Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-01-14
Proceedings OF the Legislature Yester.
day - The Charges Of Bribery
against Members OF the
Last Legislature.
HObbs's COnfessiOn-He Received Ten
Thousand Dollars from Duncan,
and the Money was Drawn
by friers8n.
Sheridan's DisgracefuI Conduct at New
Orleans-The SenatOrship-The
Combinations against
Johnson,
The Railroad Assessment BiII-Seusitiye
Purity-The COmptrOIlership Sean
dal-A New Party-DemO.
cratic UBity-Etc.

cratic UBity-Etc.
Special TO the Appeal
NASHVILLE, Tenn, January l3.-
Among the new senate bills to-day
were the following: By Mr.. Logan: To
make railroads and omnibus companies
responsible for baggage, and to prevent
judgment stays on laborers, suit for
wages. By Mr.. Butler: To regulate the
assessment on land sold for taxes, and
to postpone the issuance OF writs OF DOS
session on land sold for taxes. By Mr..
Wilson: To prevent appeals and sim
pllfy the same to circuit and criminal
courts. BY Mr.. Haynes: Relative to
the reorganization OfrailrOad companies.
by MIR. Mayre: To regulate the opening
of streets.
Ihe Louisiana resolutions were re-
| ferred. Senator Logan's bill to prevent
State and county officers from drinking
was referred. Mr.. Overton's bill reduce
ing peremptory challenges in criminal
cases passed third reading after much
discussion. The bill making it misde-
meanor to bring into the State or sell
pistols, boWle-knives, swOrd-canes or
stlllettoes, passed third reading by a,vote
! OF seven TO sixteen. The house joint
resolution providing for the appointment
! OF memorial congress on the LOuisi
/ ana question was cOncurred in.
| The house joint resolution to provide
Tor an investigation of the charges of
| bribery against certain members OF the
last legislature, was amended so as to
MAKE the investigation apply ONLY to
members OF the last legislature who are
members OF this, and also to make the
investigation extend to the measures
taken to prevent the passage of certain
measures, and was then Concurred in.
IN the house, the new bills Of impor-
tance We're: By Mr.. Bond: To reduce |
the circuit and law court expens es. Bv |
Mr.. Myers: TO reduce the compensa- |
ton OF jurors and members of county |
courts. by Mr.. Carson: To increase the |
jurisdiction of magistrates. By Mr.. |
Parker: To authorize county courts to |
lay OF school districts. By Mr., Glib. |
son: 10 equalize the salaries of officers |
OF the State and county, allowing no |
salary or perquisite above four thousand |
dollars. By Mr.. Walker: To reduce the |
taxes and to pay the State obligations |
OF every kind. By Mr.. Giers: To |
amend the act creating board Of inn
migration, providing for the appoint
ment OF commissioner, with an office |
at Nashville.
The joint resolution inquiring into
the tennessee bank assets was indefin-
itely postponed.
Inc house cOncurTed in the senate
amendment relative to the alleged cor
ruptlon OF members of the thirty-eighth
assembly so as TO make the investiga-
tion embrace those members who are in
tho
introduced the following resolution:
WHEREAS, 1t is alleged on the floor
OF the house Of representatives of the
thlrty-nlnth general assembly of the |
state of Tennessee that grave charges of
bribery and corruption in the election of
state officers, and the passage of certain
measures by the thirty-eighth general
assembly of this State, have been made
ana Vouched for in sworn statements in
the possession of the house; therefore
belt
ReSO5UGd, That committee OF seven,
consisting OF two on the part of the SEN
ate and five on the part of the house, be
appointed, whose duty it is to investi-
gate said charges, and make report
thereon, and that said committee shall
have power to send for persons and pa
pers, administer Oaths, compel the at
SSNNSshiSS vi "lJIiCcOSSJ anu uO ANU per- !
form all such acts as may be necessary
to discover the truth Of said charges.
Mr.. Cummins asked Immediate action
that suspension OF the rules be made,
and the guilty parties brought to punish
ment.
Mr.. Finley moved postponement of
the question till Monday week, since SO |
grave charge demanded proof before |
action.
Mr.. Gibson said that the honor OF +
the State was concerned, and that an
honest Outburst of Indignation should
break out, demanding an investigation. {
A postpOnement is pregnant with the
truth of the charge. The committee on
the comptrOllership has no control in
matter SO seriOusS over the demand for
immediate investigation. The charges {
are specific and definite, showing how I
corruption is practiced in the legislative
assembly. The people demand an in
yestigatiOn. They want the guilty par
ties gibbeted to the public scorn. In his
place and for his constituency he pro- s
tested against any delay whatever.
The resolution was adopted and trans !
mitted to the senate. Messrs. Gates,
Taylor, Colonel Perkins and Mr.. Fast {
being appointed on said committee.
Mr.. Spears, of Marion, says thew have !
affidaVits charging members of the pre-
sent COMMITTEES with bribery, as mem
bers of the last legislature, in voting for I
and against certain measures. The mat .
ter is a serious one. s
Captain Hobbs ana attorney, H. NJ.
NJ AdoO, arrived this morning. Hobbs's |
aft fitavit was read before the investigat- 8
ing committee, and embraces twenty I
five legal-cap pages. He admits receiv- s
ing ten thousand dollars from William
r. Duncan, of this city, to resign his |
office. The money, he says, was drawn c
by John Frierson. president Of the First c
national bank of Columbia. He SAYS c
that neither Governor Brown nor Colonel I
Burch had any knowledge of the matter. 9
He did not think it wrong to resign and e
accept the money. He acknowledged q
paying DIR. Morrow fifteen hundred dol t
lars, which House borrowed without his t
or knowledge. s
1t is limited that DR.. NobIftt, chair a
man of the investigating committee, is a
the gentleman referred to by Mr.. Spears, v
and the corruption was in connection
with the funding bill. Messrs. Head s
and Cummins thought the members of t
the last legislature, and now of the COM C
mittee, voted against the funding bill.
The matter creates great excitement. 3
There Is much talk of q caucus to- q
night to combine against johnson. I
Johnson's friends claim that no combi- c
nation can be made against him. Ste
phens's friends are encouraged, and say c
be is fast gaining strength.
From Our Special CorrespOndet.I I
PHIL SHERIDAN.
NASHVILLE, January ll.-As Phil
Sheridan is now engrossing public [
attention by means Of q splendid
infamy, unparalleled in the history OF
the country, it would not be out Of place !
TO recall the fact that President Andrew |
Johnson, on the twenty-sixth day of l
August, 1857, issued an order expelIing
General Sheridan from the command Of '
the army at New Orleans. President
Johnson then placed General Hancock !
in command OF the army at New Or