34th 1st Called Session

April 29, 1915 - May 28, 1915

Leadership

Governor: James E. Ferguson - Vetoes

Lieutenant Governor: William Pettus Hobby, Sr.

Speaker of the House: John William Woods

Special Session Topics

Proclamations Messages

Making appropriations for the support of State government and its institutions, and the repair, restoration and erection of necessary public buildings for the fiscal years beginning September 1, 1915, and ending August 31, 1917. [Mon Apr 26, 1915]
Modifying insurance laws with respect to the investment of their reserve and the assessment, levy and collection of a tax on the premium receipts from policyholders; same being Articles 4775 to 4786, inclusive, Revised Statutes. . ."The Robertson Insurance Law"; considering the "Gibson bill" relating to foreign insurance companies. [Mon Apr 26, 1915]
Considering appropriation for Texas exhibit at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Commission. [Fri Apr 30, 1915]
Considering the necessity of setting aside a liberal amount for the cause of popular education, and the maintenance of rural schools. [Fri Apr 30, 1915]
Enlarging the site of the State Blind Asylum, and providing more modern, commodious and fireproof buildings. [Tue May 4, 1915]
Providing for the purchase and improvement of certain lands in Washington county, on which was located the first capitol of Texas. . .to preserve and beautify this hallowed ground, this altar of Texas independence. [Wed May 5, 1915]
Reconsidering an act of 34th Legislature, Regular Session, providing for the location of three normal schools and providing that the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and two members to be appointed by the Supreme Court constitute a board to locate these schools, pursuant to letter from Supreme Court of Texas, T. J. Brown, Chief Justice, and Nelson Phillips and Wm. E. Hawkins, Associate Justices, to Governor James E. Ferguson, that this is a duty wholly unrelated to any proper function of the court. . .and not strictly within its constitutional powers. [Thu May 6, 1915]
Amending Article 1372, Chapter 12, Title 17, of the Revised Penal Code of Texas, and Article 7184, Chapter 3, Title 124, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, relating to the regulation of the butcher business and the detection of persons illegally handling and butchering of animals. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Amending Chapter 26 of the Acts of the First Called Session of the Thirty-second Legislature, authorizing the Commissioner of the General Land Office to sell conditionally relinquish to J. J. Kane of the city of Galveston, 87 acres of land. . .for the establishment of dry docks. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Amending Chapter 48 of the General Laws of the State of Texas, passed by the Thirty-fourth Legislature at its Regular Session, being an act to reorganize the Twenty-eighth Judicial District of Texas, and creating the Seventy-ninth Judicial District of Texas; said act being for the fixing of more convenient and proper time for holding court. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Amending Section 1, Chapter 23 of the Local and Special Laws passed by the Regular Session of the Thirty-fourth Legislature, same relating to the Happy Independent School District in Swisher and Randall counties. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Amending Section 4, Chapter 86 of the General Laws of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Texas, relating to the issuance of stocks and bonds by the associations and corporations brought under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Amending the road law in Wilson county, Texas. . . [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering a bill pertaining to the unlawful diversion of the natural flow of surface waters in the State or the immpounding the waters of this State in such manner as to damage the property of another. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering an act pertaining to jail guards and compensation for their services. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering division of Duval county. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering House Bill No. 13, introduced at the Regular Session by Hon. D. H. Biggers and Hon. T. F. Baker. . .declaring prairie dogs as a public nuisance, and providing for the destruction of same by land owners upon whose property prairie dogs exist. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering House Bill No. 450, submitted at the Regular Session of the Thirty-fourth Legislature; same being an act providing for the incorporation of medical milk commissioners and a certificate of milk products under their supervision. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering House Bill No. 529, 34th Regular Session, to suspend time for the payment of principal that has become due on former sales of land, belonging to the Public Free School Fund, University Fund, and the several asylum funds [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering Simple Resolution No. 10. . .printing and furnishing the people within a short time after they are printed the Acts of the Legislature. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering the question and advisability of appointing a Judicial Commission, consisting of five or more members to study the question of judicial reform and report back to the next session of the Legislature. