Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-06
NASHVILLE.
What is Being Accomplished by 0uI
SOIOns at the Capitol.

Nashville American, 5th.l
The house reconsidered, yesterday,
the vote rejecting the senate bill pro-
viding for cities having a population
of 10000 inhabitants to assess and
collect their own taxes, and then
passed it on its second reading, with
an amendment striking out the assess
ment feature of the bill. If the bill
passes in its present shape Nashville
will have the collecting of her own
taxes, which is believed will contribute
to an increased revenue for the city.
Mr.. Watkins bill to settle the State
debt contains two propositions to be
submitted. Ito the people, one at 90
cents and 4 per cent. interest, and an
other at 335 cents and 4 per cent. in
terest.
Representative Harvey Mathes, who
has been i'll, wasin his seat again yes
terday.
Representatives Dyer, Aston and
Maccabe returned last night from
Knoxville, where they, with the other
members Of the committee on chart
table institutions, were most Hospitality
treated.
House bill to redistrict the judicial
districts and chancery divisions of
the State was tabled on its second
reading, in the house, yesterday. A
motion to reconsider was barely car
ried by a vote of q to %. 1t is hard
ly believed that it will pass a third
reading. Some of the members pro-
pose Offering amendments which they
suppose will cure objections to the
bill, but their tenor has not yet been
made Known,
Quite "a spirited debate was had in
the house yesterday afternoon, on the
bill to prevent the carrying Of pistols
and other murderous weapons, on pain
of a fine of $50 upon the jury recon-
intending the convicted person to the
mercy Of the court, or three months
in Jail, 1t provides for a sentence, in
aggravated cases, Of from one to three
years Imprisonment in the p%enitentia-
ry. The bill passed its second read
Ing.
Members of the legislature were to
have held an informal meeting last
night to sec whether their views on
the State debt question could not be
harmonized, but owing to some mis-
understanding about the time it was
not held. The Democrats will meet
Thursday night. Only a few members
were on hand last night.
The Republicans will meet tonight
to determine what course they will
take regarding tho State debt. They
assert hat they are in favor of a set
Element of the debt at the bondholders'
proposition-60 per cent. and 6 per
cent. interest, but they want to see the
debt adjusted at some rate.
Some Of the members say that the
legislature cannot afford to adjourn
without either adjusting or making
some provision for the settlement Of
the debt.
The legislature seems to be bound,
in some way, to hamper the business
Of insurance III the State, so as to
make it as burdensome to the people
as possible. A few days ago they passed
a law, the provisions Of which were
considered so inimical to the public
good, that the governor found it Deces-
sary to veto it. Now a bill is before
that body, and as appears with a good
prospect of becoming a law, requiring
a deposit of $4,000 in government
bonds or the value thereof in other
bonds, before a company can transact
business in the State. A deposit law
was in force in Tennessee several years
ago, but was repealed some five years
ago, at the request of a number of the
most prominent citizens, who stated
in their petition that the law, as it
then existed, operated to the exclusion
Of many companies, thereby lessen
ing competition, and the people
were in consequence compelled
to pay higher rates for protection
against fire. The old law was found
sufficiently Objectionable to demand
its being taken from the statute book,
but the bill now in hand proposes still
heavier burdens. Since the repeal of
the law, people insuring in companies
regularly authorized to do business in
the State, have sustained no loss from
the inability oftheir companies to pay.
In fact, the insurance commissioner
is empowered and instructed to exer-
else such supervision over the com
panies to whom he issues his license.
by the sworn statements he REQUIRES
from the officers Of such companies,
and by personal examination into their
affairs when deemed necessary, that
the additional requirement of A de.
49,