Journal of the House of Representatives of the First Called Session of the Thirty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas Page: 43
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HOUSE JOURNAL.
spect to said Cochran county special
road bonds and taxes, and the payment
thereof, or the certified copy thereof, and
constituting such orders legal evidence,
and declaring an emergency."
EXTENDING SYMPATHY TO HON.
R. B. STEVENS.
Mr. McGill offered the following reso-
lution :
Whereas, It has been made known to
the House that our fellow member Hon.
R. B. Stevens has been seriously ill and
is in such weakened condition that he
is unable to attend the present session;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representa-
tives, That we extend to Mr. Stevens
and his wife our sincere sympathy for
him during his sickness and suffering;
that we deeply regret his absence and
we earnestly hope that he will soon be
restored to health and be able to render
the same efficient seafvice to his State
and district in the future as he has in
the past; be it further
Resolved, That the Clerk mail a cer-
tified copy of this resolution to Mr.
Stevens.
Signed-McGill, Pool.
The resolution was read second time
and was adopted.
PROVIDING FOR INVESTIGATION
OF STATE DEPARTMENTS.
Mr. King offered the following resolu-
tion:
Providing for an investigation of
State departments and the administra-
tion of public affairs by the State High-
way Commission and contracts let
through the State Highway Commis-
sion, beginning with January 1, 1925,
and for an investigation into the grant-
ing of pardons and the letting of text-
book contracts, by a committee of the
House of Representatives appointed
therefor, and defining the powers and
duties of said committee, and making
an appropriation from the mileage and
per diem and contingent fund for the
payment of the expenses of said com-
mittee.
Whereas, Certain suits have been
filed and tried challenging the validity
of certain contracts let by the High-
way Commission of Texas during the
year 1925, in one of which suits a
judgment was entered finding that the
contracts in question had been let in
abuse of official discretion and for anunconscionable consideration, and in
another of such suits the jury found
upon special issues that there had been
probable fraud in the letting of such
contracts; and
Whereas, Facts are known to exist
which have created a necessity and a
general demand upon the part of the
peoplle that the affairs of the State
Highway Department be made the sub-
ject of an investigation; and
Whereas, During the past twenty
months there have been more than two
thousand acts of executive clemency,
including pardons, paroles, furloughs,
reprieves and commutations, and there
has been a general criticism and con-
demnation of many of such acts of
clemency, and there exists a necessity
and a general demand for an investi-
gation into the granting of such par-
dons and the facts connected therewith;
and
Whereas, In the matter of letting
contracts for books for the use of the
school children of Texas, litigation and
criticism have been directed towards the
conduct of the Text-Book Commission
and the agencies and influences invoked
to affect its action in the performance
of book contracts; and
Whereas, The public interest impera-
tively demands a thorough investigation
of all charges and complaints against
the agencies which control or manage
the affairs of the State, in whole or in
part, to the end that guilt, if guilt
there be, be established, mistakes cor-
rected, and reforms had which will ad-
vance and protect the public welfare as
far as is humanly possible; and
Whereas, The platform adopted by
the Democratic party at its last con-
vention asked for an investigation of
public affairs; and
Whereas, The Texas Legislature is
the only body with proper power to act,
investigate and by law to remedy con-
ditions found to b)e wrong and intoler-
able, and probably bring to justice those
who are guilty of such wrongs; and
Whereas. The term of this Called
Session will be far too short during
which to make a proper investigation,
report and act in regard thereto; now
therefore, )e it
Resolved by the House of Represent-
atives of the State of Texas:
Section 1. That a committee of nine
members of the House of Representa-
tives be appointed by the Speaker from
among its members, whose duty it shall
he to conduct an investigation into the
administration of highway affairs by43
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Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Journal of the House of Representatives of the First Called Session of the Thirty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas, legislative document, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth193835/m1/47/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.