Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-02

I IL AlcOLss
NEW BILLS.
By Mr.. March-Proyiding for the inspec
ton Of steam boilers.
By the same-ProYiding for a special Law
court at Fountain Head, Sumner county.
By Mr.. West-PrOyiding for the exemp
ton Of $4,000 Of the capital stock Of new
manufacturing enterprises.
BY Mr.. B0WeTs-FOr the benefit Of hotel
and boarding keepers. 1t provides
that hotel or clearinghouse keepers shall
not te compelled to receive any guest
against their win, and that no license OF
privilege tax shall be collected from hotel
or clearinghouse keepers either by the
State, county or municipality.
BY the same-TO amend the school laws.
The bill provides for the distribution OF
| the school funds among private schools, at
the option Of school directors for any dis
| trict.
By Mr.. LedgerwoOd-FO the benefit Of
administrators and executors.
BY Mr.. SmallWO0d-TO abolish the office
Of County Judge of Henry county.
BY Mr.. James-Making it the duty Of the
Comptroller, when there is a deficit Of cur
rency in the Treasury, to issue warrants on
the Treasurer, if so requested by any per-
son having a legal and proper demand
| against the State, such warrants 20 be print
/ ed on bank note paper and in denomina-
| tons of from one to one hundred dollars
/ each, the amount not to exceed three mil
lions. The warrants to be receivable for
State, county and corporation taxes.
By Mr.. McGlOthlin-For the preservation
Of game and birds.
HOUSE BILLS ON SECOND HEADING.
| To encourage cOnvicts to perform their
duties. Passed.
The rules were suspended to take up
HOUSE BILLS on THIRD HEADING.
To lessen the number Of terms of the
County Courts.
Mr.. Gibson spoke at some length il sup
port of the bin, and cOmbatted the consti-
tutiOnal objections as unfOunded. 1t was
| a measure OF great and needed relief, and
we ought not to search the Constitution
too closely for objections. He thought the
| Constitution was a curse TO the people.
Mr.. Lea sustained the cOnstitutiOnaity
of the bill, and thought it ought to be
adopted.
Mr.. Cummins disputed the constitution
atty of the bill, and Was surprised at the
language of the gentleman from Campbell
| (Mr. Gibsou) in reference to the COnstitU-
ton. He offered an amendment to strike
out the ID section.
Mr.. Finlay opposed the bill because the
bill did provide for the election Of officers
by full court.
Mr.. Gardenhire claimed that it was per-
fectly constitutional to diminish the num-
Der of terms of any court. This did not
amount to the abolition of the court. At
the time of the adoption Of the COnstitu-
ton Of 1885, the County Court was held
monthly. After that, in 1885, its terms
were made quarterly.
Mr. East said: The only point in tie
bill is that it provides that the court shall
be composed of one-half the magistrates,
instead of all Of them. The justices Of the
county who elect officers, and the County
Court are two different things. If you can
point out the clause in the Constitution
which saws that the County Court shall be
composed Of exactly two justices from each
district, and no less, then this bill cannot
be passed. But it'dOes not say so and we
have all the powers not denied by the Con-
stitution. We have the right TO combine
equity and law jurisdiction in the same
court under the Constitution.
MIR. Cooper offered an amendment to
strike out the provision that there shall be
but two terms each year, and insert instead
that there shall be four terms, which was
afterwards withdrawn.
Mr.. Hurt offeraS an amendment provid-
ing that all applications for appropriations
shall be made 10 the quorum court next
preceding The quarterly court, and that the
County Court shall make no appropriation
unless entered in a book and kept open to
the inspection Of citizens.
Nj. Anderson moved to lay Mr.. Cum
Minis amendment on the table. Carried.
Mr. Cole moved to table Mr.. Bullen's
amendment, offered few days ago, which
was substantially the same as Mr.. COOper's.
Carried.
Mr.. Fowler moved to reconsider. Car
RED.
By unanimous consent, Dir. Bullen was
allowed TO explain his amendment.
The vote was then taken again on the
motion to table, and decided in the mega
tive.
The amendment was then adopted
ayes p, noes 10.
Mr. LedserwOod's amendment to elect
enc Justice as a member Of the County
Court and one as a magistrate only, was
then taken up and defeated.
Mr.. Hurts amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Gibson offered an amendment re-
curing all the Justices to be summoned
for the purpose Of filling Offices, a majority
Of all the justices to constitute a quorum.
Adopted.
The bill was then put upon its third
reading and passed-ayes 43, noes Is.
As passed, the bill retains the quarterly
sessions Of the County Court, but the JUS
tices alternate in alphabetical order in COM
posing il, and three-flhs Of the number
entitled to attend constitute quorum.
On motion Of Mr.. Fowler, the House ad-
jOurned TO $50 p. n.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Finlay introduced a bill to change
the time Of holding the Supreme Court,
and to provide for an Arbitration Court.
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS TAX.
The special order, being the cOnsidera-
ton of Mr.. Heads resolution limiting the
rate Of taxation TO . cents, and of all
other resolutions and bills in reference to
the preservation Of the credit Of the State,
was then taken up.
Mr.. Neal said they were. confronted by
an empty Treasury, by want and penury in
the streets and alleys, beneath the very
shade Of the capitol; and from across the
mountains there came no cheering news,
but the substance Of the taxpayers was
wasted benath the raging waters, and some
Of their families were fleeing from the
flood. Still, they could not find relief in
the resolution Of Mr.. Head. They must
have relief; but they could not vote intelli-
gently until some financial plan was pre-
scented. He would sustain any reasonable
plan, but he asked to be spared the issue Of
that currency with which it was proposed
10 deluge our people. He should maintain
both that clause in the constitution which
prohibited excessive and burdensOme taxa
ton. and also that which maintained the
obligation Of contracts.
Mr.. Adams said he represented about
5000 voters who were able and willing to
pay the taxes necessary for the support Of
the State Government and the interest on
the bonds. There were only two grounds
on which be would vote for
less tax than was necessary for these
purposes. One was theinabilIty Of
the people to pay, and the other the
Illegally Of the bonds. He hoped Mr..
Head would demonstrate one or the other,
or both Of these propositions. 1t should be
remembered that the tax levied now would
not be collected for nearly year.