The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-20
9ashrille @Qniull.
FRIDAY, APRIL 20. 1896.
The Franchise Rill.

We are asked by correspondent in
8 neighooring county whether the
Franchise Bill viii pass the Senate,
without modification.
In speech made at Memphis, dur
ing the recent suspension of business
in the Legislature, Mr.. Smith, Of Harde
man. made it an objection to the re
election of Mr.. Poston that he resigned
although he Is } had assured him that
the bill could not pass the Senate
Said, Mr.. s.
ask you what would have been the re
Enlt, had Messrs. Walker and Poston retain
ed their seats and voted on the Franchise
Billy Why Il would have passed the House;
II would hsve gone to the Senate, where it
would have been defeated ! speak what
know. I do not make any false assertions
do not wish 70 carry you Of from the main
questions before you. ! went 10 Mr.. Poston
and begged Of him 10 get his friends to come
70 the hall aud vote on the bill, and let il
go before the Senate, that we might 20 on
With business necessary 10 be done for the
benefit and welfare Of this end Of the State.
Mr.. foston was afraid the bill would pass;
but what says Senator SMITH He tells you
that bill never would have passed the Sen
ate. be tells you that he knew the senti-
ments Of every Senator. They were in fact
pledged already TO defeat that bill.
Senator SEaith in his speech ct Mem
phis the I'd Of March, announced as
shove, stated that the bill could not
pass the Senate His words were, as
reported, at the time, in one of the
Memphis papers, "there are a sufficient
number ofSenators committed against
the bill TO defeat it, and, the report
sdded, he pledged himself TO labor 10
defeat it" II these gentlemen we're
not misinformed, there was q majority
In the Senate against the bill, at the
time members Of the House resigned
TO defeat its passage in that branch Of
the Legislature. But the state Of
things may be very different to-day.
The correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Gazette, a gentleman who keeps him
self well posted on the subject, in a re-
cent letter makes the following state
ment:
The prospects for the passage Of the fran
chlse bill through the Senate are growing
brighter. careful analysis Of the ele-
ments in that body shows thirteen members
certain Tor the bill, six certainly against a.,
and four doubtful. Two Of the four doubt
fol are good and true men on other questions,
and It Is believed that on this vital issue
they viii not desert their brethren.
According 10 this statement Senator
and Representative Smiths majority
against The BIZ has disappeared, and
there is one majority for Il, certain.
We presume this means, however, that
thirteen members are sure to vote for
it, and pass it, without amendment, if
need be, although some of the thirteen
may prefer modification. We are the
more constrained to take this view Of
the matter by the urgency with which
the Governors organ protests against
amendment, whilst admitting that the
bill ought to be amended, adding
1--WE want the law amended.
Once q law we expect 10 agitate for its
improvement" Weighing all the facts
we are inclined to believe the bill will
pass the Senate without amendment
Nevertheless, we hope those who de-
sire 10 improve the bill will not fail to
make the effort whilst it is pending.
Il will not do to wait until it shall have
become a law, and then sgitate for a
modification. Those who wish it 10 re-
main unchanged, or if altered, TO make
it more stringent, will laugh at the
folly which gave them the victory, and
made it imposs,bl to make any modi-
fcation Of the Objectionable features Of
the bill. Avail yourselves Of the pres
ent opportunity, offer your amend
ments, support them with all the zeal
and ability you can bring TO. bear, and
then, If you fail, you will have nothing
with which to reproach yourselves.