Journal of the House of Representatives of the First Called Session of the Thirty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas Page: 44
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44 HOUSE JOURNAL.
the State Highway Commission since
January 1, 1925, and the contracts let
by said Commission during said
time; to investigate the manner in
which the public funds have been ex-
pended by the State Highway Commis-
sion; to investigate the manner in which
contracts have been let by said Com-
mission; and generally to investigate
all and every act of said Commission
since said date; to investigate the grant-
ing of pardons, paroles, furloughs, re-
prieves and commutation of sentence andl
the facts and circumstances connected
with the granting of such acts of clem-
ency since January 1, 1925; to investi-
gate the letting of contracts for the
purchase of text-books and the facts
surrounding the letting of such con-
tracts; and to investigate into the ad-
ministration of public affairs by such
other departments of the State govern-
ment, since January 1, 1925, as in the
judgment of said committee may be
necessary and for the promotion of the
public good.
Sec. 2. That said committee shall
have power to" formulate its own rules
of procedure and evidence, and to pro-
vide for its own hours of meeting and
adjournment. Said committee shall sit
in the Capitol at Austin during its
sessions. The sessions of said com-
mittee shall be open to the public, ex-
cept at such times as the committee
may, by a majority vote, determine to
hold executive sessions. The chairman
of said committee shall be named by
the Speaker of the House of Represent-
atives, and the committee shall elect
its own secretary and employ its ser-
geant-at-arms.
Sec. 3. That the committee shall have
power to issue process for witnesses to
any place in this State and to compel
their attendance and the production of
books and records; and upon the dis-
obedience of any subpoena, said com-
mittee shall have power to issue attach-
ments, which may be addressed to and
served by either the sergeant-at-arms
appointed by said committee or by the
sheriff or any constable of any county
of this State. Said committee shall have
power to inspect an(l take copies of
any books, records or files of any de-
partment or officer, or their appointees
or employes, under investigation by said
committee, and also shall have power to
examine and audit the books of any
person, firm or corporation holding a
contract or contracts with the State of
Texas. The committee shall further
have power to administer oaths andaffirmations, and to fix the bond of at-
tached witnesses.
Sec. 4. That witnesses attending the
sessions of said committee under process
shall be allowed the same mileage and
per diem as is allowed witnesses in the
trial of criminal cases in the district
court.
Sec. 5. That said committee shall
have power and authority to employ
and compensate all necessary experts,
investigators, attorneys, stenographers,
clerks, auditors, and all other necessary
employes, and it shall be the duty of
said committee to make and keep a
record of its investigation. The testi-
mony heard by said committee shall be
stenographically reported and the same
shall be transcribed and reduced to writ-
ing. That one of the -purposes of this
resolution and investigation is to facili-
tate the work of the Fortieth Legisla-
ture in this matter, and such record of
such investigation and testimony taken
shall be supplied by said committee to
the Fortieth Legislature.
Sec. 6. That said committee may call
upon the Attorney General's Department
for assistance and advice, and it shall
be the duty of the Attorney General's
Department to render opinions, give
counsel and assistance to said commit-
tee upon the request of the chairman
or members of said committee.
Sec. 7. That said committee shall be-
gin its investigation following the ad-
journment of the present Special Ses-
sion of the Thirty-ninth Legislature, and
shall have authority to sit after the ad-
journment of the present session of the
House of Representatives and continue
to make said investigation at any and
all times between the adjournment of
the present session of the Thirty-ninth
Legislature and the convening of the
Regular Session of the Fortieth Legis-
lature. The compensation of the mem-
bers of said committee shall be five dol-
lars per day for the actual number of
days of service in performing said
duties, and in addition thereto they
shall be entitled to actual traveling ex-
penses and hotel bills incurred in the
performance of such duties. That the
per diem and expenses of the members
of said committee, witness fees, and all
other expenses incident to such investi-
gation shall be paid out of the appro-
priation for mileage and per diem and
contingent expenses of the First Called
Session of the Thirty-ninth Legislature,
upon the sworn account of the persons
entitled to such pay, when approved by
the chairman of said committee, and44
HOUSE JOURNAL.
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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/m1/48/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.