Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-24
STAIR PIEANcFs.

The school bill, which is the best law
that has been passed by the present
Legislature, provides for the assessment
and collection of an Rd valorem tax OF
ten cents on the one hundred dollars
worth Of real and personal property.
The Senate assessment bill fixed the ad
valorem tax on property at fifty cents
for general purposes, which would 10 all
make sixty cents, the high rate which
prevailed lest year or properly year be-
fore last. The bill went to the House
and passed informally on its first aud
second readings. Then came the tug,
hot discussion, and the war Of parlia-
mentary tactics between the funders
and anti-fuuders. The lines were
distinctly drawn, but in the end
the latter we're victorious. They passed
the act on its third reading, with several
amendments, the most important being
to reduce the ad valorem tax TO forty
cents. The anti.funders owed their sue
cess mainly to their concert Of action
and liberal use Of arguments made by
the funders, who formerly conteaded in
epeeches-which somehow nearly all
got into print--that after funding the
debt and meeting all current expenses
it would not be necessary TO increase
the present and then prevailing rate OF
taxation. Extracts from these speeches
were in order, although objected to by
some who had made them. The read
ing, although unpalatable to Judge
Houk, who happend to be in
the chair, went on under his fair
and impartial ruling, and produced
a decided effect To their credit be it
said several Of the funders stood -p
TO the rack, and a rack il was, and voted
consistently with their talk-Judge Houk
among the number. He told them, with
n frankness from which others shrank,
that ia passing the funding bill they
had been wise enough to insert section
requiring the Treasurer to pay the inter
est on the State debt in preference to
anything else, and it was matter Of in
difference to him whether the opponents
Of the measure saw fit to provide sufi
cient revenue to meet other expenses
at least such was the effect Of his words.
The entire bill, which originally and as
amended IN the House contains many
of the features Of Mr.. Wiliamsons bill,
passed in the House at noon Saturday,
went Immediately to the Senate, aud
was concurred in with one slight excep
ton in regard to the pay Of assessors.
The Governor will sign it, doubtless,
unless be admits that it does not provide
sufficient revenue. Some OF the features
OF the bill are that Tax Collectors can
sell land without an order Of condemns
ton from court, but the court afterwards
confirms title aud gives writ Of posses
sion; provides ga assessor in each dis
iriet aud in each ward Of cities Of 10000
population. 1t makes every thing i'm
agiaable privilege, but fixes no rates
This work was left for the revenue bill,
which will doubtless pass to-day its third
and last reading, If there is a quorum in
the House; otherwise. it will fail, until
the Governor calls a special session to
" provide revenue, etc, which be would
be certain to do. This is a pretty clear
outline Of she situation. Now, we pro
pose to present some figures, obtained
from the Comptroller's report and other
reliable sources, and the people can then
judge how far cur Nashville special was
wrong in the estimate that il would re-
quire eighty cents on the dollar 10 pay the
interest on the State funded debt. Il
should be remembered that an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 has been
made for insane ssylums in East
aud West Tennessee that an unnamed |
bat not q small sum, vas voted to furnish 1
Justices Of the Peace With Steiger's |
Code; $4,000 for the deaf aud dumb /
asyiam school, $4,000 for The pres |
cot hosPitsl for the inssne, SlO.O00 for
the agricultural bureau, amounting 20 I
an S. the Governor said in bis special
to sbosi $4,000, and is that