Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-27
TEN PER CENT.
A Hot Contest Over the Constitutional
Interest Bill.

Its Rejection on First Reading In tlle
senafe-Gag law that was Made ia
work Both Ways.
In the Senate, yesterday, the House bill
repeating the Conventional Interest law
was taken up and rejected, without a call
Of the ayes and noes-an unusual proceed
/ ing, which shows how strongly the senti-
ment is against the proposed repeal, in that
body.
Mr.. Haynes entered q motion to recon
slider the vote.
Mr.. Oyerton moved to lay the motion on
the table, which was lost.
Mr.. Haynes then asked permission to
withdraw his motion, which was objected
TO, and, on motion Of Mr.. Logan, further
action was deferred.
After the Senate had disposed Of some
other business, Mr.. Smith moved that the
Senate take up the motion to reconsider,
which was carried, and Mr.. Haynes again
asked permission to withdraw his motion
to reconsider.
MIR. MOseley opposed such a course. He
said it would defeat the opportunity Of
having full, fair, and elaborate discussion
upon a subject Of such vital interest, and
that the defeat of the bill now would de-
feat the question during this session Of the
General Assembly. He, therefore, appealed
to his brother Senator'S to let tns matter be
discussed in a full Senate.
Mr.. Quarles agreed with Mr.. Mosley.
Several Senators, he said, were absent in
the discharge Of a public duty. he felt
that all the Senator from Shelby desired
was fair test on the bill. 1t was an i'm
portant and grave measure, which must af-
feet the whole people; one in which great
interest was felt. He, therefore, appealed
to the Senator from Shelby to give it fair
trial In a fun Senate, and let it be tested
upon its merits and not killed by an oppOr-
tunity which accidental circumstances
caused to exist at that particular moment.
Messrs. Marye and Emmert followed to
the same effect.
Mr.. Overton referred to the fact that the
bill had been passed under the operation of
the gag-law, in the House, and that its oU-
pOnents there were prevented from dis
cuSsing it, however important they might
have deemed its provisions, as affecting
their constituents. He could only say that
his own constituency were deeply inter-
ested in its defeat; that the passage Of the
bill would destroy, in a great measure, the
commerce Of Memphis, drive capital from
1t to other cities-and would, in fact,
be so damaging in its operations,
that be did not believe one man could
be found in that commercial city who
favored its passage. Yet, in a spirit Of
fairness, the opponents Of the bill were
willing to let the House bill remain as it
was-upon the table-With a motion to re-
consider its rejection pending, and let the
Senate bill on the same subject come up
for action. IL the latter should be passed
by the Senate, then let it 90 to the House,
there to be fully discussed, and final
action taken on it only after its full
discussion. This would give the opponents
Of the bill there the same chance to be
beard as its opponents in the Senate now
showed its friends.
Mr.. Logan said he was opposed TO Leg
islatiye Juggling" and the present pro
ceedings amounted to nothing less than
that. In the House, yesterday, by a rule
Of that body, any member had the right to
call the previous question. He could see
no hardship in it, as it obtained in all leg
islative bodies. He hoped Senators would
not press so important a matter while
seven Of the body were absent. He was
willing thai the measure should be fully
tested in a full Senate.
Mr.. Marchbanks remarked that this bill
had come from the House through the ap-
plicatiOn Of the gag law. He was as much |
opposed to rushing bills through as any
member Of the Senate, but he believed in |
giving like for like.
Mr.. Wilson thought Mr. OvertOn's prop |
OsitiOn 4 favorable compromise.
Mr.. Haynes then, by permission, with
drew his request to withdraw his motion /
10 reconsider, and the bill occupies the /
same status as before the discussion, viz: |
rejected, with a motion pending to recon
slider.
Seven Senators were absent yesterday /
but il is probable that all but twO-Messrs.
Butler and Jones, who are sick-will be on
hand this morning, when it is expected that
he motion to reconsider will be taken W.
a careful canvass Of the Senate shows
With Messrs. Jones and Butler absent
eleven votes for the bill and twelve against.
The manner in which it was rushed
through the House has materially impaired
is chances in the Senate.