co-operation with the parent-teacher organizations of the State. 13. Provision for the holding of a constitutional convention in the spring of 1922. 14. Revision of the certificate laws, providing for the same powers of certification to all schools on a basis of the same standards and courses of work and for a distinction between certificates obtained by examination and those secured through college work, providing for a gradual raising of standards for teachers through a period of several years and for more adequate fees for county examinations. 15. Endorsement of the memorial of the Board of Regents of the State University in which is proposed a plan for removing the University of Texas to another site and for provision for adequate grounds, buildings and support for a university of the first class. 16. The committee endorsed the budgets presented to the Board of Control by the institutions of higher education and by the State Department of Education as just, fair and necessary for the maintenance and support of these institutions, and it was the sense of this committee that its members should do all within their power to secure the adoption of these budgets by the legis lative committees and by the Thirtyseventh Legislature. In closing this report your committee desires to express to you its appreciation of the opportunity for service to the educational interests of the State which has been conferred upon them by your appointments. We desire to express to you our deepest appreciation of the progress in education which has taken place during your administration and of your progressive and liberal policies towards the schools which have made this progress possible. Respectfully yours, Original signed by RICHARD BURGES. ANNIE WEBB BLANTON, Committee. Governor's Office, Austin, Texas, January 11, 1921. To the Thirty-seventh Legislature in Regular Session. Gentlemen: May I urge the immediate enactment of a bill with the emergency, copy of which I have taken the liberty to attach hereto. The measure is self-explanatory in the accompanying bill and is considered by the State Board of Education very urgent to meet the present need of funds for building schoolhouses in Texas. More than a million dollars for bonds are offered the State Board of Education, and upon the sale of these bonds depends the building of schoolhouses in more than two hundred school districts in Texas. The $315,000 available for the purchase of these bonds is insufficient. The State is indebted to the school fund and this indebtedness may be met by paying out of the general revenue the indicated amount to retire certain coupons bearing 3 per cent interest. The condition of the State Treasury will easily permit this exchange of funds. The enactment of the measure will bring the available school fund 5 per cent interest instead of 3 per cent interest from the securities held by the State Board of Education and at the same time will relieve the paralysis that momentarily exists in the building of schoolhouses in Texas. Respectfully submitted, W. P. HOBBY, Ora Taulbee, Stenographers-Miss Miss Virgia Thorp, Mrs. H. K. Nagle, Miss Isabelle Sutherland, Miss Pearl Williams, Miss Ileene Vaughan, Miss Hazel Brown, Miss Annis R. Robbins, W. E. McGuire, Miss Blanche Buckley, Miss Ettie Russell, Miss Lila Sandlin, and Mrs. E. E. Green. RELATING TO NOTARIES PUBLIC. Mr. Wright offered the following resclution: Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives be instructed to purchase and have printed 2,000 postal cards for the use of members in replying to applications for appointment of notaries public, to be paid for out of the contingent expense fund provided for the House during this session of the Legislature. Signed-Wright, Lindsey, Laney. The resolution was read second time. Mr. Horton moved to table the resolution, and the motion to table was lost. Question recurring on the resolution, keeping, support and maintenance of it was adopted. prisoners in jail, or under guard, and declaring an emergency." Referred to Committee on State Af fairs. By Mr. Smith: H. B. No. 2, A bill to be entitled "An Act defining secured debts, constituting the same a separate class of property for purposes of taxation, levying a tax on such property, providing and the duties of certain officers with the method of the payment of said tax, respect to the registration and record TEMPORARY COMMITTEE ON AP- of such property and the collection of PROPRIATIONS. said tax, providing penalties for a violation of this act, and declaring an emer The Speaker announced the appoint-gency." ment of the following temporary Committee on Appropriations: Messrs. Satterwhite, Beasley, Stephens, King, Teer, Bass, Wright, Morris of Medina, and Barrett of Bell. SENATE NOTIFIED. The committee appointed on yesterday to notify the Senate that the House is now organized and ready for the transaction of business, appeared at the bar of the House, and being duly announced, reported that they had on yesterday performed the duty assigned them. Referred to Committee on Revenue and Taxation. By Mr. Smith: H. B. No. 3, A bill to be entitled "An Act providing for the collection of an inheritance tax on property subject to the jurisdiction of the laws of this State passing by will or otherwise of a decedent, and giving the amount of property exempt before the tax accrues, and providing for inventory and appraisal of such property subject to the tax and duties of administrator, guardian or trustee as to reports and allowable deductions; also duty of the Tax other officials; prescribing the rate of Commission, and county judge, and tax and when the tax is due and payable, and to whom, and providing for penalties and repealing all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this act, and declaring an emergency." Referred to Committee on Revenue and Taxation. By Mr. Smith: H. B. No. 4, A bill to be entitled "An Act creating a Tax Commission which Commission shall be known as the Tax Commission of the State of shall be composed of three members, Texas; providing that the Commission their appointment, term of office, qualifications, duties and powers; making an appropriation for said Commission and repealing Chapter 4, Title 126, Revised Civil Statutes of 1911, and declaring an emergency." Referred to Committee on Revenue and Taxation. By Mr. Smith: H. B. No. 5, A bill to be entitled "An