make an equal and fair division of all the convicts on hand belonging to the State Penitentiary: one-half of whom shall be assigned to the Huntsville Penitentiary as inmates thereof, or belonging thereto; and one-half the convicts thereafter received shall also be assigned to said penitentiary. The convicts so assigned to the Huntsville penitentiary are the convicts whose labor is herein contracted: in making such division and assignment, the said Superintendent shall have due regard to the location of said convicts, their terms of service, their trades, crimes color, age, sex, and physical condition, so that as equitable a division as possible be made between the Huntsville and Rusk penitentiaries. Third. The convicts herein leased include one-half of all the convicts, including that class of convicts contracted by the Penitentiary Board on the fifteenth day of August A. D. 1882, to certain farm labor for term of five years, which said contracts are one-half assigned to said lessees, who hereby agree and bind themselves to assume and carry out in good faith and impartiality the terms and provisions of said contracts, and to do and perform every obligation assumed to be done or performed by the State in said contracts, and to require said contractors to carry out the obligations assumed by them in said contracts. Whatever moneys or considerations accrue to the State by said contracts shall be paid by said lessees: but said lessees shall pay, as hereinafter provided for in other cases, the remuneration for sergeants and guards.

Fourth. In consideration of the lease herein made, said lessees have obligated themselves, and hereby obligate themselves, to pay into the State Treasury at Austin, on or before the thirty-first day of December of each year, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00): that they will, on and after January 1st 1885, in conjunction with the lessees of the Rusk penitentiary, and on such terms as they may agree upon, with the approval of the Penitentiary Board, receive convicts at the county jails and transport them to the penitentiaries free of any cost or charge whatsoever to the State: that they shall furnish everything whatsoever that may be proper and necessary for the support and maintenance of the said penitentiary, and for the comfort, health, protection and security of the convicts belonging thereto, whether within or without the prison walls, including the salaries of all the officers connected with said penitentiary to wit: one assistant superintendent, one physician, one chaplain, and one inspector, also one-half the salary of the Superintendent of Penitentiaries, and the compensation of under officers and guards employed by the State Officer, all to be paid as may be directed by the Penitentiary Board: but they shall not be required to pay to under officers and guards any greater compensation than the maximum amounts fixed. by the Penitentiary Board before making this lease. Said lessees also agree and bind themselves to furnish suitable and substantial blank books, record books and other books, in which to keep the necessary records, minutes, or accounts pertaining to said penitentiary and its management: also furnish all stationery, blanks, postage, fuel, lights, furni

ture and other necessaries for the offices of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, under keeper and sergeants: also pay for telegrams to or from said officers in regard to matters connected with the administration and management of said penitentiary, provided, they shall not be required to pay more than half the expenses of the office of the Superintendent. Said lessees shall also furnish stationery and postage for the convicts as prescribed by the rules. They also agree, and hereby bind themselves to pay a reward of twenty-five dollars and the actual expenses incurred for the apprehension and return of each escaped convict who may be returned or assigned to said penitentiary. They shall also supply each convict discharged from said penitentiary with a plain suit of citizens clothing, five dollars in money, and railroad transportation, as now required by law. In short, said lessees shall assume and pay all the expenses connected with the administration of said penitentiary which the State would have to pay if it were operated by the State.

Fifth. Said lessees shall work in moderation and treat humanely all the convicts belonging to said penitentiary. They shall make and keep comfortable all cell buildings, prison houses, prison cars, shops etc, in which convicts are confined and worked, furnishing the necessary stoves, fuel and lights for heating and lighting said buildings: they shall clothe, feed, work and treat said convicts, whether within or without the walls, in accordance with and in strict obedience to the laws, rules and regulations now or hereafter to be enacted in relation thereto and in accordance with the principles and dictates of justice and humanity.

Sixth. Said lessees shall within six months after the commencement of this lease, make all necessary repairs to the buildings, walls, machinery, yards, premises and other property belonging to said penitentiary, whether within or without the walls, or whether used by them or reserved by the State for the use of its officers, and shall keep the same in good repair during this lease. They shall have printed as often as necessary to protect and preserve them, all tin roofs and gutters belonging to said penitentiary. They shall also keep in repair the administration building and superintendent's house and premises belonging to the State, but reserved for the use of its officers. They shall also furnish suitable rooms, beds and food for all under officers and guards connected with said penitentiary. If required, they shall furnish convict clerical help for the officers of the superintendent, assistant superintendent and under keeper. They shall also furnish building tenders, lime for white-washing purposes, the best facilities for cooking the food, washing the clothes. and bathing the bodies of the convicts.

Seventh. Said lessees shall take possession of said penitentiary, its property and convicts, on the first day of January A. D. 1883, and on and after that date shall be held responsible therefor under the terms of this lease. As soon as an inventory and appraisement of such property can be made, said lessees shall deliver to the Governor a receipt therefor. Said lessees shall confine and work within the walls of said penitentiary, or at labor near by and incidental to the operation thereof, at least four hundred convicts, said number not to be diminished, but increased yearly in equal numbers, until the number so confined shall reach at least six hundred by January 1st, A. D. 1886, and not thereafter to be diminished. The balance, if any, to be worked at outside labor, under such restrictions as may be imposed by the board.

Eighth. Upon the termination of this lease, by limitation or otherwise, the said lessees shall quietly and peacefully surrender, return and