August 27, 1934 - September 25, 1934

Leadership

Governor: Miriam A. Ferguson -  Vetoes

Lieutenant Governor: Edgar E. Witt

Speaker of the House: Coke R. Stevenson 

Special Session Topics

 Proclamations   Messages

• Consider and act on such other subjects and questions as I, the Governor, may from time to time during said called session submit by message or otherwise to the consideration of the legislature [Mon Aug 20, 1934]
• Pass such law or laws as may be necessary to provide for the issuance and sale of the remaining bonds proposed and permitted under the constitutional amendment submitted by the Legislature in 1933 and adopted by the voters of Texas at an election duly held on the 26th day of August 1933 for the purpose of affording relief to the unemployed and indigent persons of the State [Mon Aug 20, 1934]
• Validating certain bonds and the tax levies made for the payment thereof issued by certain independent school districts (created by Special Act) where the proceedings for the election to issue such bonds and levy such tax were irregular or defective, in that no petition or legally sufficient petition was filed requesting such election, or where the body calling such election, and the notice given of such election, did not specify the maturity dates of the bonds to be issued, and declaring an emergency. [Thu Aug 30, 1934]
• Releasing the interest and penalties on all delinquent ad valorem and poll taxes that were delinquent on or before August 1, 1934, due the State, any county, common school district, road district, levee improvement district, water improvement district and water control and improvement district, irrigation district and other defined subdivision of the State, etc.; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 4, 1934]
• Amend Subdivision 32 of Article 199, Title 8, of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, 1925, amended by Acts 1931, Forty-second Legislature, First Called Session, page 27, Chapter 14, Section 1, amended by Acts 1933, Forty-third Legislature, Regular Session, page 371, Chapter 145, so as to change the time and terms of holding the terms of district court in Nolan, Mitchell, Scurry and Borden Counties, constituting the Thirty-second Judicial District of Texas; etc. [Sat Sep 8, 1934]
• Because of the crowded condition of our State hospitals, I am submitting herewith as an emergency measure a bill making appropriation for additional buildings and equipment for said hospitals to the following institutions: San Antonio State Hospital, San Antonio, Texas. Austin State Hospital, Austin, Texas. Wichita Falls State Hospital, Wichita Falls, Texas Terrell State Hospital, Terrell, Texas Austin State School, Austin, Texas Rusk State Hospital, Rusk, Texas [Mon Sep 10, 1934]
• Providing that whenever any water control and improvement district, embracing lands in two or more counties, and containing not less than one hundred and twenty-five thousand (125,000) acres, has entered into contract with the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, or other agency of the United States, for the sale of its bonds, and the original engineering plans in respect of such district's irrigation project have been amended or changed in accordance with requirement and conditions prescribed by the engineers for the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, or other agency of the United States, the Attorney General is authorized to approve said district's bonds to be issued and sold pursuant to such contract, without requiring approval of such amended plans by the Texas State Board of Water Engineers and without requiring approval of the issuance of such bonds by said board; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 11, 1934]
• Validating all concurrent resolutions adopted at previous sessions of the Legislature granting to persons, firms, and corporations permission to sue the State through any of its courts upon claims against the State, providing that noting therein shall operate to create any cause of action against the State, providing that same shall be effective both as to suits already filed and pending and as to suits hereafter filed by authority of said concurrent resolutions and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 11, 1934]
• Validation of revenue bonds issued by cities and towns to purchase additional water powers, riparian rights, or to build, improve, enlarge, extend or repair any light system, water system, or sewer system owned or operated by any such city or town. [Tue Sep 11, 1934]
• Creating Colorado River Authority, a governmental agency, body politic and corporate, as a water control and conservation district under Section 59 and Article 16 of the Constitution. [Wed Sep 12, 1934]
• Providing for relief of distressed debtors whose assets for the time being are what might be called frozen because not capable of being disposed of for their normal value; for debtors not in fact insolvent but for the time being unable to meet current obligations although possessed of property sufficient under normal conditions to do so; so that the assets of such debtors may not be sacrificed and their businesses destroyed, but such assets conserved, businesses saved and employees continued in employment and thereby unemployment and future distress prevented. [Wed Sep 12, 1934]
• Amend Section 2, Chapter 8, of the General Laws of the Thirty-fourth Legislature, passed at its First Called Session, as amended by Senate Bill No. 143, Section 2, Chapter 24, of the General Laws of the Forty-first Legislature, passed at its Regular Session in 1929; also providing for an official court reporter of the County Court at Law No. 2 of Harris County, Texas, fixing the duties and compensation of said reporter, conferring civil as well as criminal jurisdiction upon said courts, providing for fixing docketing and transferring clauses, and fixing effective date. [Sat Sep 15, 1934]