Act defining property subject to ad valorem taxes and the mode of ren . dering and valuing same for taxes, and providing for the assessment of all property subject to taxation, and the collection of the tax due by said property in both organized and unorganized counties; providing for the election of an assessor for each organized county, his duties and qualifications and compensation; providing for the election of a tax collector for each county and the manner of collecting the tax, making reports and remitting the money, and the qualifications and compensation of the collector; designating the property exempt from ad valorem tax and providing that all other shall be assessed and the method and manner of rendering same; providing for the rendition for taxation of railroads and certain other corporations to the Tax Commission, and the method of certifying the same to the several counties in which the property is located; giving the Tax Commission and county boards of equalization authority to equalize values and the method to be employed in such equalization; and providing for the collection of delinquent taxes; prescribing penalties and repealing all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this act, and declaring an emergency." Referred to Committee on Revenue and Taxation. 1911 as Revised Civil Statutes of amended by the Acts of the Thirtythird Legislature, approved March 28, 1913, and as amended by Acts of Thirty-fifth Legislature, approved March 15, 1917, defining the original and appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Texas." Referred to Judiciary Committee. By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: H. B. No. 9, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Chapter 15, Acts of the Fourth Called Session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature of the State of Texas, page 7610, General Laws of the State of Texas, Fourth Called Session, providing that the channels of trade be kept open, and providing for declaration of areas by the Governor where the police powers of local authorities shall be suspended and the powers thus suspended shall be taken over by the State rangers, or other agencies, under direction of the Governor, when it shall appear to the Governor to be necessary under reports and findings of the Industrial Commission as now provided by law; and providing for the trial and indictment of offenders under the laws of Texas, and repealing all laws in conflict herewith; and providing for the trial and indictment of offenders under the laws of Texas, and repealing By Mr. John E. Davis of Dallas and all laws in conflict herewith, and proMr. Miller of Dallas: viding for an emergency." Referred to Committee on State Affairs. By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: H. B. No. 6, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Article 4081 of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, so as to provide for the appointment of a guardian of a person of unH. B. No. 10, A bill to be entitled sound mind or an habitual drunkard, "An Act making an appropriation of on a hearing before the court, without the sum of four thousand dollars to the necessity of a jury trial, which will make reparation to Ben Perry, a negro, be granted if requested, as set out in who was wrongfully convicted and imTitle 64, Chapter 16, Revised Civil Stat-prisoned for a term of about eight years utes of the State of Texas, providing for in the State penitentiary of Texas for 'Guardianship of Persons of Unsound a crime committed by another, and deMind and Habitual Drunkards,' and claring an emergency." validating all appointments heretofore made without a jury trial.” Referred to Judiciary Committee. H. B. No. 7, A bill to be entitled "An Act to repeal Articles 865a, 865b, 865c, 865d, 865e, 865f, 865g, 865h and 8651, of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the State of Texas." Referred to Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: H. B. No. 8, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Article 1521 of the Referred to Committee on Appropriations. By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: H. B. No. 11, A hill to be entitled "An Act to amend Section 16 of Chapter 190 of the general laws of the Regular Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 71 of the general laws of the Fourth Called Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature, and as amended by Section 1, Chapter 113, of the general laws of the Regular Session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature, by increasing the annual license fee on commercial vehicles, and interurban commercial vehicles, and on Roads, Texas of 1911, as amended by Chapter 90 of the General Laws of the Fourth Called Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature; and Section 10 of Chapter 39 of the General Laws of the First Called Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, so as to make said articles and statutes comply with the purposes of this act." Referred to Judiciary Committee. By Mr. Melson and Mr. Veatch: H. B. No. 15, A bill to be entitled "An Act abolishing the Board of Water By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: Engineers of the State of Texas, and the offices of members of said board, and H. B. No. 12, A bill to be entitled conferring the authority, powers, duties, "An Act to amend Chapter S, Title 71, functions, rights and liabilities of said of the Revised Civil Statutes, providing board and members upon the State Refor the incorporation, organization, reg-clamation Engineer of Texas; making ulation and supervision of mutual life insurance companies in this State, and providing penalties for the violation of Referred to Committee on Insurance. this act." By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: H. B. No. 13, A bill to be entitled "An Act to define the term 'general libel,' making it a criminal offense, prohibiting same, providing for the punishment thereof, and providing what shall and what shall not be a defense." Referred to Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. By Mr. Stephens: available to said Reclamation Engineer the Legislature for the Board of Water all appropriations heretofore made by Engineers, or authorized to be expended by said board or the members thereof in the performance and exercise of the duties, powers, authority