Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-20

tees observation-disclosures Laws-PRy Of
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Of the Legislature
Extra Session.
| Especial Correspondence Knoxville Chronicle.l
NASHVILLE, DEC. 16, 1871.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: The Legislature
| adjourned sine die to-day at noon At that
hour every Act had been signed by the
Speakers, approved by the Governor, and
| filed with the Secretary of State Hither-
to vast deal of confusion has invariably
existed at the close of the session, some
bills falling to become laws though passed
by both Houses, and some becoming laws
though not passed by both Houses. As
the people have naturally great curiosity
to know what was done in the Legislature,
l Will endeavor to sketch out the
WORK DONE BY THE ASSEMBLY.
Between five and six hundred bills
were introduced into the House, and
two hundred and fifty-four into
the Senate. The number of resolutions
introduced was about two hundred and
fifty, one hundred of which originated in
the Senate. OF the House bills one hum
dred and one became laws and of the
Senate bills tiftytwo became laws. Ofthe
one hundred and fifty-three bills that be-
came laws eight gave an additional justice
or notary public to as many towns, eleven
were in the interest of railroads, sixteen
changed county lines to say nothing of
many county line bills that were vetoed,
tWenty-seven were special in their charac-
ter, forty-eight were purely local. fourteen
were general yet did not affect the people
particularly, and twenty-nine directly af-
fected the entire State. All of the railroad
laws originated in House except two. y
CHANGES IN. CRIMINAL LAWS.
Among the changes in the criminal laws
may be mentioned the following: 1t is
/ nliGIgnp0nnr n rNt.itl ], IN,
/ six miles of any iron mandatory. Tits
misdemeanor to carry any sort of pistol
| except revolver in the hand, or except
when on journey out of ones county or
State, or except by peace officers. 1t is
made misdemeanor to injure any dams
or other Improvement in rivers made by
the United States. Rape is made
capital offence, commutable, however, to i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary for not
less than ten years. 1t is also made q CAP
ital offence to obstruct railroad or rail-
road car 50 as to cause deeth to any person
on such railroad or car. Guardians ofluna-
tics are made punishable for breach of
| trust. The. Attorney General is directed
to institute both civil and criminal suits
| against all persons in any way connected
| with fraudulent issuance or appropriation
of State Bonds, and authorized to en-
! ploy assistant counsel. All officers with
a capias in their hands are authorized to
thtCult IL any where III Jlle olHUe.
QUESTIONS OF TAXATION. .-. n.I
The ad valorem tax is 40 cents on the
hundred dollars. On all submissions be-
fore Justices or Recorders Il state tax of
two dollars. Poll tax unchanged. Par
sonages are eXemptedfrom taxation as also
are stables kebt by tavern-keepers. Lands
hereafter to be sold for taxes on the first
Mondays of July and January, instead of
in July only as heretofore. Tax Assessors
are hereafter TO be appointed at the April
Quarterly Court and must meet in May.
y law was also enacted authorizing theG low
ernor to appoint Commissioner in each
county to sell lands bought by the State
for taxes. This is a very stringent law,
and | warn all whose lands have been sold
and bought up by the State to pay up their
taxes at once or they will certainly lose
their land. Revenue collectors hereafter
receive commissions only on the money
by them actually collected and paid over
State warrants are made receivable for tax
es due the State. zee EHr Esar
LAWS AFFECTING COURTS.
The rules of chancery practice were re-
vised and important changes made A
Criminal Court was established for WIN
hanson, Maury, Miles and Marshall coun-
ties. The times of holding the following
courts are changed as follows: Roane Cir
cult Court changed to second Mondays of
april August anu december, Dub not To
go into effect until after the next Circuit
Court; Roane Chancery Court changed to
second Mondays of March and September;
Monroe Chancery Court to be held on
first Monday of March next, and there
after on third Mondays of April and Octo-
Der; Jefferson Chancery Court changed
to fourth Mondays of April and October.
The courts of Cooke county are hereafter
10 be held at Clifton instead of Gin the di-
lapidated court housein Newport!n Courts
are empowered to tax all prosecutors
with costs when they wilfully abandon
the prosecution. All laws on the subject
of changing the venue in the Courts of
Record, passed since the Code, are repealed,
and the Code left in full force. The courts
are required to determine, before all 9TH
ers, suits affecting the revenue, or the right
to hold office. The hour for trial in JUS
tees Courts is noon, unless a different
hour is fixed by the officer in his return.
AGRICULTURE AND FARMING.
4 Bureau of Agriculture was estab-
lished, composed of two citizens from each
Grand Division of the State, with princi-
pal office at Nashville. No compensation
is allowed, except fare TO Nashville. The
lawful height of post and rail and post and
plank fences is reduced to four and one
half feet, and of rock fences to four feet. |
\ Bureau of immigration was also estab- |
lished, composed of one commissioner from |
each Grand Division, TO circulate informa- |
ton and encourage immigration from for |
eign lands. No compensation is allowed |
the commissioners.