The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-01-17
THE LEGLSLATURE.
SYNOPSIS OF.PROCEEDINGs LAST
WEEK

ing Committees were announced by the
| Speaker. New bills were introduced
and passed first reading, among which,
by Mr.. Greene, To allow the employ
mont of convict labor on railroads to be
CO fined to roads in the State; To allow
the employment of convict labor on
turnpikes and Macadamized roads.
In the House, M. Butler rose to a
personal explanation and had the clerk
to read this paragraph from the Amaert-
can
The STOLEN BILL.-In the House
this bill was referred to the committee
on finance, ways and means, of which
Hon. X. K. Butler was chairman. 1t is
stated by members OF that legislature
row In the city that the bill met with
unaccouatable delay. 1t was kept ten
days over the usual time. Speaker Ram
sey lied for IL; some excuse was made
but still no report. The clerk and then
The sergeant-st-arms were sent for it. In
the meantime, Col. Polk appeared at the
bar OF the House, and offered an expla-
nation. The bill was reported by Mr..
Butler and passed the House. L. WAS
opposed by the Republicans under blf
Buffers leadership, the avowed grounds
being that the low tax Democrats were
persecuting Mr.. Polk because he was
State credit Democrat. The bill was
transmitted to the Senate and read for
the first time. The next day, Saturday,
it was read the second time. The Sen
ate adjourned until Monday, on which
day hnai adjournment occurred. On
that day, when the bill was called, clerk
I.nI fnH hot he Ha1 h
desk broken open and The bill missing
Inc matter was commented on at that
time, but owing to the adjournment,
discussion was stopped and n" investi-
cation or discovery was made"
Mr.. Butler said So far as l am con-
cerned, and so far as the Republicans
are concerned, there is not word of
truth in that statement. Mr.. Coulter
introduced that bill The bill was re-
ferred to the committee on finance,
ways and means, of which I was chair
man. The journal will show that had
that bill in my possession two days,
while the paper says ten days. seldom
rise to personal explanations, nor do
often answer newspaper reports, but
the Amer5cun has always trea ed me so
kindly and fairly that was surprised
to see that statement. Mr.. Polk WAS no
pet of mine. He was Democrat cleo
ed by Democrats | did n, vote for
him; no Republican voted for i'm save
Mr. Barrett, his .,wn senator. The name
Of Polk l. histuric one, and dear t.
me AS il is to all Tennesseans. Ii Mr..
Polk has lost this money in unfortunate
speculations. none regret ii more than
! do, and no citizen of my portion of
the State will pay more to cover tn de-
felt. Mr.. Samsell offered resolution
instructing our Senators and requesting
our Representatives in Congress to vote
for bill pensioning soldiers of the FlSr-
Mr.. Butler, the rules were suspended
and the resolution adopted.
Ia the Senate, on the 9th, among the
new bills passing their first reading
were these By Mr.. Greene, To levy a
privilege tax of 80 cents a gallon on all
distilled and rectified spirits and wines
consumed in the State; also special
privilege tax of 800 for wholesaling
and $25 for retailing; this rate of taxa
tion 10 be in lieu of all other privilege
tax or liquors; disallowing any county,
city or incorporated town or taxing dis
triet to charge privilege tax and
bill to enforce an act to provide rev.
enue for the payment of the comprom-
Use bonded indebtedness of the State.
The bill provides a Commissioner of
Revenue for the State, a Supervisor for
each grand division, and Collector for
each Senatorial district. These officers
are appointed by the Governor and con-
firmed by the Senate; stamps are to be
used; stocks of liquor examined by the
Collector, and the fern of stamps is pre-
scribed; precautions are to be taken for
fraud. and the mode of in
spectinS and carrying on the business
are pointed out. as are the records to be
kept, etc. The bill regulates the en-
forcement of the bill fixing the tax be-
fore introduced.
The House received the Senate and in
joint convention proceeded to count the
vote for Governor.
In the Senate, on the 9th, among 9TH
er new bills passed on first reading was
one by Mr.. Sherwood, To amend the
bastardy laws of the State, and one by
Mr.. Greene, to reduce the State tax from
80 cents to 10 cents on the 500 for 1888
and after. Mr.. Thompson appropriate
ly announced the death OF Judge j. c.
Guild, and the Senate resolved to adj !
journ, in respect to his memory. until
ten o'clock tomorrow.
In the House, the bill to reduce the
salary of the Commissioner of Insur-
ance to $500 passed its third reading and
was ordered to be engrossed and trans
mitted to the Senate. After fruitless
efforts to amend, Senate resolution of
fering $4,000 reward for the apprehen-
sion of N. T Polk was adopted. Out
of respect to the memory of Judge j
@. Guild the House adjourned until 10
o'clock tomorrow.
In the Senate, on the 10th, message
from Gov Haw kins was read giving his
reasons fer returning unsigned Senate
Joint resolution, No. 1, to suspend the
payment of interest under The COG act.
On motion, the resolution was adopted,
the objections of the Governor notwith
standing, ayes Is, nays s, Blackmore,
Burns. Cox, Dodd, Sherrod, Thompson
and Watkins decling to vote. House re-
solution increasing the reward for the
arrest of Polk to $4,000 was adopted.
In the House, resolution in respecr
20 the memory of Judge Guild was adj
opted. A large number of bills passed
a first reading, among Them, by Mr..
r \ u