Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-06

In the proceedings of the House Of Re-
representatives. on Wednesday we find the
following reported in the Union and amer
lean.
The joint comm ttee appointed to investigate
the issuance of railroad bonds by the State, sub
mitted the following bill and recommended its
passage ITO provide for the appointment of
an attorney for the State to prosecute suits
against parties engaged in fraudulent transact
tions in bonds issued by the State" The bill
provides for criminal prosecutions against all
parties having any connection with illegal and
fraudulent issuance of State bonds to railroad
companies 1tauthorizes the government to ap-
point suitable person to examine the reports
of the various committees on railroads appoint
ed by the last Legislature to investigate the is
suance Of bonds to the several railroads Of the
State, and to seek and obtain all information
possible in regard to the issuance of bonds of
the Stateto any and all railroads.
Said attorney is granted the privilege of free
access to all books and papers in the public Of
fees of the State and all public officers are di-
rected to give him all the assistance in their
power in his researches. If the said attorney
shall be of opinion that there has been irregular
illegal or fraudulent issuance of any of said
bonds, he shall at once institute suits in the
name of the State against all parties connected
with such illegal issuance. And if he shall be
satisfied upon examination that any one has laid
himself liable to criminal prosecution, the at
torney shall notify the District Attorney in the
district in which the ofense was committed, or
wherein inc uelenuanJ may reslQe, ana QlreCt
aid District Attorney to prosecute said party
As compensation for his services the attorney
appointed under this act shall receive three per
cent on the amount recovered by him recovered
for the State up to 100000, and two per cent
for all amounts above that sum.
In case of failure to recover he shall receive
such compensation for his services as shall be
fixed by the next Legislature assembling after
also provided that nothing in this act shall be
construed to estop the State to question the va
| lidity Of any bonds in aid of any railroad COM
| pany in this State, which are fraudulent and
| void under existing laws. The bill passed on
| first reading. ...
We have heard great deal said about
these fraudulent railroad bonds, and trust
that some measure may be adopted to as
certain certainly if any such bonds have
been issued, and, if SO, to whom and by
whom. We desire to see the blame, if any
] one is to be blamed, fixed where it prom
erly belongs. We trust the investigation
may be impartial, thorough and of the
most rigid character. If the State has
been swindled, let it be known who are
| parties to the transaction, and let them
be punished as the law directs. Let
not their social standing, their wealth,
nor their politics be any barrier
to the dispensation of justice. If they are
guilty of stealing the hard earnings OF
honest taxpayers, let them be punished
Dy III pTlsOnlleDU at nara laDOr III Jlle state
penitentiary for the remnant of their nat
ural lives. Make an example of them cal
culated to deter evil doors for all time to
come from embarking in a similar under
| taking.
Democratic politicians have made proc
lamatiOn in every county from Johnson to
Shelby, to the effect that fraudulent bonds
have been issued, and that " Radicals " are
responsible for them. We have called
upon that party time and again since il
has controlled our State government to in
vestigate this matter, and now we repeat
our request, that this investigation shall
proceed We have no friends whom we
wish to shield if they are guilty Of
practicing fraud OH the people. On
the contrary, we desire to see the
punishment fall upon the guilty ones, NJ
matter who they may be. If gentlemen
who belong to the Republican party ar,
guilty of so gross wrong, we say let then
/ suffer the consequences of their outrageou
conduct. If, upon investigation, men wh'
/ are acting with the Democratic party ar
: guilty, we say in the name of justice ant
right, let the matter come to light. LIE
3 nothing be covered up. Let everything
! come to light which the people are inter
e ested in knowing. If nothing is bIough
s out by the plan proposed, or if this plal
!, should fail and the present Legislator
/ neglects to adopt measures whereby tn
a facts may be ascertained, in the name c
a decency and propriety, stop prating abou
e Radical corruption" in connection wit
e the instance Of railroad bonds.
|