Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-24
UNION AND AMERICAN.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.


SENATE.
TUESDAY, March 23.-The Speaker
called the Senate to order at 10 A. NJ, all
the members present.
SENATE RESOLUTION.
To permit Dental Associations to meet
in the Senate Chamber. Lies over.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTIONS.
To enforce the rights and interests Of the
State in regard to the Memphis and Little
Rock Railroad. Adopted.
To authorize the public acts to be pub
lished in the German language in the
Tennessee Post. Passed over.
EOr the benefit of A. r. Armstrong, de-
ceased, late Revenue Collector Of Wilson
county, ana his securities. Adopted.
HOUSE BILLS on THIRD READING.
To define what property the COnstitu-
ton exempts from taxation, what the Leg
islature does exempt, and what is taxable.
Mr. Smith moved to strike out public
before the word schools" Rejected.
The bill then passed-aJes 10, noes Z.
To change the practice in regard to bills
Of exceptions. Passed.
To provide for the registration Of deeds
Of conveyance. Passed.
For the preservation Of game and birds.
Amended so as to include Giles, Maury
and Hamilton counties, and passed.
To authorize Quarterly Courts to appoint
a back-iaX collector. Passed.
To extend the time for the collection Of
taxes for the year 1874 and for the relief Of
the people. Passed.
To amend the law in regard to the lOca-
ton Of turnpike gates. Passed.
To regulate the business Of fire insur-
ance companies. Passed.
la aclr1araf 1ar Fpnfn Fo1
To provide how official seals shall be
Kept and used. Rejected.
To secure the uucOlleCted revenue for
1872. Passed.
For the benefit Of Emily L. Herring.
Passed.
THE RAILROAD TAX BILL.
Mr.. Hodges, from the. committee of con-
ference, reported that a majority Of the
committee recommended that the Senate
TeCede from its nOn-COnCurrence In House
amendment, and concur in the same, which
was dOne-ayes is, noes Z.
On behalf of himself and Senators
Wade Blizzard and Jones, Mr.. Hodges Of
fered the following protest against the &C
tiOn of the Senate:
The undersigned members Of the seth
General Assembly Of Tennessee beg leave
to present their solemn protest against the
action Of the majority Of the Senate in
c0ncurring in the House amendment 20
Senate bill commonly known as the Rail
road Tax bill, and ask that this their pro-
test be spread upon the journals of the
Senate.
/. The amendment, If accepted by the
railroads Of the State, will yield in taxes
for all purposes from railroad property in
ten years to come not more than 81 100000
and nothing whatever for county and mU-
niCipal purposes, whereas an assessment Of
the railroad property Of the State O,634
miles) at the low price Of $4,000 per mile
for State and county purposes at the low
rate of 30 cents for State and 40 cents for
county purposes will yield 1921, 900.
This is an unjust discrimination against |
the masses Of tax payers in favor Of pros
porous and wealthy class Of our citizens
the railroad OWners-whO have their chief
wealth through the fostering care and lib |
crafty of the State and counties.
.. They protest that the amendment is
unconstitutional, because it is legislation
specially favoring a class Of property some
Of which is now clearly taxable as other
properly, and much more will soon be,
preventing counties and corporations from
taxing it at all and taxing it for State puT-
poses al a less rate than other property is
taxed.
5. The amendment will greatly iDjuTe
the State and counties financially, for the |
reason that il prevents them for ten years
TO come from controlling the rate Of taxa !
ton on at least One-fifth in value Of all the |
property in the State. No matter what the |
necessities Of the Treasury may be, no |
matter how high rate of taxation the meT- |
chant and mechanic may be compelled to |
pay, this class Of prOperty-nO matter how |
valuable-pays for ten years to come only |
a nominal tax.
1. We protest that this Legislature ought !
not TO pass an act which will prevent fU- |
ture Legislatures from doing Justice to the |
taxpayers Of the State. This amendment, |
if constitutional, efiectually ties the hands |
of the law-making powers for ten years to /
come.
3. We protest against the amendment |
because it is class legislation Of the most |
OdiOus character IN fayOring the strong and |
wealthy and in expressing in their behalf /
1he poor Of the State.
HOUSE BILLS ON SECOND READING.
To place the clerks Of courts on an /
equality. Rejected.
To repeal the act authorizing the Judge |
of the Criminal Court Of Davidson county |
20 appoint certain officers. Rejected.
To change the boundary line between |
the counties of Roane and Loudon. |
Passed.
To allow the town Of Erin 10 elect a |
Justice of the Peace. Passed.
RELEASE OF PENITENTIARY.
The committee Of conference on House |
bill for the release of tie Penitentiary re- |
commended that the Senate recede from |
its amendments to the bill, which was |
done.
HOUSE ELL On THIRD HEADING.
To define the rights, privileges and LA
bilities Of inn-keepers, common carriers, |
and keepers Of places Of public amuse-
ment.
. Mr.. Logan SAID: The decision Of Judge |
Emmon yesterday, in Memphis, affords
ample protection, and I have my serious
doubts Is 10 the policy Of enacting such a
law. / do not desire 20 oppose the bill,
yet I regret that it was introduced at
all.
Mr.. Hodges said he had bGe-I in accord |
with the Senator from Giles (Mr. Logan
until he had read Judge Emmons' decision;
that had satisfied him it was not only right |
but their duty to protect citizens from The !
operations Of the Civil Rights act. He
IL 4 4 Al mi