Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-09-12
WORK FOR THE NEXT LEGIS-
LATURE.

The State Debt--Municipai DeDts
.--Chancery and the Supreme
Courts. &c. dc.
Mr.. EDIToR:-U nquestionably the most |
impor ant matter which will engage the
attention of our next legislature will bethe
consideration of the state debt and its
equitable adjustment" Ii the state
credit men democrats and republican,
shall be in the majority. and have the
governor, it is believed speedy and salts
factory adjustment will be reached. The
question has been thoroughly discussed,
and there will be no neei to go over the
ground again. The legality of the original
iseuance of the bonds and our present
leqoI. liability for both principal and inter-
est does not admit of doubt But the
failing that our creditors should make some
concessions and propose liberal abatement
in order to a final settlement, is so strong
wen among the most outspoken state
credit men that it is absolutely certain no
satisfactory adjustment Will De reached II
| he creditors Insist upon being PAID IN tuii,
| In other words, the large maj rity of s. ate
| credit people believe the credit of the state
| NAV be saved without paying the whole
| debt. and if the whole sholi be demanded,
| our legislators witt hesitate and give the
| creditor to understand that he was ex-
pected to propose compromise on q OASIS
not higher than CD cents on tie dollar
The creditor, -'knowing which side OF HIS
bread is buttered.'' will generously pro-
pose, conceding the equities of the state,
and thus the end will be reached ana the
benor of our great state will be pre-
| servedC). ,
On the other hand if the legislature shall
be controlled by the low tax or no tax men,
much time will be consumed in speech
making and in other ways, and proceed
;n~s NAV be blocked and feeling aroused
i. and the VIII lie session may be passed With
out any we'll considered general legisla'
ton.
But it is hoped there will be enough
thouc htful and efficient men In the mex
assembly to press through some importah
measures relative to the
, INDEBTEDNESS OF COUNTIES AM
, CITIES.
Unless some method is provided b.
; which the debt of many towns and countle
may be lightened,lt Will not be long befor'
the tax pa, er will be heard to raise hi
. | voice in complaint. We ought to lool
ahead and arrange to meet the principal o
- The debt of Knox county and Knoxville
Nothing has been done in this direction
9 so for the interest has scarcely bee
of the principal will mature. ant
a then we will be astounded whe
it is found We have nothing 20 pay with
= Whv should we not act now, and provId
by q general law, carefully drawn, for tn
:, funding of county and corporate debts
+ low rates of interest, beginning at once ID
creation of sinking funds2 A faithful reI
| 6 a. intn of
would strive hard to have such la
), enacted.
- Aud in this connection it occurs that
" would be a wise thing to repeal the Ia
h which puts the collection of municip,
take. into the hands OF the ounty trustee
Y so that each town or city may manage
own affairs. However, it is believed to.
IL cities may srezard the statute La now STANG
"a ing, if they see proper to do SO.
~ We should have an act changing ii
v method of selecting jurors. ana an a.
recurring special verdicts in all civil dan
a s.1 suits This, if required, would, "
~ be eve, render impossible, or at least lie
u frequent verdicts for excessive amount
a. and in cases of motions for new trials tt
court would be greatly benefited, Eein
" more clearly informed as to the action I
the jury.
IL There should be an act rendering moi
- uniform The procedure in the circuit an
~ cnancery courts. Since the extension
chancery jurisdiction to simp.e legal d.
? rnxnGs there can be no good reason fe
keeping up a distinction either IN II
q. pleadings Or methods ot procedure OF cour
OF law and equity. 81 .a..- Go
If you sue in equity upon promlssol
note and the chancellor decides the que
~ ton of fact without the intervention OF
jury, and the case is appealed, the supren
= court will try the case anew, without giVlI
'n' any weight to the finding of the cha
oe cellor but If circuit judge tries simil'
r. cas- in his court, witaout jury, the 8
LIS preme court gives to mis- decision the saI
n. weight it would give to the verdict OF
NJ Jury. and will not reverse If there Is a.
evidence to support it.
The law should require the supreI
| court to examine and determine the IA
in every case coming before it. without
:, gard to the finding of the judge or VI
,o' dict of the jury in the court below.
Ice may be said that this would not be treati
oh with respect the finding of the twelve 10
whom the law las selected to try
mt facts. A sufficient reply to such obj
do tion would be that it is universally kno
mo that the Difference paid TO the verdicts
iuries BY the superior courts is based VI
ras presumption rather than convict
len that such yefdicts are correct. Indeed
.ba lis BY everybody admitted that few thll
are more unee rtaln than the verdlcts
pei juries The supreme court is not of
;he resort sc long as it declines 10 look j
, ia and determine for itself the facts c
~ case.
ny We need an improvement in our syst
be of indexlng the books of the regist
the Office. When AS land els sold by trui
or by the sheriff, and deed made by 81
officer to the purchaser, the index sho
give a by the trustee or sheriff, as
Al gainor. The note book should also il
LUZ Gaze the locality of land sold. and the b.
Its, wherein the conveyance is register
Ter We need more speedy method OF
ner minlstering estates especially, lnsoi1
= estates. ------yy-~s-.
the We ne d radical reform in he con
: It tt1tion and management OF our county
onoe house.
0'ni- We need reformatory prisons. or hol
DER of correction for the young criminals,
to those whose offences are compsratiS
On slight. There is no reason why we she
not keep up with our most advanced 81
'ers states IN respect to institutions Of
too class.
:, Other measures might be mentioned,
= / 4ha ahoye are the must important WI