Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-19
NASHVILLE.
Proceedings Of the Legislature YeztsF.
dsy---Rap8rt Of PeRittHtiaFy
iESpsCtgr5,
The Petition Of General Pillow Rejected
D. the Seasts.
SENATE

The Governor transmitted the re.
/ port Of officers and inspectors Of the
! Peniteniary and asked favorable con.
sideratiOn OF the same.
The following bills were introduced
By Mr.. Hart: For the improvement
and extension Of the penitentiary
This bill provides for the carrying out
Of the designs Of the penitentiary
inspectors.
By Mr.. Faulkner: To pay the cur.
rent expenses of this session OF the
! General Assembly, and for other pur.
| poses.
By Mr.. McFaH: To increase the
reven ne of the State.
By Mr.. Hsrte: Providing that here
after husband and wife may sell and
convey the wite's interestiu chooses
in action, money and other personal
estate.
The petition Of General Pillow
praying for relief from the Judgment
entered against him in the Federal
Courts Of Memphis for acts done dur
ing the war as a military officer of
the State, was reported for rejection
by the Judiciary Committee, and the
report was cOncurred in.
House bills on third reading:
To repeal the act establishing the
Tennessee Agricultural College at
Knoxville. Passed.
To do justice to certain parties, and
to amend an act passed December 4,
1869. Passed.
To re-establish and maintain county
academies. Rejected.
To authorize the Comptroller to
bring suit in the name of the State
against railroads out OF the State.
Passed.
For the benefit Of the Waverly High
School Passed.
The following House bills were re
jected on second reading.
To regulate the preparation Of bills
Of exception.
To amend section 5432 Of the Code,
relating to jauors' fees.
SENATE BILLS on THIRD READING.
To amend the act passed February
q, 1869, 70 protect county revenue,
and for other purposes. Passed,
To confne persons in the lunatic
asylum who have been acquitted OF
high crimes and misdemeanors upon
the plea Of insanity. Passed.
To amend the act Of creating Bell
county. Passed.
To establish agricultural colleges in
each grand division Ofthe State. Re
jected.
The annual report Of the State Pris-
on Inspectors was read. When
the present Board of Inspectors took
charge Of its affairs, they found it en-
tombed in an almost impenetrable
chaos, and almost hOpelessly buried
beneath the ruins Of debt and general
insolvency. It was not only then in
debt, but had so long been in debt
that its credit and financial resources
had long since vanished, and the
wheels Of its progress were
completely clogged, so that moth
ing save the finest financier-
ing and a complete revolution, in
fact, Of its affairs could save it from
total bankruptcy and set it upon its
feet in a selfsustaining relation. The
present Board have not only done
this, but are even now assuming the
aggressive, and if they can receive the
Endorsement Of the State in their pres
ent plans, viii convert the institution
from a dead weight on the treasury to
a source Of very material revenue.
They have now completed a SUBJ
stsntial wall, which enclOses the
entire prison grounds, built dray-
houses and made many other minor
Improvements, and this they ask the
State to pay for. In the re-
organization they have redeemed
much Of the credit, or rather made
credit, for the prison; they have
placed it in a condition which is cred
liable to our State, and in keep
ing with proper humanity to the
c0nvlcts themselves; they have clas-
sitied and systemized the labor, 80
that skilled, semi-skilled and unskill-
ed labor in no wise conflict, and il
their commentators are regarded
there will not be a convict Of any
grade but that may be employed
to advantage to the State, no mat
ter, scarcely, what may be his or her
disabilities.
In order that they may be en-
abled to extend business in the
lines of manufacturing already
carried on, and to add other
branches suitable to some classes Of
convicts not now furnished with as
profitable employments as they might
be. the Board asks Of the State loan
Of their credit i'm the form Of 100000
in Tennessee bank bills merely to
place on deposit as collateral security,
SO that they may have a backing in
thoroughly establishing the credit Of
the institution, and be enabled 10
take the purchase Of materials and
the selling Of their products entirely
into their own hands, and thereby
have the free and untramneIed adj
ministration Of their own affairs.
They also ask the Legislat ure 10
legalize the two branches Of the pen
tentiary they have established at the