Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-06
OUR NASHVILLE LETTER.
The Bill TO EquaiIke seinries-The Peni.
tentiary Observation-Disclosures the state
state Geoiogist-Ftnances-R
NASHVILLE. Dec. 4. Is

NASHVILLE, Dec. 4, 1871.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: The bill passed |
by the Senate to equalize the salaries of
officers Is creating quite a sensation. This |
bill was introduced by Senator Gibson,
and provides that Clerks of Courts, Sheriffs,
Trustees and Revenue Collectors shall pay
into the county treasures Of their respec-
tive counties all fees or other official COM
pensation received by them In excess of
81, 900 per annum. These officers are also
allowed 81 800 per annum for each deputy
the County Court may deem necessary.
The passage Of this bill by the Senate has
brought to Nashville quite a swarm
of lobbyists to kill the bill in the
House. The people are unanimous for
it in the, wealthy counties; and the
officers affected are unanimously
against it. 1t is not generally known that
the above named officers in Shelby, David
son and some other counties make from
ten to forty thousand dollars year out of
their offices, while the Governor and the
Supreme Judges receive but four thousand
q year. IN errt.et -rrsr
THE PENITBNTIARY LEASE.
This lease has not given universal salts
faction, and the discomfort Is on the in
crease. The Penitentiary Inspectors claim
to have made 800, 900 last wear over all
expenses. 1t is insisted that the lease was
made secretly and then rushed through
the Legislature. 1t is further insisted that
If the State had let it be known that lease
would be made, at last $50, 900 year
could have been obtained instead of S30,-
60. -n ..-r --t........
THE APPoRTIoNMENT BILL.
The manner in which the State has been
redistricted creates almost universal dis
satisfaction among the members, and
there is general disposition to postpone
final action ON this subject until the Con-
gressional Districts are redistricted. 1t
seems to be taken for granted that there
will be an extra session for this latter pur-
pose.
STATE GEoLodIST.
n bill passed the Senate on Saturday to
create the office of State Geologst at the
nominal salary of $500 per annum. The
object of this is to get the benefit of an
act of Congress directing the United States
coast survey to triangulate any State
wherein geological survey is in progress.
A triangulation of the State is indispens-
able to the making of correct State map,
and will also bring many thousands of dol
lars into the State during the prosecution
of the work by the Uuited States officers.
FINANCES.
Tennessee finances are getting mixed up
worse and worse every day. There is sup
posed to be about one million of the old is
sue still outstanding the new issue is
placed anywhere you please between three
and thirty millions and must be paid the
House is threatening to repudiate various
issues of bonds the Senate Finance Com
mttee voted few days ago to put down
the ddUdLOrens tax to fifteen cents the
State has sold out many of her railroads
for mere song and is now paying back
considerable part of what she did receive,
by way of compromising law suits there
are $750,000 outstanding in State warrants;
the State has $4,000 of borrowed money
to pay in a short time or lose its hypoth-
faI IL,
penitentiary bonds to be redeemed in a
few months or be forever lost (; $500, 900
must be provided to run the State Govern
ment the Chancellor of Davidson coun-
ty has just attached $4,000 in United
States bonds and other bonds and coupons,
in the hands of the State Treasurerera and has
enjoined the Governor, Treasurer, Comp
troller, Secretary of State and otherofficials
from in any manner disposing of said
bonds, at the suit of certain depositors in
the banks of Tennessee the school fund,
amounting now to at least two millions of
dollars, the State is bound in honor to re-
place; the people are crying for relief from
oppressive taxation; the merchants are
| flooding the Legislature with appeals for a
reduction of taxes; the Legislature Is
spending its time in passing railroad and
local laws, and Is about to adj journ without
seeming to think for one moment of the
tremendous financial perils envirOning
the state IN word, the General Assem-
bly, is unequal to the emergency. 1t is
sleeping on an earthquake. Relief must
be devised. The times demand Action
Action-Action Imbecilitysin Office is
treason to the State! Timidity is imbecil-
ity. The thunderings of the coming storm
are muttering afar Off. The whole action
of this Legislature is in the interest of re-
pudiation The incubus of debt is
now almost unbearable. 1t seems
to be the policy of the Demo
cratic leaders here to increase the
State debt, OF course this means repudia-
tion at last. The Tennessee money, old
and new issue, to be redeemed, amount
ing to unknown millions, stalks abroad
through the State like the ghost of the
Confederacy, and the Democracy are par
alyzed at this image of its own reasonable
doings. Let it then be written down De-
mocracy means reputation and insolvency
for Tennessee. The people have, perhaps,
| one more chance to redeem their State
the next election for the Legislature. Let
them meet the issue squarely. Democracy
in Tennessee has been failure that fail
ure is crime. No wonder hoEest Demo-
| Gratis want their party buried out of sight.
New York City has set this State the ex-
| ample. Will we follow it? Honesty and
patriotism urge us on. East Tennessee, at
! least, will do her duty. That much is GER
tain. All else is darkness. Yours.
A "journ tailor named Jimmy Yolk,
ninety-four years old, is now traversing
Ohio rs a professional tramp" He has