Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-21
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

! SAnAAAs
WEDNESDAY, March 20.-The Senate
met at 10 A. NJ Speaker Vaughn in the
! chair.
NEW BILLS.
By Mr.. Clarke: To provide for the speedy
hearing of causes in the Circuit and Sup
RENE Courts Of Tennessee and to relieve
the crowded dockets and preventing appeals
for delay. Passed.
By Mr.. Earnest: To provide each court
In this State with copies of the reprinted re-
ports Of the Supreme Court reports and to
establish law libraries at Jackson, Nashville
and Knoxville. Passed.
RESOLUTION.
By Mr.. Coulter: To print 200 copies of
the report of Mr.. j. B. Killebrew for each
member of the Assembly and 1000 copies
for the Superintendent of Education, for
general distribution.
The resolution was taken up under a
suspension of the rules.
Mr.. Warren suggested to strike out that
portion of the resolution which authorized
the printing of 200 copies for each member.
Mr.. Mcconnell hoped the suggestion
would not be adopted.
Mr.. Coulter said the report was one of
the ablest and most exhaustive he had read
on the subject of education, and he be-
lieved it should receive the widest possible
circulation.
Mr.. Warren said his reason for offering
his motion was that he understood a resO-
luton had been adopted in the other house
that the cost of printing should not exceed
5000.
Mr.. Coulter amended his resolution so as
to provide that the number of copies for
each member should be one hundred.
After some further discussion the resolu-
ton was adopted.
HOUSE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To amend the act of Dec. IA, 1871, to
create the office of County Judge for Car
roll and DeKalb counties. Passed.
Mr.. Clark entered a motion to reconsider
for the purpose of constituting the act re-
ferred to in the bill.
Mr.. Earnest hoped this would be made
test question of the jurisdiction of the As
sembly under the Governors proclamation.
He believed many of the bills which had
been introduced were unconstitutional and
he would vote against them whether he ap-
proved of them on their merits or not.
The motion to reconsider was taken up.
M. Gibson argued that the Legislature
had no power to cOnstrue an act passed by
former General Assembly, and referred
to case in point in which the Supreme
Court had rendered a decision declaring
that such construction was clearly uncon-
stitutional.
Mr.. Tharpe contended that while the As
sembly had no right to construe an act
passed by another body, they had right to
explain the meaning of their own legisla-
ton. That was all that was now asked
for.
Mr.. DuBose said he could not understand
why an explanation of the meaning of this
Assembly in passing an act, should be un-
constitutional. He was clearly of the opin-
on that it was not.
After some further discussion the motion
reconsider was adopted.
Mr.. Coulter moved to amend by provid-
ing that the Judge of Carroll county shall
have jurisdiction until the election of a new
Judge. Carried.
The further consideration of the bill was
then postponed till tomorrow.
HOUSE BILL ON SECOND READING.
To change the time of holding the
Chancery Court of Lake county, Pass
ed.
HOUSE BILL on FIRST READING.
To amend the act for the more efficient |
management of the State prison. Passed. |
SENATE BILLS ON THIRD READING.
To amend the act to fix the time of hold |
ing the Circuit Courts.
Mr.. Windle introduced bill on the same |
subject, which he offered in lieu. Adopted |
and third reading postponed.
To authorize the Railroad Commission |
ers to receive the balance due the State on |
the Memphis, ClarksVille and Louisville |
Railroad.
Mr.. Brandon moved to postpone the con- |
sideration of the bill till Friday next.
A discussion arose, in which Mr.. Bran |
don opposed the bill and Messrs. DuBOse |
and Merritt spoke in favor of it.
The bill was finally recOmmitted.
SENATE BILL ON SECOND READING.
To amend the act to revise tho rules of |
Chancery practice. Passed.
RESOLUTION TAKEN UP.
House resolution to appoint agents to ex-
anime into and report upon Thompson &
Steger'S compilation of the statutes, was re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
Adjourned till 10 A. NJ. tomorrow.