• Defining 'oleomargarine' and other terms used in this Act: imposing a tax of ten cents per pound on certain oleomargarine, prescribing the method for collecting said tax; and declaring an emergency. [Sat Sep 15, 1934]
• Making it unlawful to kill wild fox, or to take or have in one's possession for barter or sale the pelts of wild fox, in certain counties; providing a penalty for violation of this Act, and declaring an emergency. [Sat Sep 15, 1934]
• Aid the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation District in preparing the necessary plans, specifications and data and in making the necessary surveys, and in acquiring the necessary lands, leases, easements and /or acquittances, and in building or having built and/or cooperating in the building of proper structures, reservoirs and levees suitable for the control, insofar as is practicable, of the flood waters of the Brazos River watershed, declared to be a public calamity; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Amend Chapter 95 of the General Laws of the State of Texas, Passed by the Regular Session of the Thirty-ninth Legislature, approved March 19, 1925, creating the Commission in aid of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, as amended; etc., and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Amending Chapter 19, H.B. No. 88, Acts of the of the Second Called Session of the Forty-third Legislature, declaring the policy of the Legislature to provide for the general welfare by cooperation with the Federal Government in making effective the provisions of the National Agricultural Adjustment Act and the National Recovery Act within the State of Texas with reference to producers, distributors and processors of milk and milk products; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Amending Section 3 of Chapter 67, Acts of the First Called Session of the Forty-third legislature, same being Senate Bill No. 52, and as amended by Chapter 29, Acts of the Second Called Session of the Forty-third Legislature, same being House Bill No. 79, so as to provide the method of prorating the funds provided in said chapter, fixing date for filing claim under said appropriation; etc., and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Amending Sections 1, 4, 6, and 8 of Chapter 162, H.B. No. 154, Acts of the Regular Session of the Forty-third Legislature, and Sections 2, 3, 5, and 9 of Chapter 162, H.B. No. 154, as amended by Chapter 12, H.B. No. 55, Acts of the First Called Session of the Forty-third legislature, defining certain words and terms; providing for a levy of occupation tax on oil produced; providing for credit for taxes paid by mistake; providing that tax levied shall be a liability on producer, first purchaser and subsequent purchaser; providing that first purchaser shall pay tax levied; providing that failure of first purchaser to pay tax does not relieve others liable for the tax; providing for payment of tax on oil produced but not sold; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Authorizing cities and towns with a population of more than one thousand and located on the Coast of Texas or any Bay, Gulf or inlet and in which commercial fishing and shrimping is an established industry to build or purchase municipal fish markets; and declaring an emergency [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Authorizing water control and improvement districts to assign water contracts for a period of not exceeding forty years, or to assign the revenues accruing or to accrue under such contract, and to receive therefor either a lump sum in cash or outstanding bond of said district; to sell or contract to sell water for generation of electric power over a period of not exceeding forty years; to issue negotiable refunding bonds for exchange for outstanding indebtedness or to sell same and redeem a like amount of outstanding indebtedness; to enter into escrow agreements relative to payment of its bonds and to pledge its revenues to the payment thereof; to provide and agree to provide for an emergency fund for repairs to its irrigation system; to enter into contract for the operation and maintenance of its irrigation system for such period of years as may be specified in the assignment of such system; providing that the statues of limitations shall not run against any refunding bonds of such districts hereafter issued; authorizing the issuance of improvement bonds, and levying a tax therefor; authorizing the levy and collection of special assessments, and providing the method of such levy and collection; authorizing and refunding of such improvement bonds; authorizing the cancellation of any bonds heretofore authorized by an election, providing the method therefor; providing that any outstanding past due interest coupons of any bonds of such districts shall be received at par in payment of taxes due such districts and due on or before January 31st, 1934; repealing Chapter 22 of the General Laws of the Third Called Session of the Forty-second Legislature; declaring the intent of this Act ; providing that the invalidity of any section, provision or part of this Act shall not affect the remainder of this Act; providing that the provisions of this Act shall be construed as being in addition to existing statutes and not as repealing same; and declaring an emergency. Provided, however that the attached bill be amended as follows: amend the attached bill by inserting after the word "amended" in line four (4) of Section One (1) the following: "located wholly within one county, such county having a population of not less that 5,000 nor more than 7,500, according to the last preceding Federal Census," and amend the caption to conform. