Texas Legislature, House of Representatives, State Affairs Committee:

An Inventory of House of Representatives State Affairs Committee Records at the Texas State Archives, 1929

Agency History

The Texas House of Representatives Committee on State Affairs, a standing committee, made a special investigation in response to a House Simple Resolution passed on May 9, 1929 by the 41st Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session. The resolution ordered an investigation into accusations made by C.D. Neff, an oil company investment broker, of incompetency and unfair administration of state laws. Most of Neff's charges concerned the Blue Sky Law (House Bill 177, 38th Legislature, 1923) designed to regulate and supervise investment companies. Neff (no relation to former Texas Governor Pat M. Neff) claimed that members of the Texas Secretary of State Department and the Texas Attorney General's Office had sought monetary favors for the issuance of oil company permits. The House considered these charges serious enough to warrant a special investigation and referred the matter to the House Committee on State Affairs.

The committee first heard the testimony and cross-examination of Neff and placed exhibits from him into evidence. The next day, rebuttal testimony was heard from state officials and other witnesses who refuted Neff's charges. In their report to the House, the committee announced that they found no evidence of any misconduct, incompetency, or violation of the law. The House adopted the report on May 21, 1929 to end the investigation.

(Sources include: the guide survey completed for this material; and the Texas Legislative Reference Library web site, accessed March 2012.)

Scope and Contents of the Records

In response to a House Simple Resolution passed on May 9, 1929 by the 41st Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, the Texas House of Representatives Committee on State Affairs made a special investigation into accusations made by C.D. Neff, an oil company investment broker, of incompetency and unfair administration of state laws, particularly the Blue Sky Law designed to regulate and supervise investment companies. Neff claimed that members of the Texas Secretary of State Department and the Texas Attorney General's Office had sought monetary favors for the issuance of oil company permits. Records include the committee's report, transcript of the testimony, and exhibits introduced into evidence, all dating 1929. Exhibits include correspondence between Neff and state officials, broadsides put out by Neff promoting his company and criticizing state government, and Neff's applications with the Secretary of State Department as a foreign corporation to do business in Texas and for a permit to sell shares.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

Some folded oversize items are too large to photocopy.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), House of Representatives State Affairs Committee records, Texas Legislature. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 1988/064

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by an unknown agency during the 20th century. An accession number was assigned on January 20, 1988.

Processing Information

Guide survey information compiled by Paul Beck, January 1988

Finding aid encoded in EAD Version 2002 as part of the TARO project by Rebecca Romanchuk, March 2012

Detailed Description of the Records