Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-17
FEES, PERQUIsITEs, SALARIES, ETC.

FEES, PERQUIsITEs, SALARIES, ETC.
From Our Special Correspondent
NASHVILLE, February Is, 1875
There are numerous ways of accom-
plishiDg your object, in parliamentary
bodies, if you only know how to go about
it, and if you do not you've no business
to be member Of parliamentary body.
For instance, when the senate was called
to order at ten o'clock this morning, the
discovery was made that there was not
a quorum present, whereupon a motion
was made to take recess until eleven
o'clock, but this motion was declared
out of order, and properly enough, on
the ground that the senate could not
take recess, as it was not then an or
ganized body. Then a motion to ad-
jOurn until eleven o'clock was made,
and carried unanimously. Sometimes
the difference "'twiXt tweedledum and
tweedledee is absolutely startling in its
hight, breadth and perpendicularity
FRosT-BITTEN CoNvICTs.
When the senatorial machinery was
fairly set in motion, Senator Wilson Of
fered the following:
WHEREAS, 1t is currently reported
that considerable number of the con-
victs in the penitentiary are frost bitten,
and this by reason of the want OF suffi-
cient care by those having them in
charge, therefore be it
Resolved 6y the Senate and House of
Representatives, That the standing COM
mittee on the penitentiary be required
to investigate these reports, and for this
purpose they are authorized to admins
ter oaths, hear proof and send for wit
nesses.
The committee are instructed to make
their report at the earliest practicable
moment.
In offering the resolution Senator
Wilson explained that in consequence
of said rumOrs Of neglect he had visited
the penitentiary yesterday evening, and
had found that certain convicts who had
been employed on railroads were seri-
Ously injured by exposure to the cold.
On motion the rules were suspended, the
resolution adopted without dissenting
voice, ordered engrOssed and transmit
ted TO the house at once, and then to
further fix the matter and make assur.
apce doubly sure, Senator MOsely moved
10 reconsider the vote just had adopting
the resolution, and signalled Wilson to
move tabling Of the motion to recon-
slider. This was done, the motion to ta-
bic was agreed to, and if the proposed
investigation of the treatment awarded
cOnvicts is not had, it will not be for
want Of parliamentary tactics in the
senate.
CUTTING DOWN SALARIES.
The senate was occupied all afternoon
in the consideration of Senator Logan's
bill providing for material reduction
OF the salaries, fees and perquisites of
State and county officials. The bill pro-
vided that the salary Of the superintend-
ent OF the insane asylum shall be $500
per annum, but after very lively de-
bate on the subject that section Of the
bill wss stricken out, leaving the salary
as now fixed by laW-S3000-with house
rent free. In the discussion had upon
the section relating to the fees of the at
tOrHeys-general, Senator Jones very
sensibly objected to those officials being
paid according to the number of indict-
ments in their respective districts. He
said that under the present law, attor-
neys-general were offered a premium
for stirring up litigation and dragging
innocent, hard workingmen before the
courts. Jones is lawyer, and probably
knew what he was talking about.
When the hill had been consid-
cred, section 10y section, Senator Jones
offered an additional section pro-
viding that the provisions of the bill
should not apply TO the present ineum-
bent Of State and county offices, as they
had been elected with the understand
ing that the present fees and salaries
should be continued through the term
to which they have been elected. Sen
atOr Wilson moved that the section be
rejected, on the ground that the re-
trenchment proposed by the measure
was imperatlvely demanded at this time
especially. The amendment was re-
Jected, and the bill passed the third
reading, and will become q law OF the