Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/635

 which are necessary at once to guard the interests of the State and the pockets of the people. Corporations have so often trampled upon the rights of the private citizen that we should be careful when we grant them privileges that we part with no right belonging to the people. The State has already been generous; and her generosity has in several cases been abused. We can yet afford to be generous in our railroad policy, but we should make such terms as will secure every interest to be affected. It will be my endeavor to exact at the hands of every railroad company in the State, a strict compliance with the terms of the charter. The benefits conferred are so great, and the terms made by the State so easy, that there is little room for excuse in case of a failure to comply with the law.

The improvement of our rivers under the act of August 1, 1856, will receive that attention at my hands which the importance of the subject demands. To many sections of the country these natural channels of transportation are of great utility. It will be my endeavor to employ practical men, acquainted with the nature of our rivers, to superintend their improvement, and report upon the manner in which contractors have performed their duty.

I can see but little utility in the office of State Engineer under our present system of railroad and river improvements. It is impossible for one individual to supervise all of the works in progress in the State, In the immediate locality of our rivers men can be found fully competent to decide upon the proper method of their improvement. The railroad law already provides that the company for whose benefit the examination is made shall pay the expenses of the same. The law should plainly designate what the nature of the expenses shall be, and the manner in which the examination shall be made, in order to prevent corruption; and also establish the fees and duties of the examining board, which can be appointed for the time being, and thus save the State the cost ol a salaried officer.

I would commend the continuance of the geological survey, and would suggest, as an auxiliary, the establishment of an agricultural bureau, with the view of collecting agricultural statistics, and developing our general agricultural interests.

It will be necessary that the Legislature provide further prosecution of the boundary survey for establishing the line between the United States and Texas, in accordance with the act approved January 23, 1858. How far that survey has been prosecuted the Executive has not been able to learn. It remains for the Legislature to inquire into the manner in which the appropriation of $20,000, made by the last Legislature, has been expended, what amount will still be necessary to complete the survey, and make an appropriation for the same.

I would recommend to your consideration the propriety of changing the time for the meeting of the Legislature until the 15th of December, or some early period before the time allotted for the inauguration of Governor. Our experience under the present arrangement has shown that but little legislation of importance is effected before the incoming of the new administration, and I believe the change would result in a great saving of money to the State.

So much trouble has heretofore arisen in reference to our public printing, that it behooves the present Legislature to provide all necessary regulations against fraud and misconstruction of the laws regulating the same. The duties ot the public printer, like all other officers, should be plainly defined. The law should