Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-13
UNION AND AMERICAN.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

at III L. NJ. Speaker aughn IN the cnalr.
THE TAX QUESTION.
Messrs. Staley and Mcconnell, who voted
yesterday against Mr.. Warren's resolution
respecting reduction of taxes, asked and
obtained permission TO change their votes
~ 81 PETITIONS.
Mr.. DuBose presented a petition from
the liquor dealers of Memphis, praying for
a reduction of the tax on their business.
Referred to Committee on Tipping.
By Mr.. Tolley, from the citizens Of Lin
coin county. praying the Assembly to pro-
vide FOR the compensation of School Com
missioners. Referred to Committee on Ed
ucation and Common Schools.
NEW BILLS,
The following bills were introduced and
passed first reading:
By Speaker Vaughn: To allow an addi-
tional Justice Of the Peace in LIST civil district
Of Monroe county.
BY Mr. Patterson: To amend the assess
ment law SO as TO limit the pay of the As
SCISSOR.
By Speaker Vaughn: To regulate the
advertisement of sales.
BY Mr.. Young: To amend the road
law. ..-..-
By Speaker Vaughn; To increase the
pay Of witnesses. ... ....
By Mr.. Gibson: To encourage the pay
ment of taxes on lands by making such
payment a imminent of title.
By Mr.. Warren: To sell and transfer the
interest of the State in all delinquent turn
pike and plank road companies.
By Mr.. Windle: To establish the 10th
judicial circuit of the State of Tennessee
and to relieve the second circuit of the
county of Scott, the third circuit of the
counties of Fenuess, Morgan and Cumber-
land, and the fifth circuit of the counties of
Putnam, Clay and OvertOn, and to attach
the county of Trousdale to the fifth cir
cult.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Coulter introduced a resolution to
hasten the census returns, in order to expe-
dite the redistricting of the State. Adopted
under a suspension of the rules and immedi-
ately transmitted to the House.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
The resolution respecting insurance COM
panies, introduced yesterday, was adopted.
PENSIONS.
Senate resolution in regard to pensions
for widows of soldiers who fought in the
war of 1872, was adopted.
Mr.. Sewers resolution-'fhat the Gen.
eral Assembly recognizes the legal and
honest obligation of the State faithfully to
discharge her liabilities contracted by the
legal issuance of her bonds which upon their
face bear her solemn promise to pay" was,
after some discussion, referred to the Com
mittee on Finance and Ways and Means.
HOUSE BILLS on THIRD HEADING.
-, If
and fish so far as it relates to certain eoun-
ties. Referred.
To extend the act respecting the protec-
ton of game TO the counties of Rutherford,
Fayette and Lincoln. Passed.
HOUSE BILLS ON FIRST READING.
To repeal the act abolishing the Chaneery
eourt of MadisOnville, Monroe county, and
to re-establish the said Court.
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To amend sections 3,15j and 3,l74 of
the Code.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
Senate bill to change the mode of ap-
pointing the Public Printer (repOzted for
rejection from the Judiciary Committee)
was taken up.
Mr.. Gibson moved nOn-csncurrence in the
report of the committee. He explained
that at the close of the war, the compensa-
ton of the Public Printer was increased
fifty per cent in consequence of the high
prices then prevailing. The necessity for
maintaining that rate no longer existed, and it
was time to throw the public printing open
to public competition like everything else.
1t was only men who were Interested in the
printing ring to enrich themselves at the eX-
pense of the State that opposed this mea-
sure.
Speaker Vaughn said it came with bad
grace from the honorable Senator from
Campbell to charge any member OF this
House with being connected with any ring
or clique to misuse the public money. The
honorable gentleman was connected with
the party which had plundered the State,
and he was the last that should make a
charge of dishonesty against any one. The
Democratic party were free from any such
charge, and he Speaker Vaughn) for one
was most anxious to see the charges against
the Public Printers thoroughly investigated.
The Senate took recess till 3 p. NJ. when
it reaSsembled.
TO WAIT on THE GOVERNOR.
Hose resolution to appoint committee
TO wait on the GOveEnor and ask him If ne
has any communication TO make, was
adopted, and Messrs. Porter and Staley were
appointed on the part Of the Senate.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
The debate on the bill to change the
mode of appointing the public printer, was
resumed.
Mr.. McConnnll as a member Of the
Judiciary Committee wished to give his
reasons for voting for the rejection of the
bill. While he admired the object of the Sen,
ator from Campbell (Gibson) in wishing to
free the public printing from rings, he
could not help thinking that the bill
would defeat that object. There
were very few printing offices
in the State large enough TO set up some OF
the jobs from the Assembly. The result Of
this bill would. therefore, be to aid rings,
for couple of firms combining together
could command higher rates than at pre-
sent. The rate was now fixed by law and
could not be increased. That was the light
in which the committee saw it, and hence
they reported the rejection of the bill.
Mr.. Gibson said it appeared that the de
fec; of the bill was that it fixed no limit be,
yoad which the rate should not 60. Ii
seemed to him if the committee were de
sirous to defeat rings, they could easily have
PROPOSED al ~ llAiAAo biiN B''~o
If that were the only objection he hoped
such an amendment would he offered.
Mr.. Tollcy said there were other OBJ
iec,ions which influenced the committee IL
coming to the conclusion which they did
There was the very patent objection that
under the provisions Of the bill the printing
might be let 9nt to parties outside OF the
State. Surely the proud old State of Ten
nesSee had within her own broad limit:
institutions 70 DO the printing for the State
Surely there was no disposition TO foste
outside establishments. No one CoulC
watch the finances e the State more kernl,
than himself and colleagues GA the commit
tee. Their desire was 10 Trtrench, &n'
thew Believed they could better effect tina
by amending the existing law than by ad
op,ing this lid To Adopt it would be t
open the -fiood7gates of corruption. 1t wa
plain to his nlind that the report OF the com
mittee ought to be adopted.
Mr.. Gibson gave notice that he woul
move. if the motion for non-concurrenc
should pass, that the bill be amended b
inserting the following: BE il further er
acted, That no bid shall be accepted wber
the price is higher than fixed by law, nc
shall any bid he accepted unless the bidde
be a resident of the State of Tennessee"
The motion for non-concuTTenee III tn
report of the committee was voted down.
The report recommending the rejectio