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Declare a closed season on the killing of blue quail, bob whites, and doves in Terry County for a period of five years, prescribing a penalty therefor and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Extend the time for the payment of notes or obligations executed prior to November 1, 1901, by purchasers of school land for the unpaid balance of principal due to the State thereon, such extensions to be for a period of ten years form and after the passage of this Act; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Fix the salaries and compensation of county commissioners in counties with a population of not less than 48,600 and not more than 49,000 according to the last Federal census, and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Further prescribing the powers and duties of the Railroad Commission of Texas in respect to the conservation of oil and gas and the regulation of the production, storage, transportation, sale and handling thereof; amending Section 14 of Chapter 26 of the Acts of the First Called Session for the Forty-second Legislature; prohibiting the purchase, transportation, sale or handling of crude petroleum oil or natural gas produced in violation of any statute or any rule; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Making appropriation for the continuation of malaria control by the State Board of Health, and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Making it a penal offense for any officer or employee of the Texas Prison System, or any other person, to instigate, connive, attempt to cause, assist in or conspire with others to cause any mutiny or riot, or in any manner aid in the escape of any prisoner from the Texas Penitentiary, from any prison farm, or from any prison transfer truck, or who in any manner, either directly or indirectly, furnishes aid to or harbors and conceals any prisoner who has escaped from such penitentiary, prison farm, or prison transfer truck, providing the penalty and punishment therefore; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Prohibit the sale of Barbituric Acid or derivatives and compounds thereof under any copyrighted or chemical names except the wholesale drug houses, chemical houses and dispensing pharmacies or practicing physicians; providing that the same may not be dispensed except by a practicing physician or retail pharmacy on prescriptions written by a legally qualified practicing physician, providing certain rules and regulations; prescribing a penalty for the violation of this Act; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Provide a more adequate manner of compensating county judges in counties which have a population of not less than 195,000 and not more than 200,000, according to the 1930 United States census, and providing for the employment of a stenographer and other help for such judges, and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Provide that cities with a population of more than nine thousand and seventy (9,070) and less than nine thousand and eighty (9080) inhabitants according to the last preceding Federal census, may mortgage and encumber their abbatoirs and the income thereof, for the purpose of constructing, acquiring or improving the same; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Providing for an open season on squirrels in Tyler County, providing a penalty, and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Relating to the duties of the county board of trustees of public schools of this State, in all counties having an area of not more than 900 square miles and not less than 875 square mile and a population of not less than 8500 and not more than 8650 inhabitants, according to the last preceding Federal Census, authorizing them to condemn land for school purposes; and declaring an emergency. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Validating, ratifying and approving ordinances of all home rule cities in this State having a population of more than twenty thousand (20,000) and less than twenty-one thousand (21,000) inhabitants, according to the last preceding Federal census; relinquishing discontinuing, and segregating territory in the corporate limits of said home rule cities. [Mon Sep 17, 1934]
• Amend Article 4368 of the Revised Civil Statutes of 1925, relating to the official bond of the State Treasurer, and providing that the State Treasurer shall enter into such bond as may be required by an Act of Congress to protect any Federal funds which shall have been received or which may hereafter be received by the State of Texas and deposited with the State Treasurer; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Amending Article 198, Title 8, Revised Civil Statutes of 1925, as amended by Chapter 38, of the Forty-second Legislature at its Third Called Session, by placing Hunt County within, to compose a part of, both the Fifth (5th) and Sixth (6th) Supreme Judicial Districts of Texas, and regulating the filing, in the respective Courts of Civil Appeals established in said districts, cases appealed from the trial courts of Hunt County, and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Amending Article 3902 of the Revised Civil Statues of 1925, as amended by Chapter 220, Acts of the Regular Session of the Forty-third Legislature, and as amended by Chapter 59 of the Second Called Session of the Forty-third Legislature; providing for salaries that may be paid to certain assistants to certain officers in certain counties; and amending Article 3886 of Revised Civil Statues of 1925 as amended by Chapter 20 of Acts of Regular Session