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

gre receipts (nOt having but two offices that
pay anything over and above expenses) to |
pay this amount, and in consequence the !
company has been compelled to send me
money from Pittsburgh to pay the taxes,
rather than close the offices, until had an
opportunity of asking relief from your hon
Orable body, which now do. ..-.-.
am aware of and fully appreciate the
financial condition of the State, and there
fore dc not ask your honorable body to
enact for much reduction of income into
the State Treasury from telegraphs. but, in
asmueh as the Western Union Telegraph
Company never asked for reduction of
the thousand dollar tax, and has lines run
ming through every portion of the State,
with great number of paying offices, and
this company only a line from Nashville via
Guthrie to Memphis, that you will equal
ize the present amount of tax collected
from The two companies, so that the COM
pany having the greater number of offices
and the greatest number of miles of tele-
graph, and that charges the most to points
where they have no competition, may pay
its just proportion. In order that this may
be done, l would respectfully suggest and
law to that in force in other States, which
provides for tax upon each mile of tele-
graph in the State. If each mile of telegraph
in Tennessee was taxed one dollar per annum
it would give about the same amount
of revenue to the State as at
present. The Western Union Telegraph
Company has the following lines:
Miles.
From Nashville to Memphis, via Guthrie, 260
From Nashville to KY, State Line, L. s. n.
Line along Mobile and Ohio 4. R.....,.. "a
Line along Northwestern r. R............. 152
Line along Nashville and Chattanooga r. r. 100
Line along Decatur r. R-........-.......-.. So
From Chattanooga to Bristol. go
From Memphis to Union City............... 126
Making total miles of line. ............ 1851
The Southern Pacific and Atlantic Tele-
graph Company has two hundred and sixty
miles from Nashville to Memphis, and this
would give into the State treasury at least
thirteen hundred and fifty-seven dollars,
and each company paying its Just proper
ton.
As an individual tried to arrange last
summer to construct a line from Nashville
to Murfreesboro, McMinnville and Lebanon,
to connect at Nashville with the Southern
Pacific and Atlantic lines, but ascertaining
| that l would have to pay seven hundred
| and fifty dollars for the privilege of opera
ting it, and that the line would not pay that
much, the enterprise was aban-
| doned until next spring. | would
earnestly appeal to you for the relief asked
| for, that we may continue to furnish the
people already reached by the new line
| cheap telegraphing. Very respectfully,
VIM. D. GENTRY.
NEW BILLS.
The following were introduced and pass
| ed: By Mr.. McGill: to amend the Code so
as to allow copying clerks fifteen cents for
every hundred words. By Mr.. Martin: To
secure the payment of taxes due the State.
| By Mr.. Martin: To amend sections $50 and
| 6l2 of the Code, which require assessors
of taxes to describe the property assessed.
| By Mr.. Martin: To create the office Of GeOl-
| ogist and MineralOgist for the State. The
| bill fixes the term of office at two years,
| and requires the officer TO devote at least
three months in each year exclusively to the
| duties imposed on him by the act.l By Mr..
/ COlquitt: To provide for the support of the
| Tennessee Hospital for the Insane. By Mr..
| McCOllum: To amend section 1861 of the
Code so as to more effectually prevent the
sale of spirituOus liquors on Sunday. By
| Mr.. Lumpkin: To provide fol- a more
| equal tax upon telegraph companies. By
Mr. Samsell To exempt from execution
| by attachment one horse or mare in the
hands of each unmarried man or woman,
| or in case where no such property is owned,
| 1925 worth Of any other kind of property.
By Mr.. Lumpkin: Toamend section !, ,434
| of the Code, and section of chap. "a the
acts of 1870-T1.
HOUSE BILLS ON THIRD HEADING.
To supply the people of the State with the
opinions Ofthe Supreme Court. The bill was
| amended by striking out all after the enact
| ing clause and inserting clause, providing
| that such opinions as the Supreme Court
may think of sufficient importance to be
| published Immediately, shall be published
| in one paper in each grand division of the
State, at a cost not exceeding the price of
i composition, and also providing that the
| aggregate expenditure shall not exceed
| $500 per annIIm. The bill as amended
was rejected; ayes 21, noes 43.
To repeal the act TO amend the usury
laws of the State and to establish a conyen-
tional rate of interest. Laid on the table;
the vote was entered.
| At l2:45 p. NJ, the House took a recess
| and re-assembled at 2:}0 O'Clock.
| L
| slider was resumed after recess. The mo
ton was finally carried, ayes "a, noes SO.
Mr.. Cheatham offered an amendment to
reduce the conventional rate Of interest TO
| eight per cent.
| After debate lasting till ) p. NJ, the
| amendment was adopted, ayes 50, noes 80.
Mr.. Lynn moved an amendment prOvid-
ING that in case of an Illegal rate of interest
| being demanded, the lender shall not be
| precluded from collecting the principal with
| the legal rate of interest thereon. Adopted.
The bill was then rejected for want Of
| Constitutional majority, ayes 30, noes 81.
NEW BILL.
By Mr.. Taylor: TO repeal section 414S
| of the Code. Passed.
The House took recess till I O'Clock,
when it reassembled.
| HOUSE BILLS ON SECOND READING.
To repeal section 5591 of the Code and
to provide for the carrying Of convicts 10
the State Penitentiary. Rejected.
To require County Courts to appoint
overseers and assign hands to work on the
| public roads. Rejected for want of CON
! stitutional majority; ayes -, noes Il.
To sell the State stock in turnpikes in
the State. Rejected.
To repeal an act to amend the criminal
laws Rejected.
To amend the assessment laws Of the
State so as to make them conform to tie
new constitution. Passed.
To authorize the County Courts Of the
several counties in this State TO tax the
privilege or occupation of fishing in their
respective counties. The bill was amended
so as to apply TO Sewer county only, and
rejected foT want of constitutional ma
jority-ayes 2S, noes q.
To regulate attorneys fees. Rejected.
To change the line between the counties
of Hawkins and Hamblin. Passed.
For the relief of A. G. Shipley, tax col
lector of Sullivan county for 1869. Rejected
To authorize the establishment of rOgues
galleries. Rejected, ..l.f .sa4...r 10 ...