Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-13
OUR NASHVILLE LETTER.

OUR NASHVILLE LETTER.
The War Between the House-The senate
observation-disclosures
Bill Passes tbe HOuse--ssag Law-New
Senators from Knox-JnO. Fleming n
Lcbbyist---schoOi fund-vssesment of
Nashville, Dec. 8, 1871.
NlEssRs. EDITORS: The war between
the two Houses illuminated day before
yesterday by the House laying Senate
bill on the table on the first reading. The
obnoxious bill was the one referred to in
my last letter, to equalize the salaries of of
ficers derived from fees. This bill was
favorite with the Senate but the Clerks
and other officers affected by it, swarmed
to Nashville and lobbyed the bill to death
in short order. Ar oyster supper was
given by the lobby in honor of their vic
tory over the people; and a prominent
Democratic Senator stated in open session
this morning that this oyster supper had a
''precedentn Whether this precedent
was by the Railroad Lobby L can not
say-but that is my guess.
THE sENATE's REVENGE.
The Senate happened to have
night session directly after the
House had tabled the Senate bill, and to
revenge itself the Senate set to work and
bill on the first reading. But the hot
wrath of the Senate having been cooled
by the extreme cold weather and nights
reflection, next morning the Senate "eC-
plunged" the nights proceedings by cutting
two leaves out of the Journal! Remem-
Der that twenty-five of the twenty-five
Senators are Democrats. And here we
have fine picture of Democratic states
nadnship! L hope the people will take
notice.
. THE REDISTRICTING BILL.
This bill passed the House to-day with
out debate, under the operations of the
"preyious question: The matter was
Cooked" in advance. Members were pre-
vented from offering amendments and
from debating the bill. And thus the bill
was forced down the throats of the minor
ity. And yet this is called free country!
And the Democratic party pretends to
want "fair play" | suppose similar
rule will be adopted in the Senate.
NEW SENATORS FROM KNOX.
Knox county has been uncommonly well
represented in the Senate to-day. DuBose
and Ridley attempted to get up the bill to
give Knox county District Attorney,
Notwithstanding Senator Staley's objec-
ton. DuBose and Ridley claimed to have
"rela6le Information that Knox county
was almost crazy for the luxury and honor
of having simon-pure Democrat for her
Attorney General. This reliable infor-
nation" was not obtained from IAN intel
ligent contraband,' but from Mr.. Jno.
NJ Fleming, who was whispering the "rG-
liable informationN into the ears of these
new found Senatorial friends of Knox. BY
the way, / understand Fleming will re-
ceive the Governors appointment as At
torney General. / take it this accounts for
the "milk in that cocoa nut!V
After considerable acrimonious debate,
the bill was allowed to remain in the
box" BUTT will probably be a law in
less than week. ut has been passed
since the balance of the letter was written
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The bill to authorize a certificate of in
debtedness for 81 500, 900, bearing six per
cent. interest, for the benefit of common
schools, was defeated in the House on the
4th. Representative Parker urged the pas
sage of the bill, on the ground that the
State was morally and legally bound to re-
place the school fund. The opposition
raised the old SANDER that the Radicals
had stolen the school fund.- The facts are
that the rebels stole 81 $50 900 of the school
fund, and Radical banker defrauded the
State out of $500 900, which never was a
| part of the school fund. So that, if the
Republicans are guilty, they are guilty of
| petit larceny while theDemOcrats are guilty
of grand larceny. Representative Parker
mas Deen an earliest WORKER lOF common
schools, and does honor to his district.
Speaking of schools reminds ME that a
bill has Just passed both Houses authoriz-
| ing the Governor to appoint commits
sioner in each county to sell all the lands
in each county that have been bid in by
| the Revenue Collector for the benefit of
schools. The bill is very stringent in its
| character and is so framed as to give the
| purchaser good title.
ASSESSMENT OF TAXES.
Both Houses have spent great deal of
time trying to find out a better assessment
law; but no change has yet been made.
1t is agreed on all hands that Justices
should not be assessors; but the members
are afraid to interfere with them. Justices
are ''power in the land, - and members
dread their wrath. I do not think any
change will be made, except in the method
of compensation.
The Legislature will probably adjourn
about the 18th. Attorney General Thorn
burgh is here. Mai. a. :. Prosser was here
a few days ago. Some folks smell a rat, -
I think ii "mice. " YOURS.
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