The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-14
IMPRUDENT LEGISLATION.
WHAT HORRIFIES MEMBERS OF
The MISSISSIPPI SENATE.
The Contest Between the Rival
Memphis Railroads Important
Legislation.
IcoRREspoSpEScE or THE APpEIL.l

JACKSON, MISS, F6DruhTy III IN
two houses Of the Legislature havinI
adjourned last week for the trip 4
Columbus, there failed TO be enough
members in either house to form {
quorum on Saturday, the DAY to which
they adjourned. On Monday there
was full attendance of both houses,
and each went to work in dead ear,
nest. Each house has passed great
many bills OF their own, but very few
each of the other, consequently but
few bills OF general character have
as yet been enacted into laws. II is a
notable and pIa'seworthy fact that
this Legislature is giving more careful
consideration to, me asures brought be-
fore it than was ever before done by a
Mississippi Legislature since recon-
struction. Heretofore bills have been
hurried through without much con.
sideration, and often, very often, with
out reading. Hence, many bad laws
have crept unawares, as it were, on
the stat lte book. In this connection
there was an amusing occurrence in
the Senate yesterday. A bill came up
on its passage, repeating a most OBJ
noxious act passed in 1881. The read
ing of the act proposed to be repealed
was called for, and when read all were
startled at its prov's o1s, includir &
most Of the Senators holding over, and
who were responsible for its pass
age. Some, who are specially
watclful over the legislation
to see that no snakes creep in, and
who were members of the Senate
when the bill passed, asked with un-
feigned aJtonishment If it were posi-
BILE that such law was on the statute
book? Most sll give some excuse,
such as being absent when the bill
was passed, ETC., etc. The truth is,
said bill had passed the Senate with
out being read. Suffice it to say, the
bill proposing the repeal passed
unanimously.
At this session the cuttom has pre-
vailed to refer all bills to proper COM
mittees, where they are closely and
care fully examined, aud sfter being
reported back TO the Senate, they are
read and discussed and well consid-
cred before final action thereon.
The fight between the Memphis,
Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad
Company and the Kansas City, Mem
phis and Birmingham Company, has
been long, tedious and acrimonious,
aad terminated to-day by the passage
by the House Of the charter of incor.
porstion of the latter road as passed
in the Senate, with restrictions i'm
posed at the instance and in
the interest OF the former COM
pany. Each of said companies
were championed here by distin-
guished and worthy citizens OF your
city, al of whom have been active,
earnest and energetic in their re-
spective interests, and be it said that
each one has conducted his cause on
a dignified, gentlemanly and elevated
pane and never stopped to email
things.
We of Mississippi hope that both
roads will be built, and bid each COM
pany good speed in the construction
and completion of their. respective
roads.
A bill bias passed and been approved
by the Governor giving authority to
the Levee Commissioners of the lower
Levee District 10 issue bonds TO the
amount OF $250,000 for levee purposes.
There is bill pending in the Senate
authorizing the issuance Of bonds to
the amount Of 100000 by the Com
missioners Of the upper or Yazo J. Mis-
sissippi Delta District. This last men
toned bi | provides for the annual
levy of cotton tax to secure the pay
ment of the bonds. This feature Of
the bill, it is supposed, will be warmly
cont 3sted. The people in the district
are divided on the policy of a cotton
tax. While all recognize the great
benefit to the whole State to be de-
rived from judicious and efficient
levee system, yet the members from
what are termed the hill counties dis
like to intermeddle with the plans and
operations proposed for the construc-
ton and maintenance of the levees,
but wish to leave the same to those
more directly interested. II, how.
ever, they should be divided among
themselves, the hill members will
have ID decide between them.
There was hard fight in the Senate
over bill providing for the election
by the Legislature of the Railroad
Commissioners and creating the same
a Board Of Equalization of values of
real estate in each of the counties.
After two days discussion the equali-
zation feature was eliminated from the
bill, and the same passed.
What to do with the penitentiary is
5he great question of the hour By
act of the Legislature Of 1884 the
essees (whose term of lease expires
January ], 1887 were authorized to
transfer their lease to the Gulf and
Ship leland Railroad Company and
the lease to 1892. In De-
,ember last the transfer was made,
md the bond rendered for the APP
Droval of the Governor and Attorney
General. On account of come OF the
OF the lease the Governor
md Acknowledgement and all parties
Interested determined 10 wait further
lction Of the Legislature, the railroad
company in the meantime being in
possession Of the penitentiary without
bond. Said company CONSTITUTES the
aw to be that the consideration to be
,aid by them for the penitentiary is
1884 in first mortgage bonds of
heir road, while others cOnstrue
hat it that said amount has
% be paid annually during term OF
ease. A bill is pending requiring the
aid company 10 comply with the !
erHcs of the lease, and said bill con-
trues the lease and PAGES additional
and adds obligations ID
70 assumed that would render imprac-
icable and impossible for the COM
ANY to comply with. The bid also
provides that in the event said COM
ANY fails to comply in a given time,
he lease may be adjudged as forfeited
N petition fled before the chancellor
Il this district. Thereupon the Match
z, Jackson and Columbus Railroad
company is to have the refusal OF said |
ease. The whole thing seems to be in
middle, and it lis hard to divine |
What will be the outcome,
The bill repeating the agricultural
en- law is still pending ia the Senate,
aving passed the House.
The death Of Senator J. D. Vertner !