By Mr. Meece:

House bill No. 119, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Article 3232, Title LXII, Chapter 12, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, providing for the compensation of jurors in the district and county courts in civil cases."

(The bill amends by providing that such jurors shall receive mileage at the rate of three cents per mile for the distance actually traveled in going to and returning from said court, only one mileage to be allowed for the term or week for each juror.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 1.

By Mr. Meece:

House bill No. 120, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Articles 1113 and 1114, Title XV, Chapter 3, of the Revised Criminal Statutes of the State of Texas, providing for the pay of petit jurors in criminal actions."

(The bill amends by providing mileage for such petit jurors as in House bill No. 119,and it provides also that its provisions shall not extend to mayors' and recorders' courts taking cognizance of offenses against municipal ordinances.) Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 2.

By Mr. Fears:

second Judicial District shall hereafter be composed of the counties of Nolan, Mitchell, Howard, Martin, Midland, Ector, Borden, Glasscock and Ward, and the unorganized counties of Andrews, Gaines, Terry, Yoakum, Crane, Upton, Dawson, Garza, Winkler and Loving. An emergency is declared.)

Read first time, and referred to Committee on Judicial Districts.

By Mr. Glenn:

House bill No. 123, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Section 1, Chapter 101, of the Acts of the Regular Session ed May 10, 1899, defining the offense of of the Twenty-sixth Legislature, approv defrauding hotel and boarding house keepers of their charges, and providing a penalty therefor."

(The bill makes this offense a misdemeanor, and fixes the punishment at a fine of not less than five nor exceeding one hundred dollars.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 2.

By Mr. Greenwood:

House bill No. 124, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Section 3, Chapter 115, of 'An Act to define and regulate fraternal beneficiary societies, orders or associations; to prescribe the terms and conditions on which such societies organized under the laws of other States or those doing business in other States, may be permitted to do business in

(The bill provides that where there are two or more defendants residing in different counties, in which case the suit may be brought in any county where any one of the defendants resides, and it provides that the endorser of a bill or note shall not be such a defendant as will confer venue as to any other defendant under this section.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 1.

By Mr. Hawkins:

House bill No. 122, A bill to be entitled "An Act to reorganize the Thirty-second Judicial District of Texas, and to designate the counties which compose the same; and to prescribe the time for holding the district courts therein; to validate all process, writs and bonds issued or executed prior to the taking effect of this act, and returnable to the terms of said court as heretofore fixed by law, and to make same returnable to the terms of said court as fixed in this act, and to repeal all laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith."

(The bill provides that the Thirty

Commissioner of Insurance of this State in relation thereto; providing for the incorporation of such societies, and declaring an emergency."

(The object of the bill is to compel fraternal beneficiary associations to pay judgments rendered against them by the courts of this State. An emergency is declared.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 1.

By Mr. Murray:

House bill No. 125, A bill to be entitled "An Act to appropriate the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the use of the State Purchasing Agent in purchasing stamps for the remainder of the year ending February 28, 1901.”

(The bill declares an emergency.) Read first time, and referred to Committee on Finance.

By Mr. Tarpey:

House bill No. 126, A bill to be entitled "An Act to punish offenders against the laws of nature, and to provide a penalty therefor."

(The bill makes the offense a felony, and provides a penalty of confinement in the penitentiary for a term of not less.

By Mr. Phillips:

House bill No. 128, A bill to be entitled "An Act to authorize the city council of all cities and towns incorporated under the general laws or by act of the Legislature of this State to regulate the charges and fix the rates to be charged by all water companies and all other corpora tions or persons engaged in any other public business within the limits of said cities or towns and occupying the streets and other public places for that purpose, and to prescribe reasonable rules and regulations therefor, and to protect said companies and corporations or persons from imposition."

Read first time, and referred to Committee on Towns and City Corporations. By Mr. Grisham:

House bill No. 129, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Article 1129, Chapter 1, Title XXIX, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, relating to the disqualification of the judges of the county courts."

