Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-15
THE LEGISLATURE.
Lively Debste In the Senate on Fees Of Ger.
tain Attorseys Wait to krs. Polk.

special 70 the Appeal
NAsHvILLE, November IA in the Sen
ate, TO cay, M srsley presented = Peti
tion nom the coal miners Of Anderson
county against the employment OF con-
victs in coal mines.
TIE following new bills were intro
dueed:
BY Mr. Gibson-To levy 8 school tax Of
ten esnts o. 500 Of tsxsble property,
By Mr Tslley-To establish bureau ol
agriculture.
By Nj DuBOse-To regulate practice In
motions for new trial.
By Mr. Ridley-To regulate payments
and prevent improper use Of county funds
by county trustees.
Mr. McCJnneu introduced q resolution
which, divested Of wheresses and leRisls-
tive verbisge. means, 70 appoint joint
committee 70 investigate and report Whist
amuuut the sttornsys for the railroad
commissioners have swindled from the
State, and what steps should be taken to
protect the Stste from being victimizsd
by such unlawful and exorbitsnt charges.
Mr., Merritt wished to correct the i'm
preston that the chancellor had allowed
certain sums as fees to these attorneys.
He expressed himself in favor Of the reso-
In ion, but hoped the senate would not
prejudice Chancellor East.
Mr SEWER denounced the charge a. out
rsssous and unnecessary, He believed it
was work Of supere-ogstion to sppoiut
counsel TO assist such able legal gentle
men IS the commissioners,
Mr.. Gibson said thst the act Of the cbsn-
osllor, in relation 70 ths bonds Of the State
TO secure fees for counsel and court costs,
unnecessarily implied that the court and
counsel distrusted either the honesty or
solvs noy of the state. and It was thus q
greater blow to the credit Of the State
than q rsducticn Of the 80 vslorsm tax to
thirty cents He moved In amendment
thst the chan ,ellor Of the court In which
ssid CAUSES were pending, be requested
not TO decree any fess TO said counsel un-
til the committee shall have reported, and
thei- report acted upon
Mr SJzley said, under the order made
in ths chsucery court, evidence had been
tsstn as to what fees counsel should re-
seiye, and nfsssn thousand dollars each |
had bsen reported; but the chsncsllor had |
not confirmed that report, and he (Staley) |
did nos believe he would do 30.
Mr.. Duooss said, it was the duty Of the
leEis.sturs 10 LOOK into ths action Of the |
eourg decreasing that seveDty-EWo thousand |
dol .rs in bonds should Oe retained to Sc |
cure the fzes OF these Sttorneys. he pro-
tested IN ths name Of the tsx-psying peo-
ple az .iust such outrsges charges, or sp-
p-oschiBg it, and expressed himself in
favor, II need be, of sOoliAhing the court
tbs. ordsred the decree, The attorneys
for the state in the case of GGrvin, the
dsisuIting tsI-cOlleo-or Of Shelby county,
did not dare 70 plsos tt cir hands on one
osnt collsoJed, and were here to day ask
ing this legislature to allow them f+es
for services rendered the State. The &C
tion Of the chancellor in this matter was
q r hsctiou upon The honesty OF the State
government.
Mr.. Merritt defended the chancellor and
hopsd the senste would await the action
OF k1t CDUAlhAoo BclOEc q ubAAAuk LAAs Il
The amendment and resolution was
soCp'ed.
AT noon the senate proceeded to slsct
public printer
Ia the afternoon the members Of
both houses visited Mrs. Polk, they 4
were received by that lady herself, who is
In excellent health, and reosived her
With that grace aud dignity for
which she has always bsen distinguished
Speaker Richardson and Senator Ridley, /
Of her ms i've county, I'D
dressed her 10 feW well-chosen remarks.
Colonel Burch, editor Of the Union and
responded in brief and happy
speech. Mr.. Gibson proposed an i'm
promtu toast: :" To our eouDtry-to
George Washington, who did more than
any other mEn to found il; Jackson, more
than any other men to preserve it, and
Polk, more than sny other man TO en-
large It," The visitors then took their
leave.