Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-28
rHE IEaIsIArURE AND GOV. PORTER,

election last fall was an indorse-
ment Of his financial policy will
not find much Of an Endorsement
in the action of the legislature yes
terday. The facts are these: Two
bills, introduced about the middle
of tile session, passed their last
reading a day ortwo before the time
set for adjournment. One simply
repealed the act of 1871, which
fixes the rae of taxation at forty
cents on the 500 worth of prop
erty; the other fixing the rate at
ten cents. Under the constitution
the governor is allowed five days to
consider and hold a bill. The time
set for adjournment was Monday
night, the Goth inst, at midnight.
The governor seems to have as
sumed, and very reasonably too,
that the legislature would adjourn
that night. The bills were still in
his hands, and ayailing himself Of
the time allowed to hold them he
declined to put himself on record
just then. Knowing the low tax
views Of the Legislature he under
took to freeze out the members, so
to speak, or rather starye them out,
and then veto these bills after ad-
journment or after the houses were
reduced below a quorum, when it
would be too late to pass over his
veto. AS usual a good many mem
bers drew their per diem and mile
age the day set for adjournment
and left for home. Still there was
a quorum in each house, and a very
plucky set they were. The senate
discovered the governors little
game, and at 1915 Monday night
the eighteen members still on hand,
pay or no pay, adjourned until
Tuesday at ten o'clock. In the
house the following proceedings
were reported in the American of
yesterday:
Mr. Manson offered the following res.
o%lution:
Whereas. This is the last day Of the
session, aud there are several important
bills in the hands of the governor; there
tore be it
Resolved by this house, That the
governor be requested TO act Immediately
en- house bills 566 and 707 and return
the same to this house tonight"
Mr.. Gregg said be thought the resolG-
ton should be adopted.
Messrs. Goodwin and Simonton op-
posed a suspension of the rules and the
adoption OF the resolution.
Mr.. Savage thought the governor
should be treated with respect, but
thought no indignity would be offered by
the adoption Of the resolution.
Mr.. Peters thought a rational course
should be pursued. He did not like the
resolution. He thought they should 90
more issue a mandate to the executive
than to dictate to the judiciary how they
should decide.
Mr.. Iillman was anxious TO have the
bills returned, but doubted the propriety
OF adopting the resolution. He extended
his remarks in opposition to Il.
Mr.. Hawkins speke against the %resolu.
ton aud thought 1t improper to interfere
with the constitutional Tighta of the gov.
ernor. He was Of the opinion that the
matter would settle itself in q few DAYS.
Mr.. Brlen spoke in opposition to The
resolution and said be thought the Cover.
nor had made a faithful and constitn
tional officer. He thought the governor
should be allowed ample time and not be
%kampered.
Mt. Lowe offered a resolution ia lien
asking whether or not the Governor had
other or further business to communicate
to the legislature He made some re.
marks in favor OF his resolution, saving
he did not intend to shew Governor Por
ter any disrespect, but be wanted him TO
say whether he intended to approve of
the bills or not. Governor Porter had
no right to be holding 100 men here sub.
ject to his whims.
Mr.. Wilson hoped the house would
take nc such action as the resolution in.
dictated. The governor had a constitu.
tio1al right to keep the bills as long "a
he bad kept them. BE hoped the house
would send the governor no intimaticn
whatever.
Mr.. Bullock thought it would be an in
suit to the executive to command him to
take action on the bill. lie ought to be
allowed to exercise his constitutional
rights.
Mr.. Collier thought the governor
ought to be allowed to consider these
matters, lie was sorry 10 see him cen.
sured.
On motion CT Mr.. Lands, the house
adjourned till 10 am Tuesday.
Yesterday was the last day the
governor could hold back the bills
without permitting them to be-
come laws. So he vetoed both,
sent them in and took his chances.
They were there-that is the legis-
lators--a quorum working faith
fully at nothing a day and board
ing themselves. Their carpet-hsssss