The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-01-10
THE LEGISLATURE.
SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDLNGS LAST
-4 WEEK. -

WEEK. -- -
According to the provisions of the
censti ution of Tennessee the General
Assembly of the State met in their re-
spective halls, Nashville. at ~ m jan
uary /, 1888.
In-the Senate, the body was called to
order Dy the clerk of the last Senate
and the oath of office was administered to
the Senators elect by Judge, Thomas j.
Freeman of the Supreme Court. Sena-
err. The proceedings were opened with
prayer by the Rev. DR.. t. A. Hoyt, of
the First Presbyterian church, in the
following terse and emphatic petition;
almighty and ever blessed God, en-
able these, Thy servants, and the peo-
Piles representatives, to take up the
high duties devOlving upon them and
transact the business of the common
wealth for the best interest of the PEG
pie. May they be guided by truth, and
l4bor in the caus. of truth and justice,
for they are Thy representatives as well
"a the representatives of the people.
Nav they do nothing without authority.
Enable them, oh, God, to see the end as
they now see the beginning. Aid and
direct them in their deliberations, and
especially do we pray Thee that there
shall be no corruption, no unfairness,
no dishonesty, and above all, from dis
sensions, privy conspiracy and the stain
and disgrace of repu iation, great God,
| deliver us.
The prayer was telling on, falling
upon the ears of majority of the Sen
ators with dumbfounding shock. On
the sixteenth ballot, Senator B. F. Alex
ander, of Rutherford county, was elect
ell Speaker. T. G. Long, of Madison
county, was elected principal clerk and
James Harris, of Washington county,
assistant clerk.
The House was called to order by the
clerk of the last House and the members
sworn in by Chief Justice Deaderick.
Hon. Dorsey B. Thomas, of Humphreys
county, was chosen temporary Speaker.
On the third ballot, Hon. w. L, Ledg-
erwood, of Knox county, was elected
Speaker. Eth B. Wade, of Rutherford
county, was elected principal clerk.
In the Senate, on the I'd, E. Nj. Nc
Carver, on the 25th ballot, was elected
sergeant at arms Robert NJ. Williams,
of Davidson county, on the tenth ballot,
was elected messenger. Miss Josie Tel
ford, of Washington county, was elect
ed engrossing clerk on the tenth ballot
Mr.. Cox offered a resolution expressive
of the sense of the Senate that no fur
Their interest be paid on the funded
bonds of the State. IL was the sense of
the Senate that the resolution lie over
and have a Joint resolution as soon as
both houses are organic d.
Iu the House, on the ID, Mr. Slack
having withdrawn his name, Mr.. Alex
ander was elected assistant clerk on the
9Th ballot On the 9Th ballot, Chas. w.
Crockett, of Stewart county, was elect
ed sergeant at arms, the vote standing,
Crockett, 81, Robert Blevins, of Hawk
county, "a
In the Senate, on the Sd, a resolution
was adopted, by vote of 20 to 8, di-
recting the Comptroller and Treasurer
to pay no more interest on bonds except
those held by charitable institutions, by
Mrs. Polk and by the United States
government, up to January l, 1882. Mr..
Sherwood epp. sed the resolution, tho
he said it would pass. If he look on
Iy to the success of his patty, he would
rejoice; but for the honor OF the State
he would like to see il fail. 1t WIS not
true that the people approved the set
Element. In 1881, $50, 900 against co.
600 had said that they wanted the debt
settled, and at the late election thous-
ands of State credit Democrats had vo-
ted for Bate to harmonic the party. A
bill to prevent freight trains from run
ming on Sunday, within the State, ano
making the penalty of engineers, con
ductors, etc, on any train, violating
this law, $25 and thirty days imprison'
ment, was introduced by Mr.. Sherwood
and passed first reading. Various bill
to repeal the COG act of the last legisla
ture were introduced.
| In lilC I1OuSCy W AOhbONJ
elected engrossing CLERK and E. w. Grif
fin Sc geant at arms. Ulder suspen
sion of the rules resolution was adop
ted-65 to %, all the Republicans voting
in the negative-directing 20 more in
terest t. be paid On the funded bond,
In the Senate, on the 4Lh, al. Thnmp
son introduced a bi providing that any
qualified voter who fails to vote at y
State or Federal election, shall be deem
ed guilty of misdemeanor, and fined
$25. Under suspension of the rule:
a resolution was adopted that balloting
/ for United States Senator should begir
on the 10Th January, and the election OF
Librarian on the 10Th. Governor Hawk
ins's second biennial message was pre-
sented in the afternoon.
In the House, the Speaker announced
that he had a communication from the
chairman of the bondh I.ters' commit
tee, and asked what was the pleasure OF
the House. The gist of the communal
cation is requesting The legislature 10
extend the time for funding The bonded
obligations OF the State for two years
from January 1, 1888. and protesting
agains. any compromise at lower fig
ure than that fixed by the last legisla-
ture. After discussion, tie communi-
cation was referred to the select com
mittee on the State debt. The House
concurred, after amending. in Senate re-
solution to count the vote for Governor
January 8. Bills to establish Railroad
Commission and to prevent railroads
from determinations in freight or pass
enger business, we're introduced and
passed first reading. The Governors
message was read, aud 1000 copies ord