Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-08

In regard to redislricting the State he
SAYS: Inasmuch as complaint has been
made touching the manner in which several
of the districts in Tennessee were laid off
under the ninth census, and, as l am advised,
owing to a fiuctnation IN population, one of the
districts as heretofore laid off falls largely
short OF containing sufficient number OF in
habitants, according TO the tenth census, to
| entitle it TO a representative, and in other
districts great inequalities exist, / have
deemed it proper to invoke your action upon
the subject before the next election of repre-
sentstiyes, in order that full and equal
justice may be done to the inhabitants of
every portion of the State.
PROMPT PAYMENT OF TAXES AND THE 1908
ACT.
He also says: Notwithstanding the UMPIRE
dented failure of the crops in 1881 the peo
pie Of Tennessee, with a promptness hitherto
unknown in the history Of the State, as | am
advised, paid the taxes levied for that year.
The Supreme Court of Tennessee, three of the
five judges concurring, has recently decided
that the provision of the act providing for the
compromise and settlement of the bonded in
debtedness OF the State, making coupons re-
ceivable for taxes and other dues TO the State,
was unconstitutional and void, and for that
reason declared the injunction restraining the
issuance of new bonds, under same act, per-
petual. Therefore the taxes levied for the
year 1ssl-82, to raise revenue to meet the
interest upon the funded bonds cannot te
applied to the purposes for which they were
levied, and / submit that ii is unwise, and
especially in view of the short crop of 1881
it is manifestly unjust 10 the taxpayers OF
the State to levy and collect a large
amount of taxes, which cannot be APP
piled to the purposes for which they
are levied. l am advised there has
been collected on the taxes of 1881, and
now in the treasury of the State, large
amount of revenue which for the reason be-
fore stated cannot be appropriated to the
purposes for which it was levied and col
lected. / therefore recommend as a measure
of relief to the people of Tennessee that
said act, entitled an act to provide revenues
for the State OF Tennessee and the counties
thereof, be so amended that
NO MORE TAX
than may be found necessary to pay the or
binary expenses of the government and such
additional appropriations as may be deemed
proper shall be collected for the year 1882.
By an act passed April 9th, and approved
April Z, 1881, the sum of 81, l23,OO0, or so
much there of as might be necessary, was APP
propriated to pay the interest on the State
debt under said act approved April 3, 1881,
from July !, 1881, to January i, 1882.
New, Inasmuch the money thus appro-
priated, for the reasons before stated, can
never be applied to the specified purpose Tor
which the appropriation was made, rec
ommend that much of said act as makes
an appropriation of 1,125,000 for said pur-
pose be repealed.
BACK TAXES.
/ am advised that a large amount of reve-
nue. is due the State and counties on account |
of taxes heretofore levied, and that the Of
ficers charged with the duty of collecting the |
same are greatly embarrassed in the per- |
Torrance of their duties without imposing |
heavy costs and expenses upon the State and
the defaulting taxpayers. 1t is therefore |
earnestly desired that you in your wisdom |
shall provide some more efficient means for |
the assessment and collection of what is !
known as back taxes.
FEES OF sHERIFFs AND ROAD LAW.
He recommends that the fees of sheriffs |
for summonipg jurors be increased; amend |
each grand division of the State.
TREAsURER's BONDS
lie says: Without casting any imputation |
or suspicion upon the integrity of our pres
ent efficient treasurer, l desire to call your
attention to the Importance of providing for |
the safe-keeping of the large amount |
of. revenue which is now, or may |
hereafter be collected. Ny informa-
ton is that the amount now on
hand is on deposit in a number OF banks,
scattered about over the country, and subject |
TO the order of the treasurer, and largely ex-
ceeds the amount of the bond which the law
requires shall be given by him for its safe
keeping and disbursement. Simple justice
to the people requires that every possible
means shall be employed to prevent the
waste or loss of this fund.
PROVISION FOR THE POOR
1t is unquestonably true that in various
portions Of our State many of our fellow
citizens, especially among the poorer classes,
are destitute OF the common necessaries OF
life and of the means of providing future
support for themselves and families in con-
sequence of the protracted drouth of 1881 |
and the recent overflow Of many of our viii
lagos. These unfortunate people appeal to
us for help. / have received numerous
petitions from citizens in various counties
calling upon me for assistance to relieve the
distress, to all of which i have been COM
PEELED to reply that / had no power TO APP
propriate to any purpose whatever one dol |
ar of the public revenues and had no means
of furnishing the relief asked for. A decent |
respect for the opinion of the civilized world
and the principles of humanity, demand that
provision shall be made for the speedy relief |
of these sufferers, and to that end l would |
suggest for your consideration the propriety |
of authorizing the issuance at as early day |
as possible, of county bonds and warrants by
the several counties where such destitution /
may be found to exist, for the purpose of
raising the means OF fnrn shing the destitute
with the necessary means of support, AS was
done by the general assembly in 1875.
SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
He recommends that the testimony OF con-
victs be made competent in the cases of con-
yict.; that educational institutions be ex-
empted from taxation; that a clerk be pro-
vided for the superintendent OF public in
struction; that assistant librarian be APP
pointed; that military companies be paid |
when called out by the governor.
TAXING RAILROADS.
/ desire to call your special attention to |
the fact that our Supreme Court decided |
at its September term, 1881, at Knox
ville in the case of the mayor and |
aldermen of the city of Chattanooga |
IS the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. |
Louis Railway Company, that the act |
of the General Assembly OF 1875, and the
act of 1877 ameudatory thereof, providing |
for and regulating the manner of assessing
railroad property for taxation, unconsti-
tutional and void. therefore respectfully
urge upon you the Importance of
promptly providing for the Just as
sessment of such property and
collection of the taxes due thereon; and
/ would further suggest the propriety of |
providing for the settlement and collection
OF all claims on account of arrearages of
taxes due from railroad companies in this
State, with such conditions, limitations and
restrictions as TO you may seem best to pro-
tect the interest of the State. Justice de-
mands that the property of railroad COM
panies should bear its equal proportion of
the burdens of taxation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE
The Senate joint resolution to appoint
eighteen on the committee to Fedistrict the
State was adopted by both houses. The COM
mittee is not to be appointed before to-mor-
row or Monday.
Mr.. Warren, Greenbacker, offered a res
olution in the House instructing the Judi