Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-25
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

4 SENAAE' . 80
TUESDAY, May 24.-Senaie met at II
O'Clock this morning, Speaker Thomas IN
the Chair ta f ~
THE RAILROAD. INVESTIGATION.
MIR. Cooper, of Bedford, introduced the
| following resolution: -
Resolved, By the General Assembly OF
the State of Tennessee, That the reports
made by, the Special Committee on The
subject of the management of the rail
roads of the State, inrelation to the Min
eral Home railroad, 10 the Rogersville and
Jefferson railroad, to the Knoxville and
Charleston railroad, to the East Tennes-
see and Western North Carolina railroad,
10 the Tennessee and Pacific railroad, to-
| gether with the evidence in each case, be
printed, and that 500 copies of the same
be printed for the use of the members of
the General Assembly.
A motion TO suspend the rule and adopt
the above resolution gave rise to discus
sion of its merits-Mr. Hall opposing
the resolution, and Messrs. Etheridge and
Cooper, of Bedford, sustaining it.. Mr..
Hall urged that the publication contem-
plated by the resolution would be crporte
and n effect deny to parties implicated
the benefit of counsel or the right of
cross-examination. Such q publication
might do gross injustice to many innocent
persons who have not had an opportunity
of examining or disproving the charges
embraced in these reports. The printing
was not at present necessary, and might
possibly do more harm than good, both
as regarded the public interest and the
reputation of persons innocent of any in
territorial wrong.
Mr.. Etheridge said the argument of the
Senator from Gibson (Mr. HalD did not
apply to the case in point. The resolu-
zion contemplated printing, and not pub
iication, in the literal sense of the word.
To print the reports for the use and con
venience of the General Assembly was
the object of the resolution, and he did
not think that their general publication
was at this time contemplated. The re-
ports were yoluminous, and their exam
inaiIon in manuscript hy members of the
Legislature would be necessarily tedious
and laborious, if indeed possible piece
of work.
Mr.. Cooper, of Bedford, stated that the
object of the resolution was twofold-to
give parties implicated an opportunity of
knowing the character of thecharges against
them and the character of evidence upon
which the alleged offenses were based, and
to enable the representatives of the people
to protect the interest of the State. He
clgimed that the proposed publication
would do justice to al parties interested,
and expose only the guilty.
Mr.. ClemeptsOn hoped the resolution to
print would be adopted, and strongly
urged upon the Senate the necessity and
importance of having printed copies of
the reports. Such course was due as a
matter of justice to the committee, to the
parties implicated, and to the State
The rule was SUSPENDED and the resolu-
ton to print adopted.
HOUSE BILLS REJECTED.
House bills to abolish the Office of
entry takers, for the counties Of Coffee and
Greene and to authorize the construction
of fish traps, were, in accordance with
the recommendation of the Judiciary
Committee, rejected on their second.
reading.
NEW COUNTY.
House bills to establish out of fraction
al parts the counties of Roane, Blount,
and Monroe, the new county of Christi
ana. Passed first reading and was re-
ferTed to the Committee on County Lines.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
Senate bill to abolish all tax on mar
rage licenses came up on its third read
ing, and bill in lieu requiring a tax of
81 for State purposes on each marriage
license, was adopted and passed
SENATE BILLS on SECOND HEADING.
Securing homesteads to heads Of fami-
lies, passed second reading.
To amend the criminal laws Of the State
90 as to provide for the punishment of
railroad conductors who by carelessness or
incompttency cause collisions or other
accidents. A bill was offered in lieu, more
comprehensive in character, which was
adopted, and then passed on its second
reading
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
The following message was received
from the Governor, and on motion, its
consideration postponed until IL! O'Clock
tomorrow:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, May "a, 1870
Gentlemen of the Senate: In compliance
with an act of the General Assembly,
passed Feb. 4, 1870, entitled an act TO
regulate the appointment of State Direct
ors in Railroad Companies, hereby
nominate the following named gentlemen
as Directors of the Knoxville and Ken
lucky Railroad: J. NJ Agee and VIM.
Casey, of Campbell; J. c. Chiles, of An
dorson; Joseph A. BIabry, DIR. James
Rodgers, George II. Ragsdale,
and John Williams, of Knox.
OF the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap and
Charleston Railroad: c. G.. Smith, of
Granger; VIM Cuseton, of Cooke
Pleasant Smith and John c. Tate, of JEFF
ferson. OF the Mississippi Central Rail
road: C. II. Anderson and Thos. Bayles,
of Hardeman, and ThOs. r. Smith, of
Shelby. OF the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia Railroad: John Blevins, of
Hawkins, and David NJ. Nelson, Of
Bradley. Very respectfully,
d. w. G. SENTEI,
Governor of Tennessee.
On motion of Mr.. Cooper, of Bedford,
the Senate adjourned until IL O'Clock to-
morrow.