of Forty-first Legislature, Fourth Called Session and as amended by Chapter 110, Acts of Forty-third Legislature, First Called Session and as amended by Chapter 49, Acts of the Forty-third Legislature, First Called Session, and as amended by Chapter 18, Acts of Forty-third Legislature, Second Called Session and as amended by Chapter 40, Acts of Forty-third Legislature First Called Session; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Amending Chapter 19, House Bill No 88, Acts of the Second Called Session of the Forty-third Legislature, declaring the policy of the Legislature to provide for the general welfare by co-operation with the Federal Government in making effective the provisions of the National Agricultural Adjustment Act and the National Recovery Act within the State of Texas with reference to producers, distributors and processors of milk and milk products; defining certain terms used in the bill; providing for application to the Commissioner of Agriculture by groups engaged in the milk industry in counties having a population not less than 290,000 and not more than 300,000; for the setting up of a code, codes or agreement; authorizing local milk industry boards in said counties after hearing to set up and promulgate a code, codes or agreements for fair competition for the milk industry; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Authorizing cities having more than sixteen thousand inhabitants as shown by the last Federal census, preceding such action, and containing a junior college within their corporate limits, to establish community centers consisting of all land and buildings or structures necessary therefore, including gymnasiums, auditoriums, natatoriums and dormitories to furnish residence to teachers and students attending schools and college in any such city; authorizing such cities to issue bonds or notes to purchase, construct or improve the properties and facilities comprising such community centers and to mortgage and encumber all such properties and facilities, the income therefrom, and everything pertaining thereto, to secure payment of such bonds or notes; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Authorizing municipalities, political subdivisions and taxing districts to proceed under the provisions of Federal bankruptcy laws enacted for the relief of such municipalities, political subdivisions and taxing districts; and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Provide for the cession by that State of Texas to the United States of America all right, title and interest which the State of Texas may have in and to certain lands in El Paso County and Hudspeth County, comprising the bed and banks of the Rio Grande; retaining jurisdiction as to certain of such lands in the State of Texas for certain purposes; reserving the rights of the State of Texas and residents and citizens thereof to waters of the Rio Grande, and in the use thereof... [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Relating to any city which has not less than 8700 nor more than 8800 inhabitants as shown by the Federal Census last preceding the action herein authorized; providing that the governing body of any such city, in making up the annual appropriation of the income and revenue of any waterworks system, electric light plant or system, sewer system, or other public utility system, service or enterprise, nor or hereafter owned and operated by any such city, shall first provide for maintenance and operating expenses of such system, service or enterprise, shall then provide for payment of principal and interest of any indebtedness outstanding against such system, service or enterprise, and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Validating the creation and changes in boundaries of all independent school districts having within their limits a city with a population of one hundred sixty thousand (160,000) or more, according to the last preceding Federal census, validating all elections in such districts authorizing the issuance of bonds, validating bonds heretofore voted in such districts, and tax levies made to pay the principal and interest of such bonds, providing that such validation shall not apply to any district or any bonds now involved in litigation, providing that the unconstitutionality of any part of this Act shall not affect the remaining parts thereof, and declaring an emergency. [Tue Sep 18, 1934]
• Amending Senate Bill No. 209, General Laws of the Forty-third Legislature, and amending Article 3883, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended by Chapter 340, Acts of the Regular Session, Forty-second Legislature, so as to provide that counties containing as many as 22,296 and not more than 22,580 inhabitants, according to the last Federal Census, the Assessor and Collector of Taxes shall receive $4,500, and declaring an emergency. [Wed Sep 19, 1934]
• Authorizing the State Highway Commission as defined herein to construct toll bridges and approaches thereto on State Highways with funds procured from the United States Government, all set forth in said bill to which reference is here made. This legislation is submitted without prejudice to navigation and without prejudice to the right of disapproval. [Wed Sep 19, 1934]
• Authorizing the State Parks Board to locate, designate and suitably mark the historic spots in Texas repealing all laws or parts of laws in conflict herewith, and declaring an emergency. [Wed Sep 19, 1934]
• Designating fur bearing animals, declaring them property of the State, declaring a three (3) year closed session on wild fox in Henderson County; and providing a penalty for violation of this Act. [Wed Sep 19, 1934]