(The bill amends by providing that no such judge shall sit in any cause wherein any attorney in such cause, any portion of whose fee for his services therein shall depend upon any contingency in such cause, may be connected with him by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree, or where either party shall make his own affidavit supported by the affidavit of at least three creditable persons, residents of the county in which suit is pending, that he has reason to believe and does believe that there exists in the mind of such judge so great a prejudice against him that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial before such judge.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 1.

By Mr. Grisham:

House bill No. 130, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Article 1567, Chapter 1, Title XXXIII, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, relating to disqualification of justices of the peace."

(The bill provides for the same amend

ment relative to justices of the peace as that provided for in House bill No. 129, in relation to judges of the county courts.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 1.

By Mr. Grisham:

House bill No. 131, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Article 1068, Chapter 1, Title XXVII, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, relating to the disqualification of judges of the district courts."

(This bill amends the law in relation to the disqualification of judges of the district courts in the same manner as do House bills Nos. 129 and 130, relative to the disqualification of county judges and justices of the peace, making the same additional provisions.)

Read first time, and referred to Judiciary Committee No. 1.

By Mr. Hawkins:

House bill No. 132, A bill to be entitled "An Act to restore and confer upon the county court of Stonewall county the civil and criminal jurisdiction heretofore belonging to said court under the Constitution and general statutes of Texas; to define the jurisdiction of said court; to conform the jurisdiction of the district court of said county to such change; to fix the time of holding court, and to repeal all laws in conflict with this act." (The bill declares an emergency.) Read first time, and referred to Committee on Judicial Districts.

By Mr. Terrell of Cherokee:

House Joint Resolution No. 10, To amend Article 16, Section 11, of the Constitution of the State of Texas, reducing the contract rate of interest from ten to eight per cent. per annum, and providing that the necessary proclamation be issued by the Governor.

Read first time, and referred to Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
By Mr. Decker:

A petition from W. C. Isaacs and fifty-nine other citizens of Hemphill county, praying that said county be exempted from the operation of the law providing for the office of “hide and animal inspector."

Read, and referred to Committee on Stock and Stock-raising.

RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. Murrell offered the following resolution:

House Concurrent Resolution No. 4: Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that a joint

Resolved, That House Rule No. XIX, Subdivision No. 9, be so changed as to read hereafter as follows:

"9. No bill shall have the force of law until it has been read on three several days in each house, and free discussion allowed thereon, but in case of imperative public necessity (which necessity shall be stated in a preamble or in the body of the bill) four-fifths of the House may suspend this rule, the yeas and nays being taken on the question of suspension and entered upon the Journal."

The resolution was read, and, under the rules (see Rule 27), went to the Speaker's table.

COMMITTEE REPORTS.

Committee Room,

Austin, Texas, Jan. 17, 1901.

Hon. R. E. Prince, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

SIR:

Your Committee on Education,

to whom was referred

House bill No. 85, A bill to be entitled "An Act to prohibit the traffic in examination questions used by the county school boards of examiners, or by the summer normal boards of examiners, in the examination of teachers, and providing a penalty for the violation thereof,"

Have had the same under consideration, and I am instructed to report it back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass, with the following amendments:

"Amend Section 1 by adding the following after the word 'dollars': ‘and each violation shall be considered a separate offense.'

"Amend by adding Section 2, as foltion to correspond: lows, and renumbering the other sec

""Section 2. That any person or applicant for a teacher's certificate who shall receive, use or be in possession of said questions prepared by the State Su

House Concurrent Resolution No. 5: Whereas, The grim angel of death has removed from our midst Hon. Web Ridling, a faithful servant of his people, a distinguished citizen of Texas and an honorable and beloved representative of his people; therefore, be it

to the date of said examination shall be forever thereafter debarred from receiving a teacher's certificate.'”

TERRELL of Cherokee, Chairman.

MAJORITY REPORT.

Committee Room,

Austin, Texas, January 17, 1901.

of Representatives.

