Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

THURSDAY, Nov. 16-The House was
called to order at 10 o'clock, Speaker Rich
ardsOn in the chair.
DELINQUENT RAILROAD FEES.
Mr. Martin from the Judiciary Commit
tee, submitted the following report, with the
statement that the report submitted yester-
day on the same subject was signed by all
| the members of the committee present ex-
cept one, and not by the full committee
lacking one:
Your committee beg leave to submit this
| in the nature of supplementary report to
| their report on the subject of fees to rail-
| road counsel and commissioners. Infor-
| nation has been received since submitting
! the report on yesterday that Hon. Robt. j.
| Mckinney, Arch. Wright, Francis B. Fogg,
and Ed. r. Pennebaker have not filed their
| claims respectively for $1,000 as compensa-
| ton for their services as Commissioners in
| the matter of the delinquent railroads. The
information is obtained from the accounts
in the newspapers, published as the state
ment of the Clerk and Master of the Chan
Gerry Court at Nashville, and from the pri-
vate letter which accompanies the report,
and signed by Mr.. J. A. Mckinney.
In justice to these distinguished gentlemen
this statement is made by the committee.
and for the purpose of correcting any Unjust
impressions as to their connection with the
matter complained of.
The report is signed by sixteen members
of the committee.
NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Cheatham: A resolution provid-
ing that in view of the depleted condition
of the State Treasury, the members of the
General Assembly receive their per diem in
Il c old issue notes of the Bank of Ten
nessee. %
By. Mr.. Lumpkin: A bill exempting
ground rents from all taxation except for
State purposes.
THE TAX BILL.
The consideration of the tax bill was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Snipes opposed the fifty cent feature
ofthe bill, and advocated forty cents as what
he considered fair and reasonable basis of
taxation. He gave the facts and figures on
which he based his arguments for a reduc-
ton to forty cents. He urged members to
stand upon this middle ground and do equal |
justice to all, and let consequences take !
care of themselves. Our duty is to the |
people of the whole State. When we have |
done that we have done all that we can,
and have a consciousness that bonds, or fu- |
lure prOmOtlon can never give.
Mr.. Spears followed in advocacy of the
bill. We are bound, he said, to raise a suf-
ficient revenue, redeem the old issue of the /
Bank of Tennesseeyamounting to S75OOOO
and to pay off the outstanding warrants
against the State, amounting to 5000
the current expenses of the State, the sum
of 100000, and the loan account of $780,
900, in all the sum of s., 268, 900. We have
300,000,000 taxable property in the State,
and the amount of revenue that will be
raised on fifty cents on the 500 worth of
property viii be 81 100000, and the amount
of revenue raised on privileges as the law
now stands, S450,000; in all the sum of ST.
100000, leaving a deficit of S318,0O0.
The estimate of the minority in their re-
port is based upon the superstition that all
the arrears Of tax out from the year 1865 to
1872 will be paid into the treasury within
The next fiscal year. This cannot be relied
upon. Such a thing has never been known
in the history of any State, and we have 10
assurance that the averages In November, |
1872, will not be as great as the one to-day.
The amount of delinquencies in the Comp I
rollers report for the year 1870 is s., 1885, |