Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-07
THE FREE PASS BILL
Fails in the Senate for Want Of a Con.
stitutional Majority
Polk Reward.
Debate in the House on the Democratic
Caucus Bill for the settlement
Of the Debt.

|
that copy Of the resolution be sent TO tht
Department Of Justica at Washington.
Mr.. Thompson opposed the resolution, fol
| it sought to strike down the character of
young nsh. He was a Republican, but he
WIS euuUarru MS town, UsUxuou, znd
while there he conducted himself as gen.
tlemsn. There was no proof against him
though there we're suspicious. His charac
ter is worth more to him than his life.
Mr.. Champion moved to amend by in.
sertisg that Mr.. GosIiUg secured an increase
of the reward by blackmaiIiug the State OF
Tennessee and BY false statements.
Mr.. Steele said: 81 cannot i'm sgine why
this resolution was introduced. 1 heard
when the reward was paid that the matter
was ended. 1 have never been more aston.
when heard that resolution read. II re-
member correctly the introducer of the re.o-
luton was among the foremost in supporting
IL increased reward. l voted against an in.
crease Of the reward, as the city press will
show"
Mr. Chsmpion-I do not believe there is
a member on ,his floor who does not believe
every word contained in the resolution aud
amendment. l ssid it was deliberate effort
on the part OF Gosling to black mail the Sla;e
of Tennessee. j was induced to vote for the
iucre eased reward on the strength OF Gosliug's
telegram sent TO the governor promising a
full explanation.
Mr.. Keith SAID he had no feeling in intro
ducing the resolution.
Mr.. Norment said he believed Mr.. Gosling
had swindled the State OF Tennessee out Of
$4,000. He moved as a substitute to Mr..
Champions amendment the folio wing: "To
The end that the circumstances connected
tigated and full justice Jns"
Mr.. Williamson opposed the resolution.
Mr.. Keith stated Gosling said to the COM
mittee that it was his deliberate purpose to
extort every cent he could from the s.! ate OF
Tennessee.
Mr.. Thompson said he never would vote
for a resolution branding a young Ia an as a
thief without first giving him fair trial.
He wanted the proof. The law presumed
every man 10 be honest until the contrary
was proven.
Mr.. Steele said Mr.. Gosling explained
why he asked an increase Of the reward in
letter which was read before The committee.
Mr.. Keith said he sympathizsd with the
senator from Bedford (Mr. Steele), in try
ing to defend his friend. h was a mem.
ber of the committee, and if any explana-
lion was made by Mr.. Gosling he had never
heard of il.
Mr.. Dawson said il the Senate censured
Costing for demanding an increase of the
reward, the people of the State would cen.
sure the Senate for acceding 10 the demands
Of Mr.. Costing.
Mr.. Bibb said the honorable senator from
Wilson was a noted defender Of men who
violate the law. MIR. Gosing had promised
an explanation OF his telegram, and had
never furnished it; Mr.. Gosllng had struck
himself down.
Mr.. Swafford moved TO postpone indef-
pileiy.
Mr.. Galloway said the State had settled
with Gosling as q private detective and not
a. United States official, and he hoped the
motion TO postpone would not prevail.
Mr.. Steele said Marshal Gosling had ar
rested Polk as private detective and not as
United States marshal.
Mr.. Champions amendment was rejec ed.
Mr.. SwafJrd's motion TO poslpone indt6-
nitely prevailed, which efecIually Lills the
resolution.
At II o'clock the railroad free pass bill
was taken up. The bill makes it a mid
meauor and forfeiture of Office for any coun-
TO ride free over any railroad ia the State,
but provides that the provisions of the bill
shall not apply TO employees, directors, stock
| holders or attorneys of such roads.
Mr.. Galloway moved TO amend by striking
out, after the word "misdemeanor," the
clause 10 reference 10 forfeiture OF Office on
conviction. r jscted.
Mr.. D. id moved to amend the first section
by including all officers Of incorporated
towns and ciiies. Adopted.
Mr.. Thompson moved TO lay the bill or
:he table.
Mr. Cooper thought bill of this charsc
ter ought to be passed in this Slate. lie
said he had BEEN criticised for a formel
speech on this subj ct, ir which he was
ch srged with rejecting on the honor of oul
Judiciary, Notwithstanding he had disclaimec
any such intention or purrose, and this, too
10 the face of ihefact that IN the early par
of the session an honored senator had .tooC
| pp on the floor of the Senate and charged il
the broadest terms corruption on the part o.
The last General, Ass smbiy, SO broad that 6
me mber from Eist Tennessee felt called upor
10 rise and say that while he had heard iha
there was corruption in connection with The
passage OF the oue.hundred- and-thrte bill
yet this was the first time that be had evel
be, I'd it charged that there was any corrup
lion in he passage of the sixty y-aud-six bill
He wanted a bill of the character Of thai
under consideration 10 become law.
Mr.. Wilson thought the bill ought TO pass
but should be made 10 90 into effsct imme
| diately, so as 10 apply 10 the members OF the
present General Assembly. He said: "Mr
Speaker, il is insisted by the gentlemen who
favor the passsge OF the bill land l shall
place no obstruction 10 the way of lis pas
sge), that the free-pass system is highly IN
furious in lis results and calculated 10 worE
irreparaele mischief. 10 defense of those
sgsinst whom this bill is intended to oper ate
Imsy bri,hy state that no officer in Tennes
see, according TO my information, has stained
his reputation or injured his character To-
usefulness by means of free pass. Let tn,
bill pass. | shall not oppose 1t. Ii ,h'
gentlemen believe that there is danger likely
to result from the use OF the pass, and that il
is calculated to corrupt those using them,
SAY let il pass, and that, too, without delay
1t il said Judges are using the railroad pass
Admit it. Who will say that any judge il
Tennessee has been improperly Influenced
By them. In the trial OF railroad cause
Judges are rather against than for theu, al
experienced lawyers in trials OF thi
sort are prepared to admit. Ia conclusion
let me say if pass is corrupting, il it is cal
culsted 10 work great harm and to do grea
mischief, conscientious men who believe i
will corrupt their morals and destroy theiI
capacity TO do right, will refuse TO receiv
them and thus save themselves from in
fanny. The railroad agents may tender IN
pass, bnt if you believe its reception vii
corrupt you the road cannot compel you 1
take it.
Mr. Greene said he thought railroads ha
right to issue free pas, and he though
he had a right to accept it.
AT THE AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE sENAT
the fr,epsss bill was losl for wsnt Of
con. .tituuonal majority.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Manson, Of the Committee on Raj
road, reported that said comlnitiee ha
) recon- mended that the resolution looking /
the advancement Of the suit. of the bono
holders against the railroads on the dockt
of the United States Supreme Court be lsi
en- the table.
MIR. L1oney, OF the Committee on Peni
Tertiary, reported favorAbly the bill TO II
lease the peniien iary 10 The present lesset
until January, 1884.
House bill No 159, for the estabishmer
OF sn in erm5dizle court, recommended fc
t passsg, by the Judiciary Committee, wi
made the rpecial order for Friday at
, o'clock. There is also a minoriis repo
recommending an amendment 10 the bill
RESOLUTIONS AND BILLS INTRODUCED.