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Correcting a provision in our Criminal Procedure so as to prescribe that the recognizance or bail bond to be given on appeal in felony cases will hold the defendant for a new trial in case of a reversal of the case, relating to the Court of Criminal Appeals case Sanders vs. The State, 158 S.W. Rep., page 291. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Creating and establishing in Harris county an additional court for concurrent jurisdiction in civil cases with the County Court at Law of Harris county. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Creating the Crowell Independent School District of Foard county, Texas. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Creating the Greensborough County-line Independent School District in Henderson and Van Zandt counties, Texas. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Granting permission to Imperial Sugar company, a corporation, incorporated under the laws of Texas, to bring suit against the State of Texas. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Providing that interurban corporations shall have the power to lease or acquire the physical property, rights and franchises of any other interurban corporation. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Regulating the business of co-operative savings contract loan companies. . . [Mon May 17, 1915]
Relieving the Sugarland Railway Company from necessity of rebuilding and constructing about three and one-half miles of its road in Fort Bend county, Texas, as ordered by the court in a judgment entered in the cause of State of Texas vs. The Sugarland Railway Company. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Reorganizing the Twenty-third Judicial District of Texas, and creating the Eightieth Judicial District of Texas. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Reorganizing the Twenty-third Judicial District of Texas, and creating the Seventy-eighth Judicial District of Texas. [Mon May 17, 1915]
Considering legislation looking to the division and apportionment of the State into Representative Districts, from which Representatives are to be elected to represent said districts in the Congress of the United States. [Tue May 18, 1915]
Granting to the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, all right, title and interest of the State of Texas to certain lands lying and being situated under the waters of Corpus Christi Bay, and belonging to the State of Texas. [Tue May 18, 1915]
Amending Sections 5, 6, and 9 of Chapter 5 of the Acts passed by the Second Called Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, relating to State bonded warehouses. [Wed May 19, 1915]
Creating a more efficient road system for Gregg county. [Wed May 19, 1915]
Creating a State Board of Horticulture. [Wed May 19, 1915]
Creating an independent school district to be known as "Ricardo Independent School District." [Wed May 19, 1915]
Incorporating and creating the Fulbright Independent School District in Red River county, Texas. [Wed May 19, 1915]
Regulating the rate of interest to be charged by life insurance companies doing business in Texas. . .not to exceed 7 per cent per annum, payable annually. [Wed May 19, 1915]
Amending Article 3759, Title 54, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas of 1911 [Real estate sales under deeds of trust, how made], as amended by Chapter 43 of the Acts of the Regular Session of the Thirty-fourth Legislature. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Amending Article 7491, Chapter 10, Title 126, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, so as to provide for the employment of a suitable person or persons to look after the collection of taxes. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Amending Chapter 6, Title 13, of the Penal Code of Texas, as amended by Chapter 123 of the Acts of the Regular Session of the Thirty-fourth Legislature. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Amending Paragraph 30 of Article 30 of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, 1911, so as to increase the time of holding the District Court of Clay county to eight weeks and to change the time of holding the District Court of Wichita county. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Amending Sections 2, 8, 9, 12 and 40 of Chapter 148, Local and Special Laws passed by the Regular Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, so as to permit the levying of additional tax for macadamizing and maintaining roads in Fayette county. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Creating a county highway department. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Creating a State Highway Department. [Thu May 20, 1915]
Creating an independent school district in the counties of Cottie, Dickens, King and Motley, to be known as the "Dumont Independent School District No. 1." [Thu May 20, 1915]
