Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-04-06
From the ROrFistown Gazette,
WHAT THE TENNESSEE LEG
ISLATURE DID,
Some OF the Most Important
Laws Enacted.

Some OF the Most Important
Laws Enacted.
The number of bills passed into laws
is l04-out of over 800 introduced -
Many Of those passed are of no great
interest or value. The following we
regard as the most important:
l. THE ASSESSMENT LAw.-This
will be found to be an i'm lrovement
on the law OF 1878, and free from its
Odious features. The foil text of the
law is published on our first page to-
day.
?. THE Law ABOLISHING THE Of
FICE OF TAX COLLECTOR, and deVOlv-
ing the duty on the Trustee and after
him on the Constable. This law is
we'll considered, and will save money
and secure the revenue better than the
old Byetem.
g. THE JURY LAW.-This makes
Jury trials in civil cases optional, and
taxes the losing party with jury costs.
4. THE WORK-HOUsE BILL.-This
raises the grade of petit larceny to $50
in value, and makes it misdemeanor
punishable by fine and imprisonment
as other misdemeanOTs. Makes the
convicted party pay or work out tie
costs and fine III all misdemeanor ca
ses. The law will save great deal to
the State, as it viii relieve the peni-
Tertiary of more than haIfits convicts,
and Of the costs of their conviction,
and viii also save much to the coun-
tics.
.. THE RAILROAD TAX BILB.-The
House amendment to this bill we re-
gard as very Objectionable and iDjuri-
Gus, bat as the law stands it will
bring to the treasury nearly or quite
500, 500.
6. LOST DEEDs.-It is now permit
ted by law to register the copy of q
lost deed which has not been The case
heretofore.
7. To ENCOURAGE Wool GROWING,
The passage Of this law OF itself
proves that a majority of the members
of the 39Ch General Assembly do not
desire reelection II taxes dogs. OF
high or low degree, one dollar e2ch,
and those Of the female persuasion five
dollars, and makes il u misdemeanor
to keep ether without paying the tax
On them.
S. TREASURY WARRANTs.-An act
causing the Comptroller To Issue his
warrants iH Is >, u, &c, for ordinary
current expenses. THESE warrants,
tn over half 4 million an
nua!ly, Will ii is thought, cil cuIate as
money, and be i'll this way some relief.
0. To RELIEVE TAX PAYERs.-T
law suBpendiDg ail penalties or sales
for tie taxes Of 1874 I'll Novem Der,
1873. The necessity OF this law is
much greater in Middle and West
tennessee than East Tennessee, but
It's effect will be fe.t even here.
10. TIE FENCE BILL.-This chan
ges the height of lawful fences to four
feet.
H. CORPORATTONS.-The Munici-
pal Corporation law, providing for the
organization of municipal corporations
by election and the certificate of the
Secretary of State and the Private
Corporation law, providing for the or
ganIzation of joint stock companies Of
all kinds in an easy way.
I3. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
This law fixes the pay of County Su-
perintendent of public instruction at
81 for each certificate and 81 for each
school in the county, if he visits it
twice.
IA The law compelling judges to
give IN charge to grand juries the law
III regard TO discrimination.
Is. The increase of the jurisdiction
of Justices 10 81, 900 IN civil causes.
Is. VAGRANTs The vagrants are
to have hard time of it. 1t is made
a misdemeanor for any person who,
having no visible means of subgis-
tence, neg ects to apply himself or
herself to al honest calling Vagran-
cy is defined as lettering about saloons
or dram shops, gambling houses, or
houses of ill-tame, or tramping or stroll
ling through tie country without visi-
bic means of support. The punish
ment prescribed is no less than five
dollars nor more than twenty-five dol
lars. or IMPRISONMENT in the county
woTk-house for not less that ten days
nor more than twelve months. 1t is
made the duty of peace officers to ar
rest all such persons and carry them
before some justice of the peace.
II. IT WILL PAY TO PAY UP.-All
persons owing taxes levied during the
years 1873 I. are relieved Of the penal
ties fixed and prescribed in the reve-
nue. act OF March ~, 1873, upon pay
ment of all taxes now due, provided
the same shall be paid on or before
the first Gay of next October.
IS. MARRIED WoMEN's PROPERTY.
All personal property belonging to
any married woman, whether acquir-
ed before or after MARI iage, is made
exempt from the cebt, contracts, or
other liabilities of her husband, made
or incurred 10y him before their mar
riage but the act is not TO be so con-
strued as to effect or impair the mari
tai rights of the husband in the wife's
other than is above provi-
ded.
49, REDEEMING LANDS. The time
for redeeming lands, sold for taxes, is
extended from one 10 two years.
% SCHOOL MONEY.-The poll tax
Of one dollar collected for school pur-
poses is hereafter To be distributed in
the county where collected, instead Of
being paid into The State Treasury.
21. KEEPING Or THE HUNTERS
Hunting on the lands Of others with
Dut permission is now a nisde emeGnOr
It was formdrly considered as ties
pass.
% No MORE INSANE AsYLUAs.-
The act for the construction Of eddi-
.iOnal asylums for the insane, one in
East Tennessee and one in West Ten
nessee, is repealed, Embellishments are