Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-30

eral in certain cases. Passed.
Adjourned to Friday morning, Dec. l, at
10 O'Clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 29.-The House met
at 10 A. NJ, Speaker Richardson in the
chair.
RAILROAD BONDS ISSUED BY THE STATE.
The Joint committee appointed to investi-
gate the issuance of railroad bonds by the
State. submitted the following bill and re-
commended its passage: $40 provide for
the appointment of an attorney for the
State to prosecute suits against parties
engaged in fraudulent transactions in bonds
issued by the State The bill provides
for criminal prosecutions against all
parties having any connection with
illegal and fraudulent issuance of
State bonds to railroad companies.
1t authorizes the Governor to appoint
suitable person to examine the reports Of
the various committees on railroads ap-
pointed by the last Legislature to inyesti-
gate the issuance Of bonds to the several
railroads of the State, and to seek and OBJ
tam all information possible in regard to
the issuance of bonds of the State to any
and all railroads. Said attorney is granted
the privilege of free ACCESS to all books and
papers in the public offices of the State and
all public officers are directed to give him
all the assistance in their power in his re
searches. If the said attorney shall be Of
opinion that there has been irregular, IL
legal or fraudulent issuance of any Of said
bonds, he shall at once institute suits in the
name of the State against all parties con-
nected with sucl illegal issuance. And II
he shall be satisfied upon examination that
any one has laid himself liable to criminal
prosecution, the attorney shall notify the
District Attorney in the district in which
the offense was committed, or wherein the
defendant may reside, and direct said Dis
trict Attorney to prosecute said party. As
compensation for his services the attorney
appointed under this act shall receive three
per cent on the amount by him recovered
for the State, up to 100000, and two per
cent for all amounts above that sum. In
case of failure to recover he shall receive
such compensation for his services as shall
be fixed by the next Legislature assembling
after said services shall have been rendered.
1t is also provided that nothing in this act
shall be construed to estop the State to ques-
ton the validity of any bonds issued in aid
are fraudulent and void under existing laws.
The bill passed on first reading.
THE INSANE.
The Committee on Charitable Institu-
tons reported that, having carefully consid-
cred petitions praying for increased accom-
modation for the insane Of the State, they
recommend the establishment OF two In
sane Asylums, one in the Eastern and the
IF 20
PETITIONS.
Bv Mr.. Vaughn, from citizens of David
son county, protesting against the aDolitioh
of the law court.
Mr.. Lumpkin presented the following:
To the Honorable the Senate and House OF Re
Dresentatiyes of the State of Tennessee:
/ would respectfully ask your attention to
the following statement of facts: Before
there was a competing line of telegraph in
the State of Tennessee, the people Of Nash
vile, Memphis, Brownsville, and Clarks-
| vile, were compelled to pay in some in
| stances three times as much for telegraph
| ing as they now have to pay to points
reached by the competing line. The people
| of places not now reached by the competing
| line still have to pay very high. For In
| stance, Nashville people only have to pay
| one dollar IOT tSH NOIuo W -NC" Oin'
while the people of Murfreesboro, where
there is no competing line, have to pay two
! dollars and fifteen cents, making one
dollar and fifteen cents for Nashville on
every message sent. As manager OF the
| competing line, (The Southern Pacific and
| Atlantic Telegraph) the writer appealed to
! the General Assembly which met in 1869,
! for relief from the payment OF 81, 700 per
wear to the State, and like amount to the
| counties and cities in which we
! have offices, for license. The Cen
eral Assembly readily gave us the
asked for relief and reduced the tax for
teleqaphs to five hundred dollars per an
mum to the State in lieu of all ether taxes.
The telegraph business of Nashville and
Memphis, in kilograms sent North amounts
to but little, compared to that done with
points in the interior, with which the trade
and commerce of these cities is principally
done, and have.owing to our small receipts,
from only two offices, Memphis and Nash
vile, we found even five hundred dollars
too much for us to pay; but still, owing to
the embarrassed condition Of the finances OF
the State, we were willing to pay it without
a word. The last General Assembly at its
session in August, 1870, passed genera
law increasing all taxes for license fifty pei
cent. This act increased our taxes to sew
en- hundred and fifty dollars, and thi
amount has been paid by me thi
year. We are not able, owing to our mea