Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-17


called to order at 9 O'Clock, Speaker Per-
kins in the chair
PALE FACES.
Nh Speaker Perkins submitted a COM
muniCation from committee representing
the Order of Pale Faces, asking the use
of the Hall of the House for the evening
of the 18th of January.
On motion, the use of the Hall was
granted.
THE PEINITENTIAEY.
Mr. Caldwell, from the PeuitentIary
Committee, reported that that committee
were unable to agree on the several bills
before them, in reference TO making the
Penitentiary self-sustaining, and recon-
mended that they lie passed on second
reading and referred back to the commit
tee The bills then passed second reading
and were recommitted.
NEw BILLa
BY Mr.. McBath-A bill to incorporate
Winters Gap Mining and Manufacturing
Company. Passed
By Mr. Townsend-A bill to provide
for the sale of unclaimed property in the
hands Of common carriers. Passed.
By Mr.. White-A bill to amend the
law in reference 10 conyeyances, by an
milling the plea Of infancy. Passed.
BUSINESS CALLED UP.
Senate bill directing the Attorney Gen
eral to dismiss suits brought against per
sons in connection with the Bank Of Ten
ncssee was called up and passed second
reading. O..
Senate bill TO amend section l,l02 Of
the Code, so as TO authorize the Governor
to issue his warrant to kave certain rail
roads in the hands OF Receivers turned
over TO the President and stockholders,
was called up. After the bill had been
amended slightly in detail, it passed third
reading. Ayes, 60; noes, 2.
Senate bill TO amend the charter OF the
town of GainsbOrO, was called mp.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment in
cooperating the Mutual Relief Association
of Tennessee. Adopted.
Mr. Fleming offered an amendment,
amending the charter of the Masonic Mu-
tual Relief Association of Tennessee.
Adopted.
The bill, as amended, then passed third
reading.
TIE MERCHANTS TAX BILL.
House bill TO amend the revenue laws
in relation TO the tax on merchants was
called up.
A bill in lieu, reported by the Commit
tee on Commerce, abolishing the tax on
sales and merchandise, and imposing an
od rdlorcD2 tax on capital, was adopted.
Mr.. Tucker offered the following
amendment, which was adopted, That
the word capital, as used in this act, shall
be 80 construed as to mean the value Of
the largest amount of stock on hand at
any time in the year when II is offered
for sale.
Mr.. Townsend said that in coming TO
the defense of the measure under cOnsid-
Grafton, he had the consciousness that it
was for the sole and only purpose of
securing the triumph of right and JUS
tice over wrong and injustice, and TO
aid in the abolition of a most foul and
grievous outrage upon the business
and commercial interests of the State
that he regarded it of more vital i'm
portance to the business interests and
commercial welfare of Memphis, Nash
vile, Knoxville and the other towns
and cities of the State, than any measure
that could come under the consideration
of the General Assembly. Memphis, To-
Gated as she was, on the great inland
river, which, with its tributaries, was
great commercial highway TO the richest
portions and sections of the country,
necessarily received the most of her trade
from the States of Arkansas, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Alabama, and was brought
into direct competition with the cities of
Cincinnati, Louisville and st. Louis.
The rule of taxation in Tennessee was so
enormous that it was impossible for the
Tennessee merchant to pay his taxes and
successfully compete for business beyond
the limits of his State. While the rule of
taxation in all the commercial States of
the country was upon the capital, the rule
in Tennessee was to tax the industry and
business energy of the merchant. Taxa
ton upon the purchases instead of the
capital, was simply increasing the merch-
ants tax Just in proportion to the
energy and industry displayed by him,
and he desired the House to carefully con-
slider the matter, and determine whether
it was wise policy to pursue a system
that would destroy the commercial great
ness of the State, and bring ruin upon
her merchants, Under the present system