Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-05
THE LEGISLATURE.
What the Press of the State have
to Say About the Legisla-
tiOn Required.
The COmptrOIlerOn Criminal Pros
ecutiOns, Insurance and
the Public Schools.
What Some of the Papers Think
of the New Legislators
Raw Material.
Heavy on East FennesSeeans---Cau-
didates for Comptroller,
Secretary of State,
and Treasurer.

particular attention 10 the Legislature,
which meets on Monday, and to what
will or should occupy the attention OF
both houses; also, the election Of Comp
troller, Secretary of State and Ireasu-
rer. For the tone of their comments of
course We are not responsible, our object
being 10 group together the pros and
cons of public opinion touching the up
permOst questions of the day.
HEAVY on EAST TENNEssEEANs
The two houses of the General AS
sembly-cOmmOnly called the Begisla-
ture-will convene in their respective
chambers in the Capitol at Nashville,
next Monday, January 9th. From all
the indications which meet the eye of
the thoughtful reader, We Judge the ses-
sion will be a stormy one, and fruiJless
of good to the people. There are twen-
ty-tive Senators and seventy-three Rep
resentatives, who may take their seS Is
on Monday-the fiOater from Fayette
and Shelby and the representative from
Lawrence and Wayne, who We're elected
on Thursday, will probably take their
seats during the week, or at farthest by
Monday week. OF twenty-five Sena-
tors, it said every one of them is a candi-
date for Speaker; and Of the seventy-five
Representatives at least fifty are candi-
dates for Speaker Of that body. These
elections will involve an amount of log
rolling and crOss-lifting which has
rarely, if ever, been witnessed in Tennes-
see, before. We see, in connection with
this matter of the meeting of the Legis-
lature, that number of the corrupt and
efiete politicians of East Tennessee pro-
pose to visit Nashville at the commence
ment of the session. These men never
90 anywhere OF do anything without
purpose. Who can now fOretell the pos
sible combinations which may be formed
in politics? Besides the election Of pre-
siding officers and employees of the two
houses, the election of 8 Secretary OF
State, q Comptroller and Treasurer of
the State will be made. Judging from
the character Of the men before the
Legislature for these offices, we look
for some diseriditable work be-
fore the thing is done with.
That there will be bargaining and
intrigue, if not corruption, resorted
to IN selection Of the various officers TO
be elected, hardly admits of a doubt.
We shall watch the course of events at
Nashville with a jealous eye, and shall
not hesitate 10 speak our opinion in re-
gard to matters there transacted, let who
viii be the sufferer. Those who act
fairly and squarely, will have nothing
TO lose by a full and-fTee investigation
Of their conduct, while the wicked and
corrupt shall be exposed and their ras-
calilies blazOned abroad in spite of their
positions. In regard to the matter Of re-
districting the State for ten Congress
men, We have TO reiterate what We
have before said. We hope the districts
will be cOmpactly and conveniently
laid of, let il affect the interests pros
perOusly or adversely Of whom it may.
Let no political rGScGlities be perpe-
trated, but let perfect fairness and ibe-
rality be observed in this matter. No
politicians trick can be justified or de-
Tended, and for our part We shall speak
the truth in regard to the action of the
Legislature, let whose cOrns so ever be
trOd upon in the matter.-JdckSOn Wing
and Tribune.
COL. C. n. GIBBS.
This gentleman, prominent lawyer,
planter, railroad man and good citizen
Of Union City, and at the same time one
Of the ablest and most deserving of our
West Tennessee friends, viii be can
didate for Secretary of State. Should he
and believe he will, he will serve Ten
nessee as well and as devOtedly as any
incumbent who has ever held it. As a
good and true man, well qualified and
deserving, We commend him for the pO-
sition. We hope he will be elected for
two reasons: first, because he is emil
nently fitted for the position, and sec
0ndly, because a West Tennesseean
ought to have the Office, and he is the
choice Of most Of us.-BrOaDHSUitle Bee.
THE COMPTROLLER on CRIMINAL PROS
CUTIONS-INSURANCE AND PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
The frightful bills Of costs in criminal
prosecutions come in for urgent notice.
The Comptroller thinks a revision Of the
law in this particular would save much
money TO the State. Each county
should pay the costs of its criminal
prosecutions, and an equitable law
might be framed which would permit
the several counties to get the benefit of
the hire Of their cOnyicts from the les
sees Of the penitentiary. Reduction of
privilege tax on insurance agencies is
advocated, ON the score that many in
surance agencies would doubtless loan
their capital on mortgages Of real estate il
the capital thus invested were left un-
taxed. On the thirtieth Of April, 1870,
the Comptroller appOrtiOned the amount
due 10 common schools, including what
was due on former years aud for 1869, at
four hundred and fOrty-One thousand
five hundred and eighty-fOur dollars and
thirty-siX cents. Warrants for this
amount have been issued. There is
now 4salanee in the treasury due to
of
and fifty thousand dollars, mostly col
lected in Tennessee money. This
amount is 40 small that warrants have
not been distributed in advance
of special orders from the Legisla-
ture. Experience has demonstrated that
the school fund should be paid out Of
the State Treasury. The tax should be
levied by the State, and when collected
paid over to the County Trustee, and
by him disbursed IN accordance with
the provisions Of the school law.
RUBBING THIN DOWN.
Our Legislature meets on Monday
next. 1t may not be saying a great
deal for the intelligence of that body,
vet we are gratified to be able to sa5
that in point Of ability it viii compare
very iavorably with its immediate pre-
neceS5DIs. w ucu assem- Blcu II VIII nave
much important work before it, to
which, it is to be hoped, it will address
itself ia a spirit of liberality, and with
lust appreciation of it's responsibility.
Among the subjects of Importance
which will come before il we may men,
tiOn our State finances, common schools,
our railroad interests and the calling of
a convention to 50 revise our State Con-
stitution as to extiTpate the miserable
partisan features which mar that in
acknowledgements Republican.
RARE MATERIAL.
Our General Assembly meets next
Monday, and our Senator and Repre-
sentative, Hons. j. NJ. Coulter and J.
NJ. Elder, are already at their posts, and
we feel that the interests of their con-
stituents will be well guarded, and the
State treasury protected SO far as their
vigilance aud strict attention to duty
will contribute TO that end. The short
time, however, allowed by the eonsti-
tuition, seventy-five DAYS, is Inadequate
10 deveIOpe a well matured financial
policy. The Legislature is composed OF
raw material, which knows but little Of
the routine of business and still less what
laws are already on the statute books.
Hence the legislation must necessarily
he hasty and imperfect. A few years
experience has been sufficient to satisfy
all intelligent observers Of the opera
tiOns of our organic laws that they are
very dpf4cfivsa and while Wa are aafis-