Subsequent to the adjournment of the special session, as I have heretofore stated, a new prison commission was appointed, this time for six years’ terms under the constitution. W. O. Murray, a successful merchant of Floresville, is the chairman. He served fourteen years in both branches of the Legislature, devoting himself, as chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, to the fiscal affairs of the State, and he resigned from the Senate to become the chief officer of the prison system. The second new member is C. J. Bass of Terrell, also a successful merchant. The third new member appointed is W. O. Stamps, a well-to-do farmer and saw mill man of Upshur county. Mr. Stamps served two terms in the Texas Legislature and was a member of the special committee which investigated the prison system in 1909. He is not exercising the functions of the office to which he was appointed, for the reason that Commissioner Tittle claims title to the place, and has been sustained in this contention by a district judge. The prison organization therefore will remain incomplete until the court of last resort has passed upon the case. The new board is assisted by an appropriation of $1,350,860.27 to pay debts, half of it not to become available until September 1, 1914. It will not clear up all of the indebtedness. The total amount appropriated to the prison system since the act of 1910 became effective is $2,210,860.27. The indebtedness has increased since January 1, 1913, if payments made out of appropriations from the State treasury are not considered, but a fair statement of present indebtedness or of losses from operation in 1913 cannot be made until the farm products of 1913 have been sold. Cane is harvested during the early winter. It is known, however, at this time that the crops of 1913 have not turned out well and that the results of the year’s operations will show on the wrong side of the ledger. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that a large sum must be expended to plant and cultivate a new crop in 1914, the returns from which will not be received until late in the year. The losses have been increased through damage to the plantations through the recent floods of the Brazos River. It is estimated that such damage will amount to $500,000. The indebtedness, however, has been reduced in effect through a recent opinion of the Attorney General, holding that the law authorizing per diem payments to convicts is unconstitutional. The Prison System owed the convicts quite a large sum of money upon account of per diem, and this indebtedness has in effect been wiped off the books through the Attorney General’s opinion. In this situation, it is believed that Governor Colquitt will again convene the Legislature in special session in January to further deal with the problem.