Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-20
NASHVILLE LETTER.

To the Editor Of the Ledger:
But one week more remains for the
legislature. Much business viii be hur-
ried through next week. As yet but few
bills have received the governors ap-
provAl. Under a rule adopted Yesterday
in the senate allowing each member ten
minutes a great number of bills were
passed, but most OF them on first and
second reading. But few, however, will
ever become laws, which may be the
better for the BODY polite" l presume
more than 6fty bills we're passed in this
way. II all the bills as introduced this
session in both houses were to become
laws, an impartial observer would say
it was the legislation of an assembly Of
bedlamitesI
Some one has ssrcastically remarked
that the ides Of comforting power on the
justices Of the peace seems to have taken
possession Of the house, and the railroads
the senate. This is an unjust remark.
There are some extreme men in the
house on some questions, aud some may
think e justice of the peace should be
clothed with power little short of the
Circuit or Chancery Court. The fact is
justices ofthe peace are a most excellent
class Of people as a general rule, and
men Of much local importance, especi-
ally in interior quarters. But while this
is frankly conceded, still to PIT official
garments on his shoulders greater than
those be nov wears would be q danger
Gus experiment. The armor would be
too heavy. But this class of our people
is truly a power in the land and one
shich sfelt 10 the labd. The politician:
fear them. for it is supposed that they
carry civil districts before election days
in their breaches pockets. Their iuhu-
enee is felt here in State councils, and
when the book is printed after ad
%journment If You zee some Granger
siresks yoH may know who has beer
along there.
More than one Thousand bills have
been introduced this session, making {
piece Of legislative mosaic that would
give q nervous man the blind staggers a
first sight Happily for tina land, nine
tenths Of the crude mass will be con
signed to the tomb Of the Capulets
TIE more | see Of the way the thing j
done" the greater the reason appears
Why this body should have a coustitu
tionsl injunction put upon it sgains
biennial meetings. A law is scared,
passed before a new session comes Of
aud a bill is introduced to repeal il. i
would be a great deal better if the legis
iature we're only I meet once 10 fUu
years. We have too much legislation
and too many legislators. Half tn,
number would do better. Bodies TO,
large are unwieldy. Reduce the numbt
aud you will improve the character 0
your material.
Memphis, they ssy, asks for q grea
deal She is nov asking to throw her
self into the hands Of & receiver. N.
telliag what will be done. From what
can learn Of her condition it would b
the best thing she could do. This cit,
tried it once with eminent satisfaction
These are extraordinary times, an
cities 10 such a hopeless financial coDdI
lion can only be saved by some ex,raol
binary remedies. This new departur
may w her if taken at once; but d.
lays are dangerous. The question,
seems, nov presented to this legislator
has come 10 this: VIII the legislator
now enact some law in the interest O
their constituencies, or will they PERM
their own people to be overwhelmed b
q SCI Of remorseless creditors2-credi
ors many Of whom paid from tweEiy-tw
10 fifty cents on the dollar for thei
bonds, and who. for six or eight year
have been paid on their investment
from twelve and a hslf to thirty per cenl
INTEREST," Will the legislature come
the relief Of a suffering people, or will
permit a people who, 10 one short yea
had a frozen river, epizootic, choleri
yellow fever and q money panic, 10 !
completely crushed2 The bill seems I
be carefully drawn, and is said to b
clearly constitutional by some Of III
best lawyers. Many Memphiaus hav
been here this week. Memphis wants 5
much. You have some mighty goo
meu here, and capable-Peters, Low.
Collier, Nelson, Douglass, Coleaai
Smith and Maddux. Maddux pusbe
: through the bill 10 the senate allowiu
corporations 10 settle their debts. Wit
out any disparagement to your otht
! members | mus. say Maddox has et
y desred himself to every one With who
be hss come in contact But / has
7 written tco much Goodbye. N.
q
River TeIegrnms.