O. W. Greene v. J. T. Robison

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the 1919 Relinquishment Act and denied the relator's petition for a writ of mandamus directing the Commissioner to issue an oil and gas prospecting permit. The Court reasoned that the Act merely authorizes the surface owner to act as the State's agent in selling or leasing mineral rights, imposes only a royalty and compensation provisions, and does not constitute a donation of school fund assets or an unlawful delegation of legislative power.