will be pleasant; that our legislation will be wise, brief and for the advancement and upbuilding of our great State. The great State we serve will look after our temporal welfare, and the Senator from Lee, as he indicated in the caucus last night, assisted by Father Sayres, our Chaplain, will take care of our spiritual welfare, so we wil want for nothing, and cannot fail. Again referring back to this distinguished honor, I will say that I thank you in behalf of that vast body of democrats that I have the honor to represent, the most cosmopolitan citizenship of any district in the State. First I represent the sturdy race of Anglo-Saxons that have never winced in the mighty storms of hardships in order to blaze the way for the enlightened State of society that prevails in my district. Next I represent the sturdy Germans, who, only as the Germans can, by their thrift, perseverance and energy, transform a wilderness into habita tion and make a barren waste blossom as the rose. Also the econom NOTIFICATION COMMITTEES. Senator Cofer moved that the Chair appoint a committee of three Senators each to notify the Governor and House of Representatives that the Senate was organized and ready for business. The motion was adopted, and tr following committees were appointed: To notify the Governor: Senators The committee to notify the Governor immediately notified the Governor of the organization of the Senate and made their report. STANDING COMMITTEES. The Chair, Lieutenant Governor Davidson, announced the following standing committees: Finance Committee: Willacy, chairman; Weinert, Murray, Paulus, Wise, Astin, Peeler, Bryan, KauffMeachum, Warren, Real, Terrell of man, Johnson, Hudspeth. Contingent Expenses: Terrell of Wise, Chairman; Bryan, Mayfield, Vaughan, Ratliff, Real, Townsend, Hume, Adams. SIMPLE RESOLUTION. By Senators Terrell of McLennan and Meachum: ical, industrious Swedes and Bohemians; the frugal and thrifty Mexicans, of which some of our best citizenship is composed. The Chinese, the Japanese, and the Lord only knows how many other kinds of Nationalities. However, the efficient political organization in my city, of which I claim to be an humble member, has made good democrats of them all, and El Paso has valiantly come to the rescue of democracy while the old ship was in peril very recently, and on a number of other occasions. Again I appreciate the honor, my fellow Senators, that my children can point to the fact with a great deal of boastfulness that their father at one time was just two men removed from the Governor's chair, and I expect that this is about as near as he will ever get to this much coveted place. Fully conscious of the responsibility On motion of Senator Meachum, of the trust so generously and confid- the Senate, at 1:50 o'clock p. m., reingly reposed in me, I cheerfully and cessed until 3:30 o'clock today. with profound gratitude accept it. OATH OF OFFICE ADMIN- The Chair here administered the oath of office to the officers-elect of the Senate, except Assistant Doorkeeper and Assistant Engrossing Clerk. Resolved, That the standing rules of the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature be adopted as the temporary rules of this Senate until the appointment and report of a committee upon rules and the adoption of permanent rules for the government of this body. The above resolution was read and adopted. RECESS. AFTER RECESS. The Senate was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Davidson. CAPTAIN KELLIE ACCEPTS. Jasper Station Texas, January 10, 1911. Senator J. G. Willacy, Austin. Absent. Prayer by the Chaplain. ENROLLING CLERK-ELEC TION OF. Senator Watson stated that J. B. Campbell of Hays county, who was elected Enrolling Clerk of the Senate on yesterday, had declined to accept the place, and moved to rescind the vote by which he was elected. The motion to rescind prevailed. Senator Watson then moved to rescind the vote by which W. P. Williams of Kaufman county was elected as a General Committee Clerk, stating that it was his intention to nominate Mr. Williams for the position of Enrolling Clerk. The motion to rescind prevailed. Senator Watson then placed W. P. Williams of Kaufman county in nomination for the position of Enrolling Clerk. There were no other nominations, and the Chair declared nominations closed. Senators Warren, Kauffman and McNealus were appointed tellers to count the vote. Mr. Williams received 24 votes, and was declared duly and constitutionally elected Enrolling Clerk. Senator Watson then moved that Finton Hall of Hays county be appointed a General Committee Clerk. The motion prevailed. OATH OF OFFICE ADMINSTERED. The Chair, Lieutenant Governor Davidson, then administered the constitutional oath of office to Mr. Williams, Enrolling Clerk, and Mrs. Lula Norman, Assistant Engrossing Clerk. NOTIFICATION COMMITTEE- Here the Committee of the Senate to notify the House that the Senate was organized and ready for business appeared at the bar of the Senate and reported that they had performed their duties and asked to be discharged. Terrell, McLennan AFTER RECESS. The Senate was called to order by HOUSE NOTIFICATION COM- A committee of three members of the House here appeared at the bar of the Senate and notified the Senate that the House was organized and ready for business. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. J. R. Bowman, Private Secretary to the Governor, here appeared at the bar of the Senate, and, after being announced, presented the following message from the Governor, which was read to the Senate: Austin, Texas, Jan. 11, 1911. To the Senate and House of Representatives: You have, as Members of the Thirty-second Legislature, assembled emphasizing the important truth that in all legislation the general good is necessarily the chief object and duty of patriotic men. In seeking the office each of you now hold, worthy and honorable motives were of course declared, an 1 a trusting constituency has the right to expect a fulfillment of your 6 pledges. It is also a reasonable as sumption that the party faith of the tions persistently made by favorascendant political party in this seeking special interests with respect State will be preserved and main- to our laws and policies, the State tained. This doctrine applies with as has prospered and its opportunities much force to the duty of preserv-and resources have been developed ing those laws heretofore enacted to an extent altogether gratifying. in response to the party platform and Our educational, agricultural, comthe popular will, as it does to those mercial, industrial, transportation, enactments and policies which may manufacturing and banking interests, thereafter be promised by you or and all enterprises making for the demanded by the people. growth of the State, and the happiness, contentment and enrichment of the people, have prospered during the last four years in a manner never A law passed in response to the people's demand can with properiety be amended or repealed when they so direct, but no man, power or equalled in any like period in the agency should be permitted to disturb such legislation until the people are consulted and declare for such a change. The Constitution provides that the Governor shall at the commencement of each session of the Legislature and at the close of his term of office by Message give the Legislature information of the condition of the State, recommend such measures as he may deem expedient, and at the beginning of each Regular Session present estimates of the amount of money necessary to be raised by taxation for all purposes. In complying with this provision of the Constitution I must at the outset congratulate you and the people upon the favorable financial conditions under which you have assembled. The State Treasury is upon a cash During the past four years the State government has been administered in the interest of all the people without favoritism and without bestowal of privileges hurtful to the masses. basis. State's history. Factories have mul- years. character, exacted elective and there is The fact that the law is supreme has and can be enforced in Texas at been demonstrated, cause for congratulation in the fact that all the laws are now being generally respected and obeyed throughout the State. During the four years of this administration, though confronted the beginning with an estimated deficiency of more than three hunared thousand dollars, we have by the correct application of business principles aided by effective revenue legislation avoided a deficiency and the State has met and discharged every obligation when due. We have the lowest tax rate enjoyed by any State in this Republic, and the lightest tax burden ever laid upon the masses of the people of Texas for the support of their State government was levied for the pres(nt year. Just and adequate laws, characteristic of Texas legislation, have been placed in our Statutes and these laws, properly administered and applied, promote the general welfare, and aid in the preservation of governmental integrity. Much useful legislation has been enacted during the past four years in compliance with the Democratic Notwithstanding the serious platform and out of respect and dedrouth in some sections of our ference to the popular will. Nearly State during the last two years and every demand for legislation in the the Nation-wide panic of 1907, and interests of the masses was met by notwithstanding the misrepresenta- the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Legis |