• Validate the organization and creation of all county line consolidated independent school districts, county line rural high school districts and/or consolidated common school districts, whether created by the vote of the people or by the county boards of trustees, or commissioners' courts or by judgments of district courts, where such county line consolidated independent school districts, county line rural high school districts and consolidated common school districts are formed by the consolidation of districts or parts of districts lying on three adjoining counties…; and declaring an emergency. [Wed Sep 19, 1934]
• Amend Section 6-A of Section 27, of the General Laws of the Forty-third Legislature, First Called Session, so as to reduce the registration license fees on commercial motor vehicles, without trailers or semi-trailers, when same are used exclusively by the owner thereof; and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Amend subdivision 3 of Article 3883 of Section 1 of Chapter 220 of Acts of Forty-third Legislature of Regular Session 1933, page 734, by raising the salaries of justice of peace and constables in certain counties; and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Amending Chapter 25 of the Acts of the Thirty-ninth Legislature, Regular Session, adding thereto a section to be 'Section 90-a' and, in substance to provide: That certain water control and improvement districts (in addition to, or in lieu of, securing their bonds by the levy and collection of taxes, as now provided), may enter into contracts pledging their net revenues for security of their bonds; and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Create a special criminal judicial district composed of the counties of Rusk, Gregg, Smith and Upshur in the State of Texas; and creating and establishing a special criminal judicial district court for said district; limiting the jurisdiction of said court to criminal cases, felony and misdemeanor, and to civil injunctions and penalty suits filed by the State; designating the name for such courts; and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Repealing Chapter 209 of the General Laws of Texas enacted by the Forty-third Legislature, Regular Session, 1933, and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Validating the organization and bonds of water improvement districts which have been converted into water control and improvement districts and which have thereafter issued bonds voted before such conversion, validating such conversion, and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Withdrawing from sale or lease for minerals or otherwise all lands situated in the bed of the Nueces River between the lower boundary of La Fruta Dam, now being maintained by the City of Corpus Christi, and the junction of the Nueces River with the eastern boundary line of McMullen county; and declaring an emergency. [Thu Sep 20, 1934]
• Amend Article 6078 of the 1925 Revised Statutes, dealing with public parks. [Fri Sep 21, 1934]
• Amend Chapter 6, Article 2092, of the Revised Civil Statutes, pertaining to certain district court rules, practice and procedure thereunder, etc., and declaring an emergency. [Fri Sep 21, 1934]
• Amend section eleven (11) of the Acts of 1927, Fortieth Legislature, Regular Session, Chapter 22, page 26, House Bill No. 80, as amended by the Acts of 1933, Forty-third Legislature, Chapter 50, page 61, Special Laws, House Bill No. 435, so as to provide by this Act and as an amendment of said Act of the Forty-third Legislature, that the two judges of County Courts of Law Nos. 1 and 2 of Bexar County, Texas shall not be required to furnish bonds, but shall each take the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution of Texas, and that certain fees shall be collected by the clerk of said courts and by him paid into the county treasury of Bexar County, Texas and that the two judges of the County Courts of Law Nos. 1 and 2 of Bexar County, Texas shall each receive an annual salary of five thousand dollars ($5,000), and providing for the payment of said salaries; etc., and declaring an emergency. [Fri Sep 21, 1934]
• Provide for the renewal and extension of oil and gas permit No. 11,752 on a portion of the Pecos River bed; providing for the placing of all income therefrom, and for all income from oil and gas development from river beds in Texas, in the Permanent School Fund, and declaring an emergency. [Fri Sep 21, 1934]
• Providing for a jury wheel, and the selection of juries and drawing of venires by means thereof in all counties having a population of at least forty-five thousand, or having therein a city containing a population of at least twenty thousand, as shown by the preceding Federal Census, and amending Article 2094, as amended by Acts of the Forty-first Legislature (1929), Regulars Session, Chapter 43, page 89, and Articles 2095, 2096, 2097, 2098, 2099, 2100, of Chapter 7, Title 42, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas; repealing Articles 2141, 2146, and 2150, of Chapter 7, Title 42, of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, in so far as same are applicable to counties having a population of at least forty-five thousand or having therein a city containing a populations of at least twenty thousand, as shown by the preceding Federal Census; repealing Articles 593 and 595, of Chapter 2, Title 8, of the Revised Code of Criminal Procedure of Texas, in so far as said articles apply to said counties; and providing for penalties for the violation of any provision of this Act, and declaring an emergency. [Fri Sep 21, 1934]

Journals

The House Journal and Senate Journal for the 43rd 3rd Called Session are available from the Legislative Reference Library.

Rules
House Rules (43rd R.S.)
Joint Rules (43rd R.S.)
Senate Rules (43rd R.S.)