Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-05
reunsssss Legislature.

Commissioner law. Referred 10 'n'
Judiciary Committee.
House bill proposing an amendment tt
the Constitution by imposing poil-taa
on negroes, was taken up on its seconc
reading.
Mr.. Wisener offered an amendment e
the bill by inserting "who are not lega
voters" proposing to exempt the disiran
chised people from the payment OF
DOLL tax. Lost.
Mr.. Patterson then offered bill il
lien. embracing universal suffrage, bu
excluding from Office all who are dis
qualified By Article XIV of the Consti
tuition of the United States; also requir
ing negroes to pay poll tax.
On motion of Mr.. Wisener, the action
Of the Senate in passing the bill on iti
first and second reading, was reconsld'
cred, it not having been done in &C
cordance with the Constitution, which
requires such bill to be passed three diff
ferent times on each of three different
days.
The bill and amendment offered in
lieu by Mr.. Patterson, were then referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
House bill for the sale of the Nashville
and Northwestern aud other railroads,
passed first reading.
Adjourned to 10 a. m. tomorrow.
House. The House was called to order
at 10 a. m, Speaker Richards in the chair
and sixty members present.
Messrs. Agee and Gslbraith were
GRANTED Indefinite leave of absence.
Mr.. Richards rose to a question OF
privilege, for the purpose of explaining
his connection with the Tennessee Ma
tioual Bank of Memphis, and set himself
right in reference to the position he occu-
pies in the report of the Special Com
mittee on the Missing School Fund.
Mr.. Hacker obtained leave Of absence
for few days, by reason of sickness in
his family.
By Mr.. Taylor, of Carter and John
son Resolution ss follows: That the
Controller audit and issue his warrant
ON the Treasurer to S. q. Whitmore,
Thomas R. Smith, W. A. Hill. W. W.
Coleman, George R. Rutter, F. II. Rast,
Thomas B. McElwee, E A. James, w.
Spence. s. W. Hatchett and John w.
Smith, for their per diem and mileage as
witnesses in the School Fund investiga.
ton, at the rate of 81 per day, and So
per one hundred miles travelled in d.
rect line; the same to be included in the
general appropriation bill" Adopted.
By Mr.. Roach: Resolution as follows:
'That E. Fl. East be, and he is hereby
requested, as Attorney for the State, to
institute such suit or suits as he may
deem proper, whether civil or criminal,
against all persons and parties who, in
his opinion, have become liable to such
suits or prosecutions on account OF the
mismanagsment or embezzlement of the
School Fund, and that he receive such
compensation as the Governor, Control
Ter, Secretary of State and Treasurer
may deem just and proper TO the State,
to be agreed upon either before or after
the services may be rendered; and that
if the said East should decline such ser
vices, the State officers aforesaid be re-
quested to employ other counsel on like
terms"
By Mr.. White, of Greene: Bill for the
relief Of physicians. Passed first read
ing and referred to the Committee on
Judiciary.
By Mr.. Mason: Bill for the protection
of landlords. Passed first reading.
Rv Mr.. White, of Greene: Preamble
and resolution as follows:
WHEREAS, Section 3 article 10 of the
Constitution of the State Of Tennessee
declares that say elector who shall re
ceive any gift or reward in meat, drink,
money or otherwise, or any person who
shall bestow or offer to bestow said gift
directly or indirectly; and,
WHEREAS, Section 4f98 of the Code Of
Tennessee emphatically declares thai
any Legislative official who eorruptly
accepts or agrees to accept any gift or
gratuity, or anything of value, under an
agreement or with any understanding
that bis vote is to be cast in favor of any
measure ca lpop any particular side Of
any question or proosed.n. which is or
may be by Law brought before him in his
official capacity, is guilty Of criminal
offense; and
WglFEAs, 1t does appear most con-
elusively by testimony under oath that
F. s. Richards, Speaker of the House,
has been guilty of accepting a bride in
money or otherwise, with the understand
ing that he gas TO vote for measure by
which The School Fund Of the State was
in part lost to the State; and
WHEREAS, Each house of the General
Assembly has the right to sit in judg-
ment upon the conduct and qualifications
of its own members, and, with the con-
currence of two-thirds of the members,
expel any member; therefore,
Be II resolred By The House Of Repre-
sentatires of the State of Tennessee,
That for the offense set forth in the pre-
ambIe OF this resolution, z. s. Richards,
Representative from the counties Of
Shelby, Fayette and Upton. is hereby
expelled, and that his seat and the posi-
ton Of Speaker are hereby declared va
cast after the passage Of this resolution.
The resolution was laid over for the
presenL
By Mr.. Singletary: PresMbls end reso-
luton as follows:
WHEREAS, The special committee APP
pointed by the House Of Representatives
TO investigate the condition Of the School
Fund deposited in the Tennessee Ne
tional Bank Of Memphis and
WHEREAS, Said committee submitted
to the House their report on the ID inst,
in which appears testimony Of a grave
character, impeaching the honesty and
integrity Of some members Of our body I;
and
WHEREAS, The dignity of the State
should be maintained and the persons
implicated should be brought to justice /;
therefore,
Be Il resolred by the House of Repre-
sentdtires, That commuittee Of FIVE
be appointed to make a report to the
House without delsy-whether or not
the testimony submitted by the commit
tee on the School Fund to this House is
sufficient 10 warrant this House 10 ex-
polling it's members who are charged