Amending Article 4631 of Chapter 4 of Title 68 of the Revised Civil Statutes, 1911, of the State of Texas, relating to grounds of divorce. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Amending Article 5490 of the Revised Statutes of 1911 [Owners of buildings to have preference lien]. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Amending Chapter 117 of the Special Laws of the Regular Session of the Thirty-third Legislature. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Amending Chapter 37, General Laws of the State of Texas, passed by the Thirty-third Legislature at its Regular Session, changing the time of holding court in the Thirty-third Judicial District of Texas. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Amending Chapter 98 of the General Laws of the Regular Session of the Thirty-fourth Legislature so as to change and prescribe the time for holding district court in the Forty-ninth Judicial District of Texas. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Amending Section 2 and 14 of the Special Laws of Texas, and being House Bill No. 542 as amended by an act, being House Bill No. 688 of the Special Laws of Texas, and having for its purpose the creating of a more efficient road system for Coleman county. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Amending Section 2 of Chapter 68, General Laws of the Regular Session of the Thirty-third Legislature. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Authorizing and empowering Bowie county. . .to issue bonds for constructing, maintaining and operating macadamized, graveled or paved roads and turnpikes. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Authorizing the appointment of a commission to investigate and report upon the inequalities existing in the tax renditions of various counties in the State. . . [Fri May 21, 1915]
Creating a more efficient road system for Comanche county. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Creating a more efficient road system for Travis county. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Creating a more efficient road system for Walker county, by amending Chapter 134 of the Special Laws of the Thirty-third Legislature. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Creating the Independent School District in Buena Vista, in Pecos county, Texas. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Granting permission to B. A. Eastham of Walker county, Texas, to institute and prosecute suit in the district court of Travis county, Texas, against the State of Texas, and the Prison Commission of Texas. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Granting permission to W. A. Eastham, Duncan Eastham and Luther Eastham, Jr., as executors and devisees under the will of Mrs. Delha Eastham, to institute and prosecute suit in the district court of Travis county, Texas, against the State of Texas, and the Prison Commission. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Increasing the limits of the Port Arthur Independent School District. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Prescribing the conditions and restrictions under which public vaults, crypts or mausoleums for the permanent interment of human bodies may be constructed. . . [Fri May 21, 1915]
Relating to the base of the Washington National Monument, in the Nation's Capital. . . appropriating a sum of money sufficient to pay for a block of Texas granite. . .with replica of the Alamo, with the inscription, "Theremopylae had her messenger of defeat, the Alamo had none." [Fri May 21, 1915]
Restoring to and conferring upon the county court of Kendall county the civil and criminal jurisdiction belonging to said court under the Constitution and general statutes of the State. [Fri May 21, 1915]
Creating and incorporating the Reagan Independent School District in Falls county, Texas. [Sat May 22, 1915]
Creating the Point Independent School District of Rains county. [Sat May 22, 1915]
Granting to the Board of Control of the Girls' Training School additional time in which to use the funds appropriated and donated to the State under Section 11, chapter 144, Acts of the Regular Session of the Thirty-third Legislature. [Sat May 22, 1915]
Providing for the redemption, by the owner, of land or lots heretofore sold or that may hereafter be sold to the State, city or town for taxes. [Sat May 22, 1915]
Providing for the sale of land that may have been, or may hereafter be, sold to the State of Texas under judgment foreclosing tax lien. . . [Sat May 22, 1915]
Repealing Section 4 of Chapter 150 of the Acts of the Thirty-third Legislature at its Regular Session, and Chapter 13 of the Acts of the Thirty-third Legislature at its First Called Session, amending said Section 4 relating to the payment of witness fees to witnesses residing in the county of the prosecution in felony cases. [Sat May 22, 1915]
Validating all common school districts in this State heretofore created. [Sat May 22, 1915]
Validating sales and conveyances of land made by towns and villages in this State. . .created under Spanish and Mexican authorities. . . [Sat May 22, 1915]
Limiting the number of days per week paid firemen in cities of twenty-five thousand inhabitants or over may be required to work. . . [Mon May 24, 1915]
Amending Section 9, Chapter 11, Acts of First Called Session of the Thirty-third Legislature, being an act to amend the Special Road Law of Montague County. [Wed May 26, 1915]
Amending the Angelina county road law. [Thu May 27, 1915]

Journals

The House Journal and Senate Journal for the 34th 1st Called Session are available from the Legislative Reference Library.

Rules
House Rules (34th R.S.)
House Rules (34th R.S.)
Joint Rules (34th R.S.)
Senate Rules (34th R.S.)

Bill statistics for the 34th Legislature, 1st Called Session

Status	HB	HCR	HR	SB	SCR	SR	Total HB & SB	Total
Filed	73	11	62	57	3	51	130	257
Passed	32	6	49	20	0	44	52	151
Vetoed	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Bill statistics for the 34th Legislature, 1st Called Session

Status	HB	HCR	HR	SB	SCR	SR	Total HB & SB	Total
Filed	73	11	62	57	3	51	130	257
Passed	32	6	49	20	0	44	52	151
Vetoed	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0