Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-13
Special to the Appeal


Special to the Appeal
NASHVILLE, March I2.-The governor
has appointed Thomas J. Turley, J. Goodwin
2. c. Bethel, r. 3. Snowdan, and w. p.
Proudh5 commissioners TO settle the debt of
Memphis
The Judiciary COMMITTEES Of the house have
unanimously agreed to recommend the rejec-
ilo1 OF the judicial redistricting bill
SeHGte-M- 2. Wilson offered resO ution that
they we're opposed to any settlement, adjust
meat OF compromise Of the State debt that
will require to meet its annually accruing
in crest, and to set apart a reasonable sum
annually to liqu;date the principal, levy OF
a higher rate of taxation than forty cents on
the hundred dollars worth of property.
Lies over.
The senate resolution, requesting the
judges of the supreme court to SIT in two Sec
lions under rules and regulations rs they
may prescribe for themselves, WIS adopted.
The bill Of the majority Of the finance COM
mittee to settle the State debt passed its
second reading, and was made the special
order for tomorrow, together with all SINH
lar bills, to be considered In committee Of the
whole.
The following senate bills passed the third
reading: To amend the code prescribing the
magistrates and sherifs. Fer the relief Of
the supreme court docket, providing for tue
appointment of a special arbitration commits
sion, to SIT at Knoxville, Nashville and jack
son.
House bill to empower the governor to re.
move disabilities OF persons convicted Of mis-
demeanor, passed final reading.
HOuSe.-House bill to erect an asylum for
the insane in East Tennessee was amended
By Mr.. Gardner so as TO erect a ike lnstitu-
ton in West Tennessee. After a lengthy
discussion the bill as amended was rejected
40 to 20-on the plea Of economy. 1t was
stated 10 the discussion that nine bundled
lunatics we're lying in iails In the State I'M
provided for, with no hope OF restoration TO
reason and with nothing to ameiiorate their
pitiable condition but death. It WAS charged
there were half q million dollars in the treasu
nv, and as the Democrats IN the legislature
did not propose to settle the debt it might be
used to good advantage IN the erection of
these two institutions.
House bill making it pIenary otfense 20
carry concealed weapons passed third read
ing.
The senate bill authorizing the assessment
and collection of taxes FOR the benefit of the
Taxing District passed thirG reading.
At the night session an attempt tG pacJ ca
tie third reading house bill 10 levy the saue
tax Is IS imposed on our merchants on drua-
bv SAM lie failed. The bill did not apply to
commercial travellers selling TO merchants at
wholesale. 1t was asserted that ietters had
been received from merchants IN various
towns in the State, appealing to the Iegisia-
ture 10 place these retail sample merchants
on the same footing IS themselves IS to taxes.
By its action the house virtually resolved shat
1t was well enough to tax home merchants
for the support OF the government, but vel
coined the retail drImmers into the State as
a luxury free of cost.
Our letter.
From an Occasional Correspondence
NASHVILLE, March 1I.-Eothiag of any
special interest has occurred since ray last
letter. Your paper of the ninth was bomb
shell among the repuGiatIng members of the
Legislature. Never was there such indigna-
ton as there IS among the people IN regard
to the report of what you properly call tie
assassination committee" No man de-
tends it. The people from all sections, SO far
as we can hear, condemn 1t IN unUeasured
terms. The card Of J. NJ. Heating express
the universal feeling. Those who have not
been assailed feel as indignant as those who
have been. The question now is, who in
dorsed that report? Did any Of our prOIal-
nent men? The Hgners of it are mere
ciphers. Was it hJwn to aoy one and IN
dorsed before it was published? Will any
man now defend 1t? 1t is believed here by
some good lawys-s that it is actionable as a
libel; that it is not snea privileged com
munication as will protect It's 2utbors and
igners. IF character Is to be As
g.. d as they have assailed it, ana
sal'e the privilege Is pleaded because
men forth as a legislative document, is
1t Is put &c in Tennessee? Having gone
character sa- re of their authority, eau they
nl2ad their privl. eye as iegislatl'e SoA.-
49, rr,is grave question. Surely
he people must have t- -,,otSO -
such committees, who y 4uoi pt'CGLse y, III
matters NOT nertipept to SOC question at issue.
The legislature will do pot oihS satisfactory
in regard TO the State debt, al tneh ID ohly
remains for the people to take it - mana and
inaugurate movements which viii 11cqfo -"
satisfactory settlement. Tins the peopl4 oe-
mand and the people wall have. A CONNER
ciaI city and town IN the State IS deeply IA
tsrested-Knoxvile, Chattanooga Nashville,
Memphis, and all the smaller towns. WITH
the State debt satisfactorily settled, you could
arrange your matters without difficulty. The
discredit OF the State affects you most serl-
ously. As | said IN my former letter, the
appropriation committee attack +. NJ. w hlte,
sam Tate, Milton Brown, A. Woodruff, and
all the men that were ever presidents OF
railroad companies in West Tennessee. Al
though they do not give their names, they
clearly point them out. Ii this legislature
does anything good it will agreeaby surprise
me.
i have seen the bill for a settlement of the
State debt reported by the senate finance
committee. You will doubtless get it by
telegraph. l have no idea it will pass both
houses, and if 1t should, not one-third OF the
people of the State would vote for IT. All
Republicans, all the straightout regulators,
and all the State-CredIt Democrats would
vote against it; and il 1t should be adopted 1t
! no
ors of the State would never think for mo-
ment of accepting it. 1t is doubtful whether
anybody would vote at that election, because
| 1t would soon be seen to be mere farce. In
my letter this morning | stated that some
| thought the report of the State debt commit
| lee was not privileged communication, and
was, therefore, actlonabie as 4 libel. l think
| it Is not actlonable, and that it is protected,
| because the legislature ordered 1t to be pub'
| llshed THIS makes it all the worse, how
ever. If this be SO, and | think it is, leeis-
| lative committee may libel all the best cItl-
zens of State and yet be protected from all
! Inability. 1t is, therefore, more necessary for
| the people to act. There are some good men
| in the legislature, and distinction should be
made between them and the others. The
vote on the senate bill will show where men
stand. 1t is Understood the necessary bills
| for the benefit of your people Will be passed
| The local option law is dead, and So, think,
is the bill redistricting the StatedusdIIGGlSS,iy'
| EXAMINATION or THE REPORT OF THE
| STATE DEBT COMMITTEE.
| EDIToRs APPEAL-You hav, published
| the majority report OF the State debt com
mittee, and also the able and conclusive MI
nority report OF Mr.. Capp, from the same
committee. would be willing for the mat
| ter to rest here, but as | happened to he one
OF the actors in Il ose scenes, and to be eognl-
| z4nt of the facts which then cc7Urrei, / deem
| it due 10 those who were then associated With
ne in legislative councils to vindIcate them
| from the charges made against them IA the
majority report. and to show nov cautiously
| they acted. It Is proper, perhaps, fol
me to say that I am moi
obnoxious TO the charges made IN thi.
majority report, because was one Of the lev