Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-03
LIGHT WANTED.

LIGHT WANTED.
A Country Call upon the Legisla-
Iure for InfOrmatiOm-Wha has
been Done and What is to Do
Pertinent Questions.
| To the Editors of the Union and American:
In common with the great masses of
the people of Tennessee, | expected that
the present Legislature would take prompt
steps to right the wrongs of the past, as
far as lay in their power, and also give
the people information of their true con-
dition and responsibilities. At the outset
they showed commercially active dispo-
| ton to l6p off a few excTescences but
the disease seems not to have been reached.
We had our expectations raised when
committees of investigation were appoint
ed on various subjects of vital importance.
These committees are charged with the
duty of inquiring and reporting upon
l. The School Fund Whether it,
or any part of it, was stolen2 If so, how
much was stolen? Who stole it2 What
means were used to get possession of it
Who were paid to deliver il to the
thieves, and what price they get How
much of the remnant was expended, or
still remains for the education of the
children of the State? How has the
school law been enforced What pro-
portion of the peoples taxes have gone
to support carpet-bag Superintendent,
Commissioners, and to grease the fingers
of dealers in school books and school
furniture
We have heard nothing from that COM
mittee Has it done anything, or does
il propose to act!
,. Railroads and Receivers. 49, This
committee was expected to inform US
what railroads were in operation in the
State indebted to the State, and how much
each The people ask, What railroads have
received State aid How much has each
receivedl How has it been expended
How many miles have been completed
What proportion of stock subscription has
been paid and expended Which have
defaulted in the payment of interest
How much interest is still due. What
prospect have we that the interest will be
paid and the State bonds redeemed2
Whether the people are likely to he called
upon TO foot all the outstanding railroad
bills, to pay the deficiencies of all Rail
road Companies, and assume in addition
thirty or forty millions of the bonds soon
to mature?
3. Settlement Of the Militia Ac-
cOt0its-We have heard nothing of what
the luxury of the militia has cost us, first
and last. We have been told special
committee was raised to look into this
matter. 1t is due to the people to know
how much the militia practice of the last
few years has cost them. Have they
completed the payment! Where are the
vouchers! Where is the ammunition ac-
COUNT The clothing account The bread
and meat account! The payment account
The transportation account? The dis
count account How many men COM
posed this valiant army! How much did
their inestimable services and imperisha-
BILE glory cost us? Where did the money
come from that discharged this debt? Or
has there been a final settlement of il?
Are any of these splendid heroes yet I'M
paid! Profoundly intent and acutely lis
tening have been the ears of a long wait
ing people for information upon this in
spring theme, but in vain
4. The Bank Of Tennessee. - What
amount of issues are out? What amount
in notes or other securities had it in the
way of assets In what stage of realiza
ton are they2 How much is owing to de
pOsitOrs, and to whom are they to apply
for their money? How much of the ''new
issue is out, and what is to be done with
it? What is the state of the books and
what is the amount the people have to
pay
5. The Penitcatid7y. - What is
the state of this inviting reformatory in
| stitutiOnI What is the number of its
promising inmates Their ages Their
color? Their sex? What are they doing
to feed and clOthc themselves How
much per diem and per 1aCaSdlJ1, and
| per GglJ2JJ571 does it cost us to remove
| from society and keep in confinement the
| unfortunate scoundrels who are in the
| way of the fortunate fOrthe cause of law
and reform An experiment has been
| tried within the recollection of men still
living, of turning the worst of them loose.
| We want to know if this merciful effort
| resulted in benefit to the State or to So
ciety, or whether it proved a recruiting
enterprise to re-people the gloomy cells
| with increased numbers of the depravedl
| Can the institution be made to payits own
| way?
8. Minor TOpic8.-From the papers
| we have observed the appointment of
| special committees to inquire into the
| conduct of the present Treasurer He
was charged by the State Librarian with
the commission of felony He is still
Treasurer, and we know nothing further.
Did he steal the States money? Did he
use the office for his private profit! Did
he speculate for personal gain on the
funds of the peOple3
| What of the tuInpikes! Do they pay!
Do they comply with their charters Are
they worth anything to the people! Are
they a sort of asylum for gate-keepeTs,
| pauper presidents and directors?
| What has become of the land scrip
donated by our benevolent paternal gov
eminent for an Agricultural College! 1t
seems to have fallen into the hands of the
East Tennessee University. How many
of the athletic sons of our noble loyal
East Tennessee brethren have been made
scientific farmers by its application How
! many Oh DuCOllC JOuth uHltIStdul
through the means of this munificent do
nation the atmospheric phenomena which
portend good or bad weather or who
can tell the chemical difference between
shale and alluvion2 who know what
property grain draws from the earth in its
growth, and must be returned to preserve
the soils fertility? In short, where is the
scrip, or its equivalent? Who is in pos
session of it, and what is being done will
it?
The little matter of the Winchester and
Alabama Railroad is said to enshroud a
little mystery of some sort, which was
deemed worthy of a special investigating
committee? What about that! What is it :
In brief, what were these several in
Yesti eating committees raised for? Do
they propose TO act Are we TO have
light on all or any of these subjects Is
the present Legislature going to address it
self to the work the people expected of it,
partially indicated in the foregoing2 Or,
is it going to makeits predecessors respect
able by following their example?