Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-08

pointed by the Governor to perform this duty. In
few wears the State would have S25, GOO 900 in
Vested in railroads and he thought 81 900 was not
too much for the services Of to watch this
Mr. Upton said be had not supposed there would
be any opposition to the bill. The commissioner
h sd to 60 to the Presidents and other officers of
railroad companies for the information which he
reported to the Governor and IL they Intended to
defraud the State, they could easily mislead
the commissioner than they could bribe ali engi-
neer, who had not only moral but professional
reputation at stake. He willing TO trust the
Presidents and other officers of railroad companies
because he belived they were honest men, and
would not, on oath, represent the works their
roads unfairly. lie though no man would deny
that engineers were better qualified to judge Of and
report upon the work upon roads than men OF no
practical experience who would be appointed by
the Governor, and he was willing to trust them.
Mr Brown OF Madison, said tire State had 3d.
900 invested in turnpike companies, and it
ought to be the duty of the commissioner TO look
over this interest and he thought it impotic to
abolish the Office. If the salary is too high, it
ought to be reduced II the law should be repeal
ed the Governor would appoint one man to-day
and another one to morrow, and so on and this
would be liable to produce confusion There ought
TO be officer to look after the States interest in
turnpikes and railroads. whose duty it should be
to report to the Legislature as TO the conduct of
such companies. He was opposed to sending
man TO railroad companies to investigate their
works when they wanted Bonds, and then require
them TO pay him The Bonds were issued to
companies for specific objects, and if the Office
OF Railroad Commissioner should be abolished,
who is to see that these Bonds applied to the
proper purpose. Il ought to be further made the
duty Of the commissioner to act With the Presidents
OF railroad companies in the sale OF these Bonds. so
that the interest of the State would be protected.
The sharpers in Wall Street New York were
watching US closely, and we're ready to take any
advantage that would njure the credit OF the
State; aud not having officer to watch these in-
terest might cause the State 10 lose much more
than 80, 900.
MIR. Hatton said he had the arguments Of Mr..
Brown and Mr.. Wood, and they gave reason
why the bill should not pass. The argument Of
Mr. Brown was in favor of creating an office
not yet known in the legislation of this State, and
he was in favor Of creating such an Office. There
were potent reasons why the State should an officer
to look after the sale Of her bonds 10 order 10 see
that her credit did not suffer thereby. But the
question before the the House is: Are the services
of a Railroad Commissioner necessary? If 80, then
the law creating that Office ought not to be disturb
ed but il the State did not need his services. then
the bill before the house ought TO pass. He stated
that he been informed that that officer was not en-
gagged in the discharge of the duties OF his office more
than one-twenteth part of his time, and if he had
been mi>informed he desired te be corrected. he
had no objection to urge against the manner IN
which the commissioner had discharged his duties
he had heard of no complaints on that scOre-but
the office snecure-it wss giving the large
salary of So 900 and requiring the performance of
but little service He said if these facts ae cor
rect, there is scarcely any necessity for Railroad
Commissioner. The duty, as he understood it
was performed by simply passing over and looked
at the rOld-no careful inspection is made, such as
practical engineer would make-and the
missioner then reports to the Governor, and upon
that report the Bonds issued,
IL had been urged against the passage this bill
that under the law previous to the creation OF the
ofe of Commissioner, the Governor would appoint
a large number of engineers to inspect work on
roads. Suppose the Governor shonld appoint ten
or more, they would all be selected because they
were competent and honest-sensibie and dlscrim-
mating would be selected, anv thus instead
Of having one all the year at large salary,
Wa would have when his service were
needed, and the State would be the gamer by
it, Before the creation of the commissioner, We
got along very wel-the State lost nothing and
her interests were equally as well garded as at
present, and he had no doubt that law would meet
the present wants and requirement of the State
fully in every particular
Pending the farther consideration Of the bill. The
House adjourned to p o'clock, P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Bank of Tennessee Mr. Snodgrass offered a
resolution in addition to- and explanatory OF Senate
resolution appointing Commissioners to examine in
to the condition of the Bank OF Tennessee and
Branches. The rule was sus pended and the resou-
ton adopted.
Railroad Commissioner. The House then re-
sumed the consideration of the bill to repeal all
laws creating the Office of Railroad Commissioner
Mr.. Huntington said the duties devolViDg upon
the commissioner were much greater than the gen.
tleman from Wilson Mr.. Hatton) had been led to
believe. He could state from his own knowledge
that the commissioner had devoted at least one
fourth Of the year in the actual discharge of the
duties of his Office, and perhaps as much as one
third. He said members should recolect that our
81 stem OF internal Improvements was just going
Into operation when the commissioner was first APP
pointed, and hence il has not required more Of his
time than stated; but the system is growing with
great rapidity and will soon require the whole Of
his attention.
He said he was opposed to the passage of the
bill before the House. The law made it the duty
Of the commissioner to report upon all the require
ments imposed by law upon the various companies
availing themselves of the aid OF the State, much
Of which it was not the duty Of engineers to report
upon. The State has no other officer whose duty
il is 10 watch over her railroad interests and to rer
quire companies to comply with the acquisitions of
the law. The commissioner studies the laws bear
ing upon railroad companies, and is, therefore, bet
Ter qualified TO decide upon points involved, than
an engineer or any other man whose duties do not
require him to thus qualify himself He thought
the interests OF the State would be subserved by
continuing the commissioner.
Mr.. Harris said the State had about as much use
for a railroad commissioner as wagon had for
9Th wheel, nui he was, therefore, in favor of the
repeal Of the law creating the Office. lie was in
the Legislature two years ago. aud he knew why
the proposition to create the Office of commissioner
engraited upon the Columbus Internal In
provement Bill 1T WAS to give strength to that
measure. He hoped the House would abolish the
Office, the duties required Of its incumbent were
amply provided for by law, and at much less ex-
peuse to the State.
Mr.. Nixon said if the motion to indefinitely post
pOue the bill should tail, he desired u amend il so
as to abolish the office of State Geoogist If the
object to expense to the State, let both 10
overheard together.
The vote was then taken upon the motion to in-
definitely postpone the bill, and resulted, ayes So
noes SO, so the House refused TO indefinitely post
pOne
Mr. Upton demanded the previous question, and
the call was sustained.
The bill was then put upon its passage and re-
jected, ayes 80, noes SO.
Bills htrodEeed-By Mr.. Temple: To amend
the law relative to the sale Of lands by virtue Of
executions issued by Justices Of the Peac..
Mr.. DaVie: For the benefit OF the ClArksSille and
Hopknsviie Turnpike Company.
House Bill on Second Rsadiag.-T authorize the
President and Directors Of the Bank OF Tennessee
to appoint additional Director for the Branch Al,
Sparta; passed.
To amend the common school laws OF this State;
passed.
To reduce the price Of the public printing. This
bill ptas the act Of 1896 which likes the prices