Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-14
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

| SENATE.
| MONDAY. Dec. l3.-The Senate was
called to order at II A. NJ, by Mr.. Morris,
Speaker pro TEN, quorum answering to
theirnames.
Nj. Cubbins presented a petition from
the hackmen of Memphis, asking reduc-
ton of the tax imposed upon them. Re
| ferred to the Committee on Finance and
| Ways and Means
| THE PENITENTIAEY.
Mr. Cooper, of Bedford, introduced a
| bill entitled an act for the management of
the Penitentiary and for other purposes.
Section provides that the Penitentia-
| nv of the State shall be managed, con-
trolled and governed as provided in the
| Code of Tennessee, under title of the Pen
| itentiary, from section 5,436 to $3.50 in
elusive, and all laws passed subsequent to
| its adoption are hereby repealed, partlcu-
| larry chapter 81 of the acts of 1866, en-
| titled ''An act to lease the Penitentiary
and for other purposes, passed May II,
| 1866.
Section , provides that the Governor
| shall Immediately nominate to the Senate
| three inspectors. two of whom shall be
skilled mechanics and well informed in the
| management of machinery and the control
Of manufactures.
Section 3 authorizes said inspectors to
lease out or employ by hire the labor OF all
the convicts of said prison or that may
hereafter be conferred in said penitentlary;
that they may hire out all or part OF said
labor to one man or company, or may lease
out the penitentiary or labor to one man
or company, or may lease out each sepa-
rate shop or occupation to different lessees,
agreeing to furnish them the power neces-
sary to run each shop, with full authority
on the part of the lessee or lessees to
occupy the shops in said prison
for the purpose of carrying out IN good
faith whatever contract of lease SAID In
spectors may make. Said lessee, or lessees,
shall treat the convicts with humanity and
work them not exceeding ten hours each
day, and that said lessee or lessees shall
have no claim for damages against the State
because of the exercise of the pardonlng
power by the Governor, or because OF fire,
or escape of conVicts, or other unavoidable
accidents; that the lessees shall give bond
for the payment into the treasury quarterly
the price per day agreed upon for said
labor, and that the amount so bid and
received shall be sufficient to sustain the
penitentiary and make it independent Of
appropriations from the State Treasury.
Sec. 4 provides that in the lease or
leases so made and entered into, the IN
spectors shall reserve the power, that if
the lessee or lessees or either of them shall
at any time wilfully fail, refuse or neglect
to perform any of the duties or obligations
required of him or them under said lease,
the inspectors may declare said lease at an
end and release the labor or shops as if
provisions never had been made.
Sec. allows the Inspectors to make
the lease or leases, publicly or privately,
being restricted only in one thing, that Is
the security of the COnvicts; and that by
the proceeds of their labOrthe Penltentlary
shall be made self-sustaining and no longer
a drain on the State Treasury.
Sec. provides that the power, manage
ment and control of the steam power locat- |
ed in said Penitentiary when leased, shall
be by the officers of said Penitentiary under
the control of the Inspectors as fully as if
no lease or leases were made.
Sec. provides that the inspectors when |
nominated and confirmed shall immedi- |
ately take possession of the Penitentiary,
its workshops and labor, and for this pur- |
pose they shall give to Ward Briggs ten |
DAYS notice of their instruction, requiring |
them to remove all of their machinery and |
material at once, so as to free the Peniten- |
tiarv from the machinery and material |
claimed by them; and if on such notice |
Messrs. Ward & Briggs refuse or decline to |
remove the machinery and material, then |
the inspectors will Immediately take pos |
session of said machinery and material, so |
as to be able to place the new lessee or les |
sees in the quiet possession Of the prison.
its workshops and labor.
Sec. S provides that until such lease or
leases, or hiring of the convict labor as
herein provided, the inspectors may use
and employ said convict labor in any way
they NAV think most advantageous to the
State.
Sec. 8 provides that until the receipts of
the Penitentiary are sufficient to sustain it,
the deficiency shall be made out Of the
State Treasury on the warrant of the Comp
troller founded on accounts proven and az
proved by the inspectors or majority Of
them.
The bill passed first reading, and on mo-
ton, fifty copies were ordered to be printed.
HOUSE BILLS on THIRD READING.
To repeal the act creating State Guard
and Governors Staff.
Mr.. Cooper of Bedford, offered an amend
ment that the Private Secretary of the
Governor shall have the title of Adiutant
General and not to receive any additional
compensation for his services than herein
prescribed. Adopted.
Mr. Self moved to strike out 500 and
insert $50. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Nelson moved to insert SI25. LAID
on the table. The bill then passed as
amended, Messrs. Self and Nelson voting
in the negative.
To repeal the law imposing penalties for
the nOn-payment of taxes. Passed.
To clear out and make navigable Forked-
deer river. Passed.
SENATE BILL on THIRD READING.
To amend the act passed March !, 1869,
in regard to the sale of alcoholic spirits for
sacramento purposes. Passed.
ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY.
Mr.. Slaughter offered a bill in lieu Of
Senate bill providing for the assessment OF
property and polls for 1870. The bill in
lieu authorizes the Revenue Assessors of
the State not to proceed with their ASSESS
ments until after the first Monday in March,
1870, and in case the Constitutional Con-
vention shouldnot adjourn before that time,
then they shall not proceed with their as
sessments until after the first Monday IN
April The bill in lien was referred 70 the
Judiciary Committee.
RECONSIDERATION.
Mr. Hall entered a motion 70 reconsider
the vote passing Senate bill to amend the
criminal laws of the State, in regard to ex-
empting the State from the payment of the
costs in criminal prosecutions.
Mr.. Hall moved to reconsider the reIeC-
ton of the bill incorporating the Air Line
and Fast Freight Company. Carried and
Mr.. CubbinS withdrew the bill ior amend
| ment
Adjourned until tomorrow morning at
IL o'clock.
HOUSE Or REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, Dec. 1G.-The House was
called to order al 1850 o'clock, Speaker
| Perkins in the chair.
BONDS ISSUED.
The following communication from Sec
rotary Fletcher was read:
In compliance with House resolution
| No. 147, requesting the Secretary of State
ito furnish the House with the number
and amount of bonds issued to any and
| all railroads since the eth Of September
| last, have the honor 10 submit the fol-
| lowing:
The Tennessee and Pacific Railroad has
received S65 bonds, $685., coo.
Southwestern Railroad, 81 bonds, $780,
| OOO. A. J. FLETCHER,
Secretary of State.
NEw BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
| By Mr. Cheatham-A bill to preserve
| the credit of the State.
Section l. That the bonds of the State
shall be issued to pay the interest on the
bonded debt of the State that may be due