Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-21
Qua LAWMAKERS.
Proceedings In the General Assembly Yes
terday.
Eloquent Protest Of representative Lump
kin On the Tax Bill.
Special to the Appeal
HOuSE

special 70 the Appeal.
house.
NASHVILLE, November 20.-After the
routine business, a special message was
received from the governor, transmitting
to the house the report Of the Memphis
chamber of commerce and New Orleans
chamber Of commerce, in relation to the
cotton tax. The governor In his message
refers TO the immense sums paid into the
treasury by Tennessee and other South
eIn STATES, In the shape Of tsx on the pro-
duction Of cotton, while cereals in the
nor western States are untsxed. This
discrimination Is instigstsd by a spirit
engendered by the late war; it had nearly
ruined our people, and, II not revoked,
cotton production would have been
measuresbly abandoned in America, and
public sentiment now regards the law az
IN wise and unjust, and In conf ct with
the organic laws. It remains for the
government 70 restore to the Southern
| people the tax thus Djustly collected
| from them, and It IL believed that con-
| grsss will make restitution when the facts
are properly presented. The message
proceeds and recommends that the legis-
4
| jeet, and to recommend our representa-
| tiyss and instruct our senators in con-
Rress to aid In securing the relief sought.
Referred 70 the committee on federal re-
| lations.
Mr.. Lumpkin offered the following:
| WHERKAs, During the discussion in
the House on the tax bill the previous
/ question was moved, which cut OF all
| further debate and rendered It impossi-
BILE to give any expression Of opinion
whatever against the bill adopting forty
cents on the one hundred dollars worth
Of property; and
WHsREGs, Being clearly Of the opin-
ion, from ofioial figures, that thirty cents
would have been ample, and would have
met and liquidated every demand and OBJ
/ legation dem snded By those who favored
the tax Of hfty cents, hereby file my
protest against the action OF the house
| adopting forty cents, and also the means
| resOrtsd 70 for moving the previous ques-
1 ton TO accomplish that object. Estimates
/ dled hsre9ith, based up0n official reports,
! will convince anyone that thirty cents on
one hundred dollars would have been suf-
| feisnt for ali purposes, with margin OF
/ over S500 OO0 to spare. It Wss agreed by all
parties that provision should be made for
| Ihs payment and liquidation in full Of all
| indebtedness and obligations OF the State
As given bsloR:
first Outstanding warrants, s762, ,000i
| ssoOnd-bome account on New York,
/ SEQ go; third-Tennsssee money, old
| ssus, $4,000; fourth-balsnce of the ex-
penses Of the State for ISL t1e0. goo; ntth
/ current expenses for 1917, t5O0, 0,OOOi
| lslxLh-RppEopriation for l1nstic asylum,
1 Se2 OO0; neutrality-suspicious. for blind
asylum, $50 900 Total, S2,6.O,000; max
| ing a. per above official estimates q sum
| Of &. ESQ, 900 obligations that ahould be
| taken up or provided for, and for which
q provision must bs made to meet and
| liouldate the above Indebtedness.
Ike following revenue and resources
acoounts, from ohioial reports, are relied
upon;
| 600; 2d-tsK on $500 0O0, 900 Of property,
| $500 600; Sd-noW Que, ss per cOmptr0l-
! ier's report, e 05S, 40 81, less fifteen per
cent losses, dslinq aencies, costs. etc.,
fS5s s44 O6; revenue due the Stste, s.. $780,
inns IL IL shown that the rate of thirty
cents will give revenue OF sS, ,0o6 Sc,
| 10 meet the Indebtedness Of q 680. 900,
/ Having q clear surplus or balance TO the
| credit Of the State OF o,096 56. Figures
| never lie. In view Of the foregoing facts,
| T SiIi not consent to infict upon my peo-
/ DIE rate OF taxation which they cannot
psy, and which really and practically
| means nothing more nor Aohs snan the
gradual cOnhscasion Of their property.
The only reason urged by those favor:
ing a high tax Was thai our securities and
bonds would suffer rapid and material
decline In the foreign markets OF the
world. ] do not and cannot coincide II
any such opinion. On the contrary,
hold and believe that when foreign capi-
taliEts realise that our State IL in q con.
dition to provide for all our outstanding
warrAnts, our old bank issue, our NsE
York debt and onT current expenses, be.
side making al necessary appropriations
for our aayluma, all on taxable basis Of
only thirty cents on the one hundred dol
lars worth Of property, they viii feel
| ~, ursd that opr credit and financial
condition hss Improved In = material
degree. especially in view Of the fact thai
ous state debt hss been within two year
Teducsd from over forty millions 20 lesl
than twenty millions Of dollars. In view
OF the fActa a. set forth, 1 cannot and vii
J aot oonsent 70 levy Gnd burden nay Peopli
Wish TAX whish ! eonsader ePpFsssivs