The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-01
Nashville Banner. 18th ult.
THE LEGISLATURE
What IL bid During IL. sevsnsJ-Five
~.-yr : DAys' RNSSfOn.


The thirty-ninth General Assembly
of Tennessee adjourned yesterday, after
being in session seventy-five days. If
the work accomplished during. that
time will not find favor in all qtarters,
it can at least be said that it will come
up to average expectation, since more
sources Of revenue were brought into
play, with less expense TO Be incurred
in running the State government.
These two points, standing cut in bold
relief, viii contribute not a little in
CLOSING over minor sins of omission
and commission. 80
During the session there were 562
bills introduced in the House and 2S9
in the Senate, making a: total of SOL.
Out of this large batch l-f3 were passed
into laws. In addition to tbs, there
were II resolutions adopted. We
present review of the principal acts
of the session. -.
First in Importance, perhaps, in that
it will bring in snug annual revenue
to the State, is the law taxing railroads.
In its original form, it provided for
the ordinary 40 cent tax on allrailroad
property, but was changed to the basis
where it now stands, of imposing a
tax of II per cent. on the gr0ss earn
ings Of railroads. It is estimated that
this tax will bring an annual revenue
to the State of from $4,000 to
S135, 900. - ~
The act regulating trial by Jury In
civil cases is one of considerable i'm
portance, as it is estimated it will save
to the State matter of Sl90, 600 o
year, or thereabouts. The. main fea-
ture is that in the trial of civil cases Il
shall. be optional with the parties TO
the suit to have jury OF not, as the
surroundings and necessities OF the
case may suggest; and upon motion OF
either party, and for reasons satsfac-
tory to the court, any cause may. be
transferred from jury to non:}nry
docket. A law of twin interests that
taxing losing litigants with Che costs
in civil cases, which was passed over
the Governors veto. 1t will, accord
| ing to a very reasonable estimation,
save. the State from Sl50, 600 to$2OO,-
900 year. 80.
One of the most Important measure,
passed through the body is that en-
bodying number of amendments to
the Constitution, which may be brief.
" stated as follows The Governor to
hold his office for four years; Judges
of the Supreme Court, tweKs;' Comp
troller and Treasurer four years; Gen
eral Assembly to convene every four
years; the clause eIempting one thou.
sand dollars worth of property, in the
hands Of each taxpayer is, stricken
out; the clause prohibiting the State
from e#ning q State bank is stricken
out; all Judges. to be elected by the
! Legislature; the Legislature to have
the power to create courts with both
! common law and ehaneery -,jurisdic-
ton, and to have power to. authorize
misdep1eanors in civil causes to be
tried BY jury of less than twelve :
poll tax qualification stricken out:
Judges Of the Supreme Court to be
reduced to three, as under the old
Constitution; the Legislature to have
power to pass fence, road and other
local laws, and maketh operative
in such: counties as choose TO adopt
them; striking out the prohibition in
the Constitution against cleTgymen
serving in the Legislature; authorizing
manufacturing establishments 70 be
exempt from taxation for period moi
exceeding sixyears; authorizing future
Legislatures TO -,lbEit constitutional