Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-02-13

Legislative Indebtedness.
Retrenehment the Watchword Of Our
Financial Future.
How Criminal Costs Can be Reduced.
Suggestions Friendly to Free Educa-
ton.
Corporations as New Sources Of Rev.
enue.
River Improvements, immigration and
the Texas Pacific.
Federal Usurpation Must be DenOunc-
ed and Repealed.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives The Constitution
of the State imposes upon me the duty
of making such recommendations to
the General Assembly as l may deem
expedienf. But the elaborate message
of my immediate predecessor, coupled
with your action, covers the entire
field of legislation, and l will only
direct your attention briefly to a few
questions, most of which are already
embodied in bills now pending before
you, and as paramount to all other
questions | call your attention to the
fact that in all sections of the State
the people complain of the burdens OF
taxtion, Federal, State and local, and
while they are willing to be taxed for
all necessary and legitimate purposes,
they have such confidence In your wis
dom and discretion, and in your knowl-
edge OF their present great necessities
as to make them feel secure in the be-
lief that you will avoid any legislation
looking to extravaganza or TO the ad-
vancement of private speculation. The
people of Tennessee never possessed
so little ability to bear the burdens OF
government as at present. The very
general failure in all the staple pro-
auctions of the State, together with
the great industrial depression result
ing from the financial disorders OF
the country, has reduced the condition
of the people to such point as to re-
quire the exercise of economy and
watchfulness in every appropriation
made by their Representatives
THE STATE DEBT.
The attention of the Legislature is
called to the necessity of making pro-
vision for the interest on the State
debt, and for the necessary appropria-
ton to meet the current expenses OF
the State Government.
tits too late to discuss the wisdom
Of the policy under which this debt
was created, but how to preserve the
public faith and credit without an in
crease of the public burdens, is the
question of the greatest concern to the
tax payers; the rate of taxation can
not be increased without inficting ir-
reparable injury upon the people, and
while this fact cannot be questioned ii
must be understood that the people of
Tennessee will never repudlate the
legitimate debt of the State. The
question was fairly presented to them
during the late canvass. and they pro-
nounced against it, They know that
Reputation does not pay debt; that
il does not discharge the debtor; that
1t does not modify debt SO that it is
not always binding in law as well as 10
morals, and that it adds n sort of dis
repute to acknowledged inability -
but while the mass of the people will
not consent to the infection Of this
stain which we ought to feel worse
than a wound" there in an imperative
necessity for prompt reduction in the
expenditures of the State government
Ii this is done, no doubt can exist OF
the ability of the State to meet prompt
ly all its obligations.
ADMINISTRATION OP CRIMINAL LAW.
The expense incident to the admin
tration of the criminal law is the sub
ject of criticism and complaint in all
parts of the State, and it is believed
that this large expenditure can be
greatly reduced by modification OF
the statute in relation to the crime OF
larceny, so as to make petit larceny q
misdemeanOr. There are now in the
State penitentiary about FIVE hundred
convicts, convicted of larceny, chiefly
of the lower grade the offense OF
many was for stealing sums ranging
from eight cents to FIVE dollars, entail.
ing directly on the State ia many cases
an expense of over two hundred dol.
lars for the delivery of the convict a
the State Prison. The reduction Of
the grade of this crime would save
many thousands of dollars to the
Treasury; the punishment of those
convicted of it by confinement in The
county Jail or work house would bC
adequate, while the morals of the con
Wet would be improved by this change
In the manner Of his punishment
and | suggest for your consideration
the propricty of imposing by Law. upor
the several counties, where the crime
Is committed, the payment Of the cos
now chargeable to the State; the adOp
ton of this policy would be a grear
relief 20 the Treasury, and would
doubtless induce greater watchfUlnesi
= upon the part of the citizen, anC
upon the part of the citizen, and arouse
a more active interest in the suppress
lou of every character of lawlessness
FEES AND PERQUISITES.
Much complaint is made by the tax
payers of the State at the amount o.
fees and perquisites received by many
ce-holders in Tennessee. The com.
pensation of all public servants should
Ice reasonable, but no place should
have attached to ii such an income as
will justify the employment of corrupt
means in obtaining it. and [ recon.
mend the passage of general Law
limiting the incomes Of all officials to
a certain amount, and providing thai
all fees in excess of the prescribed
limit shall be paid into the public
treasury.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
The lease. of this institution vii
expire the LIST of December, 1876. ant
the duty devolves to you of determin
ing the disposition to be made of it
The present policy is a very question
able one, but if it il to be released
the manner and terms of the least
should be definitely settled, and should
be made in time to enable the Jesse IL
provide the necessary material anC
supplies for prosecuting the business
of the establishment
The penitentiary building is wholly
inadequate for the accommodation Of
the conviets now occupying it; NJ
proper system Of discipline can be en-
forced. aud no sufficient provision Cal
be made for the health or moral cOG,