Resolved, That we extend to the bereaved relatives our heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of grief.

Resolved further, That a committee consisting of nine members, three from the Senate and six from the House, be appointed to take charge of the body and accompany it to the place of final interment.

[Signed-Evans, Mulkey, Stell, Wells of Grayson, Kennedy of Limestone, Boyd, Hemphill, McInnis, Calvin, Stollenwerck, Smith.]

The resolution was read second time. and Mr. Smith moved that it be adopted by a rising vote.

The motion prevailed, and the resolu tion was adopted unanimously.

SIR: Your Committee on Public Printing, to whom was referred

House bill No. 22, A bill to be entitled "An Act requiring commissioners courts to purchase from the lowest and best bidders all blanks, blank books and stationery,"

Have had the same under consideration, and I am instructed to report it back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass as amended, i. e.:

"By adding after the word 'county,' in line 20, the following: 'for the term of one year.'

TALBOT, Acting Chairman.

MINORITY REPORT.

on Public Printing, to whom was referred

House bill No. 22,

Mr. Clements offered the following amendment:

"Amend by striking out all of Section

recommend that it do not pass.

WELLS of Grayson,
THURMOND.

BILL WITHDRAWN.

Mr. Terrell of Cherokee (by request of the author) asked leave to withdraw House bill No. 68, and the request was granted.

The Speaker laid before the House, on its second reading,

House bill No. 4, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Chapter 153, of the General Laws of the State of Texas, passed at the Regular Session of the Twenty-fifth Legislature and amended at the Regular Session of the Twenty-sixth Legislature, entitled 'An Act to prohibit the taking of fish from the fresh waters and streams of this State otherwise than by means of the ordinary hook and line and trot line, and to prohibit the sale or shipping of game fish in this State, and to provide penalties for the violation thereof,' by exempting the county of Cherokee and other counties from the provisions of this act."

The bill was read second time, and Mr. McMeans offered the following amendment:

page 2."

Glenn.

Pickett.

Pierson.

Goodlett.

Poole.

Gray of Comanche.

Porter.

Griggs. Hamilton. Hemphill. Henderson of

Ragland.

Roach.

Robertson of

Henderson.

Heslep.

Houts. Hurt.

Jones.

Williamson.

Rodriguez.
Rowland.

Satterwhite.

Seabury.

Shaw.

Smith.

The amendment was adopted.

Kennedy of Harris. Stollenwerck.

Substitute House bill No. 7, A bill to be entitled "An Act to regulate and define the fees of the clerks of the district courts of the State of Texas, in civil cases, and fix the fees for transferring misdemeanor indictments to inferior courts."

The bill was read second time.
Question being-

Shall the committee report be adopted? Mr. Walker moved to lay it on the table subject to call.

The motion was lost, and the committee report was adopted.

Question then recurred on engrossment of Substitute Flouse bill No. 7, pending which

Mr. Hendrick, Chairman of the Special Committee on the Waters-Pierce Oil Co. investigation, stated to the House that the committee would be able to report sometime today, and asked leave to file the report with the Journal Clerk and have it printed in the Journal. The request was granted.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED.

The Speaker announced the following committee, on part of the House, in accordance with House Concurrent Resolution No. 5:

Messrs. Evans, Stell, Mulkey, Craddock, Calvin, Grisham and Wells of Grayson.

On motion of Mr. Napier, the House, at 10:53 a. m., in respect to the memory of the late W. W. Ridling, a member of this House, adjourned until 9:30 o'clock a. m. next Monday.

ELEVENTH DAY.

Hall of the House of Representatives.
Austin, Texas,

Monday, January 21, 1901. The House met at 9:30 o'clock a. m., pursuant to adjournment.

Speaker Prince in the chair.

Roll called, and the following members present:

Cole. Craddock.

Cuny.

Adair.

Allred.

Bean. Beaty.

Decker.

Boyd.

Dillard.

Bridgers.

Doyle.

Evans.

son.

Bryan.

Garner.