Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-09
QUARTERLY COURT.
Fourth and Last Days Proceedings.
The Justices Set Up a Sovereignty Of
Their Own.


Ihe Levy Is 20 be Hade-The Magis-
traies Invite Themselves Out Pros
PeetIng.
The Quarterly Court re-assembled at 10
o'clock yesterday morning, Judge FERRIS
presiding and quorum in attendance.
TAX LEVY FOR 1915.
The committee having under eonsidera-
ton the tax levy for 1915 submitted the
same report as on the day previous, which,
after being amended as to railroads so as
TO include bridges" was adopted. The
report, as adopted by the court stands now
as follows:
"The tax on real and personal property
should be as follows: "FOr ordinary pur-
poses, mills; railroad coupon purposes,
mill; school purposes, l mill; special rail-
road bond purposes, mllls-making in all
9 mills, the aggregate amount of the county
taxes for last year (lS74.)
"POll tax, for school purposes, S1.00.
"Tax on merchants: Privilege or capital
tax-ordinary, mills; railroad coupons, l
mill; schools, ! mill; railroad special, 2
mills-aggregating 6 mills. Ad valOrem
tax-Ordinary, mills; railroad coupons,
mill; schools, mill; railroad special, 2
mills-aggregating mills. Total tax on
merchants, II mills, the same as last year.
privilege licenses (other than mer-
chants) should be taxed One-half the
amount Of the state tax on each, except
pawnbrokers' licenses, which shall be 500,
| to be divided as follows: One-quarter to
schools, One-quarter to ordinary, One-quarter
to railroads to pay coupons and interest,
and One-q quarter to special railroad fund.
"On marriage licenses for school pur-
poses, Sl.0O.
"There should be levied a tax of six
mills on the dollar on the grounds and
buildings Of depOts and round-hOuses and
| the road-beds Of all railroads in this cOun-
| ty, and a reasonable valuation on the iron,
/ bridges, etc, Of said tracks, TO be applied
| exclusively to the payment of county rail-
/ road bonds low due. The value Of the
road-beds to be estimated per acre, as lands
are assessed in the districts through which
| the railroads run. The depOts, round
houses and the grounds attached thereto,
! to be estimated as the value of other real
/ estate is estimated"
| COMMISSIONER OF THE POOR.
Justice Saunders resignation as a Com
missioner of the poor having been tender
/ ed and accepted, Justices Miller, Maxey
Treppard and Phelan were nominated for
that position. The vacancy was filed by
the election Of Justice Miller.
RAILROAD BONDS AND COUPONS.
Justice Claiborne presented an order ap-
propriating 500 to pay the expense Of
| FASTING all redeemed railroad bonds and
coupons Of the county in a book for pre-
seryation and for reference.
| PETITIONS.
! Several petitions for exemption from IL
| cense fees were received aud granted.
GENERAL CHARITY.
/ Justice Powers presented an order ap-
propriating $1,000 for the benefit Of the
| poor, to be distributed by tie County
/ Judge on recommendations from magiS-
trates. Laid on the table.
! QUALIFICATION
Justice Bigley offered the following:
! "Whereas, the legislature Of Tennessee,
/ in their wisdom %, have passed law re-
! curing Jurors TO look to the losing aud de-
feated litigants for their per diem, without
| any additional security or compensation
| for their services; and,
! Whereas, the provisions Of said law justify
the conclusion that they must look to an
/ indefinite time, prOtraCted by the laws
DELAY, new trials and appeals; and,
! Whereas, it is clear that the intention of
the Legislature, as indicated in the passage
| of saidlaw, was to abolish all trials by jury
except in criminal cases; and,
! Whereas, it is the duty Of the
| County Courts Cor what is left
Of ttem) to give effect TO and crary cut all
enaclmentS Of the Legislature; and,
WI ereas, in this case our duty
is plain, without application to his
| honor, the Judge, or 10 the COun-
/ ~ Attorneys; recognizing the fact
tbat that sacred institution, handed down
! TO us by our English ancestors, which has
| served even as a barrier between the en-
croachments and pTerogatives Of crowns
and the rights and sovereignty Of peoples,
/ has PLAYED out, or, as DOgbeTTy
| would say, become "tOlerable, and not TO
| be endured and,
Whereas, a strict compliance with the
/ Split of the said law does not necessitate
/ or our part the nomination and election Of
/ Jurors 10 the May term OF the Circuit
| Court; nor does Justice demand that our
! fellOw-Citizens should be taken from their
/ fields and agricultural pursuits to work for
| nothing and board themselves, instead of
| repairing the damages Of blighted haryests;
| therefore be il,
! 'sResOlved, that it is ineXpedieut, unjust
and uHcalled for by the spirit Of the law
/ itself, except where services are yOluntari-
| " offered, and that this court place no
| reRire in the hands of the SEeT-
| if to be summoned and placed IN
der the obligations and penalties Of the law
| for nOn-attendauce, ami that this court
| leave it 70 his honor the Judge Of the Cir
cult Court to appoint men whose lberality,
| financial ability and leisure will enable
them to practically appreciate the hidden
! beauties Of retrenchment and reform, as
! exemplided in the MiCawber policy OF this
/ law and TO appreciate the justice of dis
/ charging obligations, like Sir Felix in
| due bills, and hoping that they will also as
/ Capt. Cutie would say make note on it
| the welfare Of the county requiring it."
Received with a sensation and adopted
| riUa Uoce, with one dissenting vOice-that
| Of the heavy magistrate from the 18th.
THE PROPOSED ASYLUM AGAIN.
On motion Of Justice Meacham, the
magistrates invited themselves to visit the
! site for the proposed Poor and Insane Asy-
/ lum, with the view Of making up their
minds with reference to the building Of
/ that institution in the near future.
WILL NOT DOWN,
The question as to which of the magis-
trates shall compose the court at the next
| quarterly session came up informally, and
| in the discussion the temper Of the justices
| On the subject showed itself very plainly.
Justice Meacham asked the court if any
body understood the law reducing the num-
| Der of justices composing the Quarterly
Court. He confessed that he did not and
stated that he would lie on hand at the
| July term regardless of the law, and de-
mand bis seat with all the privileges Of a
member. ("WeIl all be here.' exclaimed
several others). If refused he would apply
for a mandamus and test the law in the
courts.
Judge FERRIS thought the law was very
plain.
COUNTY ROADS.
A batch Of road business was disposed Of
and the Court adjourned till the July
term.