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

WEDNESDAY, Dec D
| Petiton-Mr. Armstrong presented cOmmuni
cation from Mr. Fisher, of New Orleans proposing
to sell to the State his painting of the "Battle of
New Orleans" Referred TO the COmmitte on the
State Capitol
Bills IltrodIced-Nr. Nixon, from the Committee
on Claims, reported to allow Sneed Harris S75 for
resting Daniel Bell, fugitive from justice.
Mr.. Massengl To appropriate $4,000 to build
bridge across the HOlston river where the Blount-
vile, Middletown and Elizabethton turnpike road
crosses said river
Mr., Shemwel: To regulate the tax on slaves
Mr.. Cook To amend the general internal i'm
provement act.
Mr.. Upton: To appropriate $4,000 to enable
/ the citizens of Carter and Johnson contes 10 con-
struct a road over Doe and Holston mountain
Mr.. Holmes: To amend the charter of the city
of Memphis.
Mr.. Huntington: To amend the internal improve
ment acts.
| H.uSe Bills on Second Readinq-To amend the
practice in the trial OF criminal cases, and for 9TH
err purposes; passed.
To provide for the erection of statutes of Washing
ton Jackson and Polk, to be placed in aud near the
Capitol.
On motion of Mr.. Wood, Of Hlrdeman, this bill
was made the special order tor Friday next, at II
O'Clock, A. N.
To guarantee the payment by the State of certain
D
phis.
On motion of Mr. Holmes, this I'LL was mad.
the special order for Saturday next, at 10 o'clock
p. NJ.
/ To anne the charter of the Nashville and Mid.
die Franklin Turnpike Company; passed.
To make the President of the Bank of Tennes
see, the Commissioner of Roads and the Keeper
of the Penitentary elective by the people; rejected
Railroad COmmtssiOner-'rhe till TO repeal all
I l.. ID
was read a second time.
Mr. Newman moved the indefinite postponement
of the bill.
Mr. Upton hoped the bill would not only not be
indefinitely postponed, but tlat it would be passed,
/ as the interest OF the State did not require the
services OF Railroad Commissioner. The crea-
ton Of this Office imposed upon the State an ad
diliona expense OF $1,000, when there was no
/ necessity tor it whatever, and be hoped the bill
would pass and thus save this unnecessary eXpen.
diture.
Mr., Newman said that from the rapidity with
which railroads increasing, it was impossible
for the Governor to ascertain the facts necessary
authorize him TO issue the Bonds Of the State, and
hence the service OF Commissioner were needed.
1t a knowledge Of these facts that induced him
to move The indefinite postponement of the bill.
Mr. Harris said he heartily concurrcd with Mr..
Upton, that the Office ought TO be abolished it
WAS an unnecessary expense 70 the State, ana ne
read the act in force previous TO the creation of the
Office of Railroad Commissioner, to show that am.
pie provision was made for the Governor to obtain
ia aud accurate inioI nation in regard the state
aud character ofthe work upon roads making apPli.
cation for bonds
Mr.. Runnells said the salary paid to the Rail-
road Commissioner was large one aud he thought,
as the duties Of his Office required but small por.
ton OF bis time, the cost to the State ought 20 be
much less than a: present. The present Incumbent
Il a lawyer, and he bad understood that he
attended TO his practice the as before appoin
ted. He had no complaint to make against the
commissioner, for he presumed that be discharged
his duties faithfully, having heard nothing TO the
contrary, but ne thought the State might be saved
the outlay Of this large sum- and stil have the du
ties imposed upon the commissioner disc harged rs
acc eptably. lie thought this might be done with
out the appointment OF separate officer, as under
the law regulating the matter previous 10 the erea
'lon OF the commissioner, and at g.eat saving TO
the State.
Mr. Wood, Of Hardemsn, sal j Il occurred 10 him
;hat members ought TO think what they we're doing
before they passed this bill The subject was iuly
and carefully considered two wears ago. and il was
then thought necessary that the State shoald have
Railroad Commissioner 20 guard and protect her
interests, and these interests have grown In impor
lance since that time. The Governor is required
TO make himself fully acquainted with our whole
railroad system, and he would appoint man compe.
tent 10 keep him ADVISED IN tht, regard. Under the
old law, engineers furnished ths Governor with this
information These men were generally citizens in
common with Us, and ofHces'a The railroad eo@-