Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-01-11

ne OIL OF cOStS, the OmcerS OF the cOun-
les, with the means at hand to test the ver-
ty Of each bill of costs, will take care that
10 improper payments are made. In In
Llama and perhaps other States no criminal
,osts are paid by either State or county. |
Inn informed that trial of the system |
has shown it to be eminently salutary. 1t |
.belishes the professional juror, the pro-
witness, the professional cost bro
zer, and enables iuries to render verdicts |
without delay.
Assuming a change so radical will fail to
your approval, l recommend that
the payment of criminal costs be RENTED
to the counties, leaving the counties free to
regulate the matter of costs of each for it
SELF, but to prevent public abuse, all items
of cost, with the maximum amounts,
should be embraced in a single act, and
the counties prohibited from exceeding the
items and amounts fixed by the act. Leg
islation of this character will relieve the
State Of the enormous burden and give
the counties absolute protection. Under
this system each county will have the benz
eht Of its prudence and economy and en-
tire exemption. from the negligence and
AAi piONtuCaSC vi VtuCI COuutico.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The Constitution wisely provides that
"No money shall be drawn from the
Treasury, but in consequence of appro-
priations made by law" There should be
no departure from this wholesome require
ment of the Constitution. 1t is sure safe
guard against fraud and improvidcnce. In
The ooDpoot;op T fhot o6opt at
an early day of your session, a joint reso>
luton declaring that in your general ap-
preparation bill no claim against the State
shall be emb. iced which has not been es-
tablished by act of the General Assembly
This will prevent the possibility of i'm
proper appropriations in the confusion IN
cident to the close of a session.
ASSESSMENTS, AND COLLECTION OF TAXES.
Justice and policy concur in requiring
| that the burden of taxation shall be borne
| equally by all. Under our present system
of assessment the grossest inequalities
exist. To remedy the evil, recommend
that our assessment laws be so revised as tc
confer upon some one of the Executive
Officers of the State the nomination of q
Board of Assessors for each county, sub
ject to the confirmation of the Cou J
| Court of each county, or that such boarc
be elected by the people of each county
and the compensation of the board fxec
with relation to the value of the taxable
property of each county; that the Secretary
of State, Comptroller and Secretary of The
Treasury be created revisory board
clothed with the power to revise and equal
ize the assessments of the county boards o
assessment. The assessment of real prop
erty to be made for term of years, and o
personnel property for shorter period.
1t is believed that system of assessme 4
of this character will approximately secure
the equality so much desired.
The provisions of our laws for the enforce
meut of the collection of taxes are so in
volved and cumbersome that the weight o
judicial opinion in the State is that the in
genuity of man is incompetent to the tasl
of making valid sale of real estate 70
taxes, and until the difficulties are remove
all payment of taxes upon real estate mus
continue to be practically voluntary. L
view of the fact that but remote risk
taken by refusal to pay, the limited de
linquencies in the payment Of taxes O
real estate affords the high t evidence c
a patriotic recognition of our citizens c
their obligations to the State and thei
cheerful willingness to discharge them.
The State pays away large sum eac
year upon tax sales, when it is probabl
that in no sale has valid title been oh
tanned. When the owner comes to redeer
he pays not only his tax, with interes
thereon, but he is forced to pay a larg
sum in discharge of the cost incurred i
the futile but expensive ceremony of cor
demnation and sale.
The laws ought TO be so amended as
make the assessment of real estate and de
fault in the payment of taxes thereon in
given time, ipso .facto divestiture of til
title of the owner and an investiture of it i
the State, subject to redemption by the OWL
er within liberal period, the Truste
clothed with power to sell and convey, an
speedy action for possession provided
This mode will secure the prompt paymer
of taxes, and relieve the State and delin
quent owners of vast expense.
The Comptroller should be clothed wit
the power, by himself or agent, to buy res
, estate in the name of the State in all case
where the interest of the State so require
Under existing laws it seems no one hs
that power.
STATE rRIsoN.
, The reports of the officers of the Sta
f Prison show that the buildings are &c
? small, and their accommodations too lin
, tied, to secure the reasonable comfort
, the large number of convicts within i
: walls. If the present management OF OF
= State Prison is to be continued, sultab
prison ought to be constructed at once GU
: side of the limits of Nashville. If tor ar
e reason the General Assembly does not pr'
, vide for the building of new prison
limited appropriation, should be made #
b the repair of the present building.
i REFoRMAToRY.
There are a number of boys in the Sta
Prison. The safety of society will not pc
: NIT their liberation. In justice to itse
. the State ought not to deny them all meal
of reformation. They ought to be Sc
arated from the adult convicts. and son
= mode provided for their education in Il
g primary branches of learning. Whatev
. the General Assembly can do to encoura!
= reformatory institutions in our cities Dug
! to be done. Our present methods of r
= pressing crime serve to confirm youth.
:. criminals in their vicious course.
of --- HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
it The reports of the Officers and Truste
lie of this institution show that present bui
ings need repair, and the further fact a
ut pears that they are totally inadequate
w -. recommendation of tho insane of n