Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-03-17
FIFTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE
STATE LEGlsLATU

ON the second reading of the house
, bill to authorize the mayors, etc., OF
J towns and cities to issue bonds to the
amount of fifteen thousand dollars, the
senate bill on the same subject was
adopted in lieu.
Mr.. Clarke offered a section to give
any officer Of any incorporated city or
town authority to arrest and bring to
trial parties guilty of violating muni-
cipal laws of such city or town.
Mr.. Merritt offered an amendment
providing that there shall be no prop"
erty valuation for any municipal Of
ticers in the State.
A motion to lsy both amendments
I on the table was defeated.
The senate Immediately plunged
into the question of jurisdiction, and
the arguments of yesterday as to the
proper construction Of the governors
proclamation were repeated.
The amendment to the amendment
was adopted, and the original amend
ment then rejected.
The bill was further amended by
providing that past due coupons on
such bonds shall be receivable in pay
ment of taxes and all other dues 10
corporations issuing them. Towns OF
one thousand inhabitants were in
eluded among the corporations per-
mitted to take advantage OF the bill,
and the rate of bonds was fixed at
from twenty. five to five hundred dol
lars.
The bill as amended passed a second
reading.
The senate bill to amend the act
to apportiOn the senatorial and repre-
sentative districts Of the State passed
q third reading.
| Mr.. Windle introduced a bill to
amend the act fixing the time Of hold
ing the circuit courts. Objection was
raised that the bill was beyond the
Jurisdiction of the senate, but was al
lowed to pass first reading.
The senate bill to provide for the
sale OF the lands purchased by the
tate for taxes was brought up on its
third reading. 1t was amended so as
to make the office of commissioner
elective by county courts, and to give
counties, towns and cities the benefit
of the act in the collection of delin-
quent taxes, and to exempt the prop
erty of minors, lunatics and idiots
from the operations OF the act.
The senate adjourned without pass
ing the bill.
IN THE HOUSE,
to-day, the following bills were intro
duced:
By dr. Leach-To provide for the
compilation, publication and distri-
button OF the revised code Of Tennes-
see, the same to be revised by three
commissioners learned in the law,
and to be printed by the public
printers.
By Br. Chambers-To relieve the
docket of the supreme court by in
creasing the rate of interest on iudg-
ments and DEGREES, and prevent delay
in appeal cases.
By Mr.. Lumpkin-TO amend the
code 80 as to exempt the common
school visitors and commissioners
from liability to service as jurors.
By Mr.. Ciift-IO require the print
ing of transcripts In cases appealed TO
the supreme court, of more than 500
pages in length.
By Mr.. Trousdale-To amend an
act passed last session, for the sp-
portiOnment of the State into senator
ial and representative districts, By
, designating the places at which the
: vote in the respective senatorial dis
tricts shall be compared.
A rule was adopted limiting
I speeches to FIVE minutes.
On the third reading, the house bill
q to secure the collection Of the State
and county taxes, was passed.
Mr.. Dick offered an amendment to
the effect that the commissioners shall
be elected by the various county
courts, instead Of being appointed by
the governor.
Mr.. Harris moved to amend the
: amendment by providing that no per.
son who is a member OF the county
court. or vho has been a member of
the court for twelve months previous,
! shall be eligible to the Office OF COM
! missioner.
Mr.. Gift said that If they gave the
,, county courts power to appoint COM
missiOners, they would destroy the
efficiency and purpose Of the bill.
> They had tried agents in the respect
: i've counties, and these agents had
failed to collect the taxes, hence the
necessity for this bill now. The ap-
pointing power should be placed in
the hands of the governor, to iRsure
the selection of efficient commits
sioners.
, Mr.. Freeman, Radical, did not want
to see the power of appointment
placed in the hands of the governor.
. This growing tendency toward cen
tralizatiOn was dangerous to the best
interests of the State,
Mr.. ROsser congratulated the gen.
. tlemau on his opposition to eentaliza-
ton, though coming in at the eleventh
I hour.
Mr. Lewis insisted that the object
} sought in the bill would be defeated
by letting the county courts elect the
commissioners. Experience has al
ready shown how imperiectly such a
plan would work. He was confident
that the governor would select such
men as would see to the prompt and
. efficient collection Of taxes. The sys-
, TEN Of electiOneering so prevalent in
! county courts resulted but too fire.
! ouently in the choice Of utterly in
! competent men.
J MI. Chambers offered an amend
! ment to the amendment of Mr.. Har-
! ris, which the latter accepted, pro-
yiding that no magistrate Interested
in lands to be sold for taxes shall be
: eligible to the office Of commissioner
|. or vote when such officer shall be
elected.
Mr.. Martin referrered to local in
fiuences so nOtOriOusly used in coun-
ty courts where the successful candi-
' dates were almost Invariably elected
on the strength Of personal claims
and not with any reference to their
i. fitness for the Office.
Mr.. Freeman contended that these
influences could be used by the govel-
l rnr with as much effect. The bill gave
1 Governor Brown authority to appoint
, men In every county who would work
D for his denomination.
. Mr.. Leach suggested that there was
a constitutional objection to appoint
1 inc commissioners. by the governor.
g II il was q county office 1t could De
|, filed only by the people or by the
: county court.
Mr.. Lumpkin said the acministra-
: tive patronage had come to mean the
t DerpetuatiOn OF the administrative
y mower, and referred to Grants rapid
t Strides toward Capitalization. BE was,
however. far from rejecting on Cover
nor Brown, who, he believed, would
NOT use his authority or lend his ON
ciaI influence in that direction,
Mr.. Freeman remarked that he, too
Il was far from rejecting on the govern
e ment, when he referred to centraliza'
:, tiOn.
, Mr.. Ferguson claimed that he be
IA lOnged to an illustriOus squ1rearchy O
le the State, and they didn't want tC
1t have anything to do with elecane