and functions transferred by this act; authorizing said Reclamation Engineer to dispense with any work or employes not needed, or to prevent duplication of work and effort, and authorizing him to fix salaries of employes within the maximum appropriations made by law, and declaring an emergency." Referred to Committee on State Affairs. By Mr. Melson: H. B. No. 16, A bill to be entitled "An Act to create the office of county auditor in all counties in the State of Texas which contain a population of H. B. No. 14, A bill to be entitled "An Act providing for the nomination by preferential ballot of candidates for office in this State by any organized political party which cast one hundred and twenty-five thousand votes or more for Governor at the last general election; amending Articles 3084, 3095, 3114, 3122, 3125 and 3126 of Chapter 10, Title 49, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas of 1911; Article 3086 of Chapter 10, Title 49, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas of 1911, as amended by Chapter 90. General Laws of the Fourth Called Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature; Article 3136 of Chapter 10, Title 49, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas of 1911, as amended by Chapter 16, General Laws of the Regular Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature; Article 3138 of Chapter 10, Title 49, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas of 1911 as amended by Chapter 90 of the General Laws of the Fourth By Mr. Veatch and Mr. Melson: Called Session of the Thirty-fifth Legis- H. B. No. 18, A bill to be entitled lature; Article 3139 of Chapter 10, Title "An Act abolishing the Markets and 49, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Warehouse Department and the Weights By Mr. Melson: H. B. No. 17, A bill to be entitled "An Act to repeal Articles 865A, 865B, 865C, 865D, 865E, 865F, 865G and 865H of the Criminal Procedure of the State of Texas, known as the suspended sentence law." Referred to Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. By Mr. Marshall: Bridges and Ferries. By Mr. Marshall: "An Act to amend Article 696, Chapter and Measures Department and conferring all the authority, powers, duties, functions, rights and liabilities of the "An Act requiring the purchaser of any H. B. No. 21, A bill to be entitled Commissioner of Markets and Ware- second-hand automobile car, truck or mohouses and of said Markets and Ware- tor vehicle now or hereafter required by house Department and Weights and law to be licensed or registered through Measures Department upon the Commis- or by the Highway Commission of Texas, sioner of Agriculture; abolishing the to obtain a certificate of title and to proboard, consisting of the Governor, Com-vide a penalty and an emergency." missioner of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Insurance and Banking, created by Chapter 5, General Laws of the Second Called Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, and vesting the powers and duties of said board in the Commissioner of Agriculture; conferring the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Insurance and Banking, relative to warehouses upon the Commissioner of Agriculture, except such as are conferred by Chapter 3, General Laws, Second Called Session of the Thirty-third Legislature; conferring power and authority upon the Commissioner of Agriculture to administer the provisions of Chapter 5, General Laws, Second Called Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, Chapter 41, General Laws, First Called Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature, and Chapter 116 of the General Laws, Regular Session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature, or so much of said statutes as are in force; transferring the appropriations of the Markets and Warehouse Department and the Weights and Measures Department to the Commissioner of Agriculture, and declaring an emergency.' Referred to Committee on Agriculture. Jurisprudence. By Mr. Curtis: "An Act defining and declaring certain H. B. No. 23, A bill to be entitled public utilities and virtual monopolies and subjecting same to the power and jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas to regulate and enact rules, regulations, orders, decisions for the government and conduct of the business of the same, and safe, sufficient and adequate service; leaving the municipalities certain powers of regulation, and the option to refer such regulation to the said Commission; authorizing muwith certain powers to hear matters nicipalities to appoint a commissioner By Mr. John Davis of Dallas: affecting utilities; requiring charges of said utilities subject to this act for H. B. No. 19, A bill to be entitled their services or commodities to be just, "An Act to amend Article 1521 of the reasonable, non-discriminatory and adeRevised Civil Statutes of 1911 as amend-quate, and providing for the reimburseed by the Acts of the Thirty-third Legislature approved March 28, 1913, and as amended by Acts of the Thirty-fifth Legislature approved March 15, 1917; defining the original and appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Texas, and repealing all laws in conflict therewith." Referred to Judiciary Committee. H. B. No. 20, A bill to be entitled "An Act to amend Articles 586 and 587, Chapter 6. Title 11, of the Penal Code of the State of Texas, so as to provide a penalty for betting on all public elections, and defining public elections, and declaring an emergency." Referred to Committee on Privileges, Suffrage and Elections. ment of charges collected in excess of permitted or reasonable charges to persons entitled thereto and for escheat of unclaimed amounts to the State, requiring the filing of reports and schedules, conferring power to prescribe methods of accounts, on said Commission the to valuate the properties, to require the maintenance of a proper reserve for depreciation and replacement, to determine of said utilities upon application or its the rates, charges, returns and practices own initiative, to require improvements and extensions, to require joint or connected service and to apportion the returns and expenses thereof; prohibiting discrimination in rates, charges, or comcertain exceptions, requiring certificates pensations received by said utilities with of convenience or necessity or previous |