Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-15

AAAHOtAeAtas SCAhAAAbbbOs
f NEW BILLS
The following bills were introduced and
passed first reading;
By Mr.. Gibson: To levya special school
tax.
BY Mr.. Tolley: To establish Bureau
of Agriculture. Referred to special COM
mittee.
By Mr.. ID dBose: To regulate the prac-
tee IN me ,ions for new trial a
By NJ, Ridley: To regulate payments
and TO- prevent the improper use of county
FUR Us by county trustees. --
By Mr.. Patterson: To change the form
of actions before justices of the peace.
FEES OF ATTORNEYS IN RAILROAD CASES.
By Mr.. Mcconnell: Whereas it is pro-
vided in section l Of an act passed Feb. /,
l1s71, entitled an "aet for the sale of the
States interest in the delinquent railroads"
that the compensation allowed each retained
counsel, shall be fixed by the Chancellor
holding the court, and shall not exceed
$1,000 for each counsel, to be paid out ofthe
fund arising from the sale of the delinquent
roads; and, whereas, it hath been repre-
scented that each of said counsel, contrary to
the provisions of the act aforesaid, has re-
ceived the sum of S24, 900 in bonds Of the
State, in consideration of services as coun-
sci: now, therefore, ...
Be it resolved by the General Assembly
of the State Of Tennessee, that a joint Sc
-lect committee Of two on the part Of the
Senate, and = on tine part of the House be
appointed to enquire and report how much
each Of said counsel has received; and If
more has been allowed than has been proyi-
ded for in the act aforesaid, how much
more has been allowed, by what authority,
and what steps,n any are necessary, on the
part Of this General Assembly, to protect
the State from being victimized by unlawful
and eXorbitant charges on the part OF said
counsel.
Mr.. Merritt said he wished to correct an
erroneous impression in the minds Of some
persons. 1t had been reported that the
Chancellor had allowed certain sums as
fees to these attorneys. He Mr.. MeTTitt)
assured the honorable gentlemen that there
had been no allowance made by that court
of any amount at all.
Mr.. Mcconnell. Is il not fact that ST.
600 in bonds have been Withdrawn from the
State.
Mr.. Merritt: l know nothing Of that, ex-
cept that the Chancellor here has not al
lowed anything at all.
Mr. DuBose-Has not $4,000 in bonds
been set aside to secure the fees Of these at
torneys by the State?
Mr.. MeITitt-It may be that there were
some bonds in possession OF the Court, and
the attorneys for the commissioners with
drew them from the Court, as they had the
right to do.
Mr.. Sewer drew the attention of the
Senate to the concluding part of the report
of the commissioners, and said it occurred to
him that was exceedingly unwise, improper
and unnecessary to appoint legal counsel
for such gentlemen as Robert j. Mckinney,
Archibald Wright, and F. b. FOgg. 1t
looked like a work of supererOgatiOn that
these, the best legal minds Of the State,
should find it necessary to procure counsel
for which this enormous fee was demanded.
He protested against it as outrageous.
Mr.. Staley moved a suspension Of the
rules to take up the question. Carried.
O., Mr.. Gibson moved in amendment to the
resolution that the following be added to it:
"And that the Chancellor Of the Court in
which said causes are pending be requested
not to decree any fees to the said counsel
until said committee shall have reported,
and their report shall have been acted
upon"
A long discussion ensued in which Messrs,
DuBose, Mcconnell, Sewer, Merritt, Glib
son, Staley and Brandon took part.
The amendment was carried and the res
olution, as amended, was adopted.
Mr. Hughes offered the following:
Whereas, that one Charles OCOnOr Of
New York, on Nov. IL, did, wickedly and
miustlv insinuate that said attorneys were
taking The preliminary steps that men take
before their flight to some foreign country,
when he. O'Conor, said that there wert
other prominent men besides Tweed that
would soon quit the country; and, that TIN:
General Assembly demand from said Charles
O'Couor an immediate retraction Of saiC
insiuuations upon said attorneys.
The resolution was received with laugh
ter, and was finally withdrawn.
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To entitle citizens OF De Kalb county t.
sell land belonging to the De Kalb Count,
Agricultural and Mechanical Association
Passed.
PUBLIC PRINTER.
At y O'Clock the Senators proceeded in
body TO the hall Of the House of Represeu
tatiycs for the purpose Of electing publ
printer.
On returning the Senate rose for recess
Affer recess, the Senate met at 2 p. m
and Immediately adjourned till 10 a. m. tC
morrow, in order to accompany the men
bers Of the House Of Representatives on
visit to Mrs. James h. Polk.
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