Joint Session. At 10:15 a. m., the Senate met in joint session with the House to hear Dr. C. L. Marlatt speak, Speaker R. E. Thomason presiding. The Speaker recognized the doorkeeper, who announced that the House Committee was at the door of the House with their guest. The Speaker directed the doorkeeper to admit the committee, and the committee escorted Hon. W. P. Hobby, Governor of Texas, and Dr. C. S. Marlatt to the Speaker's chair. P. Hobby to the Senate and House, The Speaker introduced Hon. W. who submitted a communication to him from the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture. The communication having been read, Governor Hobby introduced the speaker, Mr. C. L. Marlatt. Mr. C. S. Marlatt's speech followed. At the close of his speech, several Senators and Representatives asked Dr. Marlatt questions. On the motion of Mr. Lewelling, the joint session stood adjourned. Senate Reconvenes. At twelve o'clock the Senate was called to order by the Lieutenant Governor. Petitions and Memorials. See appendix. Executive Session Postponed. Committee Reports. On the motion of Senator Dean, the executive session scheduled for See appendix. Austin, Texas, May 24, 1920. Hon. W. A. Johnson, President of the Senate. Prayer by the chaplain, Rev. S. H. Morgan. Pending the reading of the Journal of yesterday, the same was dispensed with on motion of Senator Faust. Nomination for Assistant Secretary. Unanimous consent was granted to Sir: We, your Committee on Fi- Senator Cousins to send up the folnance, to whom was referred S. B. No. 7, A bill to be entitled "An Act to make an apropriation of one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars to reimburse the Board of Regents of the University of Texas for expenditures made at Camp Mabry, Texas, and remaining on hand unpaid at the close of the war, out of the University Available fund, in pursuance of Senate Resolution No. 12 passed at the Fourth Called Session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature, and declaring an emergency," Have had the same under consideration and report same back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. WESTBROOK, Chairman. lowing nomination: Whereas, the Secretary of the Senate is without an assistant secretary and needs one very badly I move that G. A. Baker now be elected. On the motion of Senator Cousins, the secretary cast the vote of the Senate for Mr. Baker as assistant secretary, and he was declared elected. Petitions and Memorials. Messages from the Governor. A messenger from the Governor ap Legislature, relating to the appointment of certain officers named in Article 3881 to 3886 of the Revised Civil Statutes, of deputies or assistants in the performance of the duties of such officers, where such assistants or deputies are necessary for the efficiency of the public service; provid ing for an application to be made by such officers to the County Judge of the county for authority to appoint same; prescribing the issuance by the county judge of an order authorizing the appointment of such deputies or assistants: providing that the officer desiring such deputies or assistants shall make affidavit that such assistants or deputies are necessary for the efficiency of the public service. providing for the salary of the chief deputy and the other deputies or assistants; providing that the order of the county judge granting such authority shall state the number of deputies or assistants; providing that the officer requesting said deputies or assistants shall fix their compensation; providing the maximum amount allowed for deputies ni counties having a population from 37,500 to 100,000; providing the maximum amount allowed deputies in counties having population from 100,000 to 125,000 inhabitants as shown by the last U. S. Census; providing the maximum amount allowed deputies in Cities in excess of 125,000 inhabitants; in Counties having a population of 160,000 inhabitants or more as shown by U. S. Census of 1920; and providing that in counties in excess of 100,000 inhabitants, district attorneys of any district or county attorney, is authorized, with the consent of county judge of said county, to appoint two assistants in addition to his regular force, which two assistants shall not be required to possess same qualifications required by law for district and county attorneys; providing amount paid said deputies, also providing for seventy-five ($75.00) dollars per month for necessary expenses, etc., and declaring an emergency." Respectfully submitted, Governor's Office, "An Act to amend Article 3903, Chapter 4, Title 58, of the Revised Civil Statutes of 1911, of the State To the Thirty-sixth Legislature in of Texas, and as amended by Chapters 121 and 142 of the Regular Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, and as amended by Chapter 55 of the Regular Session of the Thirty-fifth Austin, Texas, May 28, 1920. Third Called Session. Gentlemen: At the request of Representative Richards, I submit for your consideration the following subject, to-wit: "An Act to exempt Electric Light and Water Companies from payment of occupation taxes in towns and cities of less than 1200 inhabitants. “An Act to amend Article No. 5049, Chapter 1, Title 104, of the Revised Civil Statutes of 1895 of the State of Texas, of Article 7355, Sections 26 and 27, Chapter 1, Title 126 of the Revised Civil Statutes of 1911, of the State of Texas, and to provide that an occupation tax shall not be levied upon Water and Light Plants in cities and towns of less than 1200 inhabitants." Respectfully submitted, W. P. HOBBY, Governor's Office, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1920. To the Thirty-sixth Legislature in Third Called Session. Gentlemen At the request of Representative Cox, I submit for your consideration the following, to-wit: "An Act defining pipe and gas lines engaged or to engage in the transportation, sale, purchase, use or distribution of natural gas; declaring all corporations, persons, partnership, or associations of persons now engaged, or hereafter to engage in buying, selling, distributing, and transporting natural gas for profit in this State to be public utilities, and making them subject to the provisions of this Act; excepting certain companies from the provisions of this Act; giving the Railroad Commission of Texas the power to fix and regulate the price of gas and the rates and charges by such public utilities pointment of receivers; making this Act cumulative, providing that the invalidity of any part of this Act shall not invalidate the remaining parts hereof, and declaring an emergency." Respectfully submitted, W. P. HOBBY, Governor's Office, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1920. To the Thirty-sixth Legislature in Third Called Session, Gentlemen: At the request of Senator Caldwell, I submit for your consideration the following subject, to-wit: "An Act to amend Article 627 and Article 628 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Texas, of 1911, so as to provide that any county, or any political subdivision or defined district, now or hereafter defined, of a county, may issue bonds for the purpose of constructing and maintaining concrete bridges, concrete culverts, concrete dips, and concrete spillways, and to provide that when any political subdivision or defined district of a county has issued bonds under the provisions of this act, the county shall not thereafter issue its bonds without taking over the roads of such political subdivision or defined district as authorized by Articles 637a, 637b, and 637c, and declaring an emergency." Respectfully submitted, W. P. HOBBY, Governor's Office, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1920. for service; empowering said Commis- To the Thirty-sixth Legislature in sion to make rules and regulations for their conduct, and giving said Com Third Called Session. "An Act creating the Throckmorton Independent School District in Throckmorton County, Texas." Respectfully submitted, Gentlemen: At the request of Repmission plenary power to make fair resentative King, I submit for your and equitable rules and regulations and consideration the following subject, the provisions of this Act; fixing pen-to-wit: alties for violation of this Act, and the rules and orders of the said Commission; making certain violations a criminal offense and fixing the penalty therefor, and providing means for the recovery of such penalties as are not made criminal, either by the State of Texas, or by the party aggrieved by such violation; naming the tribunal in which such recovery may be had, and providing for the recovery of exces- To the Thirty-sixth Legislature in sive charges by patrons of such public utilities; providing for equitable division of the proceeds of the sale of gas between transporting companies and distributing companies, and to apportion the supply of gas between places and persons and corporations; providing additional grounds for ap Governor's Office, Austin, Texas, May 28, 1920. Third Called Session. Gentlemen: At the request of Representative Barrett, I submit for your consideration the following subject, to-wit: "Enlarging the Moran Independent School District in Shackelford County, Texas, defining its boundaries as en |