Legislative Messages of Hon. James V. Allred, Governor of Texas 1935-1939 Page: 85 of 263

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constitutional amendment substituting salaries for fees stipulated
that enabling legislation must be passed at the first called session of the
Legislature; and that such salaries must be made effective by January 1st,
following such session. If a salary law is not passed at this session, even
if another should be called, unless a two-thirds vote is secured on final
passage, thousands of fee officers throughout the State might be without
compensation of any kind.
I think I have demonstrated that I want to be fair with the members
of this Legislature. So far as possible, I have endeavored to give you a
free hand. For almost three weeks I have refused to submit any measures
of any kind. At no time have I submitted any controversial measures whatever
other than those dealing with constitutional amendments voted by the
people.
Frankly, in view of the legislative jam that has developed, I will now be
happy (and I am sure the people will also) if, at the end of this thirty-day
session, you have passed a reasonable liquor control measure, a salary bill
for fee officers and a real chain store tax. We must get loose from this
legislative jam! This is no time for petty bickering or filibusters. The
occasion demands patriotism of the highest type. After all, any measures
enacted will necessarily be experimental and on trial.
Things can be worked out if politics are "tabooed," and all of us will
work together.
If this Legislature will only pass a reasonable liquor regulation bill, a
salary statute and a chain store tax bill, and it is then necessary, I will
feel justified in immediately calling another session to provide old-age pensions.
I
have heretofore held up a number of local bills, but they are of such
supreme importance to particular localities that I feel co-mpelled to submit
them in a separate message. They are non-controversial and, I believe,
can be passed at two night sessions.
I have discussed this with the Speaker and Lieutenant-Governor. They
agree with me and state that, in their judgment, the two Houses would
be happy to set aside two night sessions for these local matters.
I urge that, if necessary, we hold continued night sessions in order to
certainly wind up liquor regulation, a salary system for fee officers and
a chain store tax bill. This latter measure was incorporated in the State
Democratic platform. It overwhelmingly passed the House, has been reported
favorably by the Senate Committee on State Affairs and, in my
judgment, should be disposed of once and for all.
Respectfully submitted
JAMES V. ALLRED
Governor of Texas
Executive Department
Austin, Texas
October 9, 1935.
To the Forty-foutrth Legislatut.re of the State of Texas: (In First Called
Session)
As stated to you in my message of yesterday, I have been holding up a
number of local and non-controversial bills of such importance to particular