Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-03-27
NASHVILLE.
Delays Of the LsslsIaturs-TsxatISH and
VsxatIou, and the IsrrymsndeFlHg Of
TenAssses-Ths Lawyers Knocked
Into ri.

Special TO the Appsal.l
NASHVILLE, March Is.
IN THE SENATE.
The house bill providing for the col
lection of unpaid State and county
taxes was taken up. On the third
reading il was amended by empower
ing county courts to elect commission
ers, and providing that the bill should
apply to all lands sold for taxes since
1865, inclusive; also, authorizing the
commissioners TO employ an attorney,
If necessary, and providing for the
payment of the expenses OF the COM
missioners out OF the proceeds of the
sales.
Mr.. Gibson moved to amend by
providing that the net taxes derived
from the sale of such lands shall be
paid into the common school fund.
On this motion a debate arose lasting
all the forenoon session.
Mr., Warren offered an amendment
to the amendment, providing that
such net taxes shall be paid to the
trustees OF counties in which the lands
are sold, to be used for school pur-
poses.
The senate took a recess, and on re-
assembling the debate was resumed.
Mr.. Warren offered an amendment
in lieu of the pending amendments, to
provide that after paying costs and
charges cut Of the proceeds, the
amount of taxes collected shall be
paid into the State treasury, to be
distributed to all the counties in the
State, in proportion to population.
Adopted.
Mr.. Gibson offered an amendment
to give owners of lands to be sold for
taxes en- opportunity to redeem them,
Adopted. The bill as amended passed
third reading,
The remainder of the session was
occupied in advancing the senate bill
redistricting the State. This bill will
be taKen up tomorrow.
The senate bill to establish law IL
braTies was rejected. Only two mem
bers voted for 1t. This is the second
futile attempt to get such a bill
through the legislature.
Adj0urne1.
Mr.. Magill recorded a vote against
the appOrtiOnment bill.
Mr.. E1lOe introduced a bill fixing
the salary of the penitentisry physi.
clan at $500 and the chaplain at $500.
Mr.. Paine introduced a resolution
cOndemning mobs under any circum-
sranees, but especially such as that in
Nashville lass night. Laid over.
The house bill authorizing towns
and cities to levy school taxes was
taken up on the third reading.
Mr.. Richardson, of DWyer and Lau-
deTdale, offered an amendment au-
thOrizing the levying of a poll tax.
Accepted by the author of the bill.
This feature was subsequently struck
from the bill which passed the house.
A resolution authorizing the comp
troller to borrow money for the cur
rent expenses OF the general assem-
bly,, etc, was adopted.
A resolution 10 adjourn next Mon
day at noon was adopted.
After recess several house bills
passed third reading and were trans
mitted to the senate.
A bill to afford relief TO counties by
providing proper remedies for trials ia
criminal causes was ruled out as not
being authorized under the Cover
nor's proclamation.
Two other bills of similar nature
were rejected.
The house bill to diminish the pub
lie debt Of the State, by providing
that in all cases where the States in
terest in delinquent roads has been or
shall be hereafter sold, purchasers, af.
ter paying twenty-five per cent. OI
the purchase money, shall not be COM
PEELED to pay the balance before 1885,
until which time the State shall re-
ceive eight per cent. on the amount;
the State in the meantime to
retain its lien upon the road,
with power to sell such interest in
case the interest or principal should
not be paid.
The committee on section four re-
ported an amendment that any rail-
road company desiring to avail itself
Of these provisions shall files with the
comptroller its acceptance within six
ty days after the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Gift moved to amend by re-
quiring that q bond in double the
amount of such deferred payments be
given with good aud sufficient securi-
ty. BE urged the passage of the meas
ure as calculated to assist materially
in reducing the debt of the State, as
eight per cent. would be realized upon
the deferred payments, thus establish.
ing a sinking fund which would clear
away nearly million dollars within
thirteen years.
Mr.. FriersOn said he regarded this
as the most dangerous bill that
had been introduced this ses-
sion, and earnestly protested
against its passage, as reopening a
question which had already cost the
State millions. II the house passed
the bill 1t would go back on the policy
of honesty and economy to which ii
had so consistently adhered since it
first took hold of these railroad COM
plications, and which had received
the unanimous and emphatic indorse-
ment Of their constituents Besides,
in case the provisions Of the bill
should not be complied with, the gen.
eral assembly would have all the vex-
atiOns and expensive work of selling
out the DELINQUENT railroads to do over
again. Mr.. Lewis reviewed the lib
eral policy of the State toward rail-
roads since the passage CT the internal
Improvement act, and reminded the
house of the time, labor and hIoney
which had been expended at the last
session In getting the State out OF the
complications with which it had been
almost overwhelmed. To pass this bill
would be to undo all they had done,
and to deprive the state Of the means
upon which it had counted for cancel.
ling its obligations. The purchasers
of these delinquent road had taken
them with their eyes open and with
full knowledge of the terms fixed by
the chancery court.
MIR. Chambers insisted that the ar
rangement proposed in the bill would
be as advantageous to the state as to
the railroads, and argued that the
policy Of the state should be as favor.
able to these lines of communications
IS its interests would permit, and
while the bonds Of the state bear in
terest only at six per cent, eight per
cent. was offered on these deferred
payments.
Mr.. Padgett thought the bill ex-
tremely dangerous to the best inter-
ests Of the State, as the railroads had
failed In their obligations before, and
there was no guarantee that they
would not do so again.
Mr.. Buiord cOntended that such
hill aa fhat DrOnneQd uvould orraaflxy