The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-12
The Senate Adjourns, However,
Without Taking Action on 1t.
The House Poll-Tax Bill Is Taken
Up by That Body.
Mr. Stainback Strongly Opposes the
Measure on the Grounds
OF Its Being n Property Qualification
Harris Speaks Against aud Palmer
and Myers Uphold tho Bill,
but II Ia Lost.


bill No, |, by MIR Berry, 80 avoid certain
combinations, contracts, organizations, as
socations and arrangement between cor
porations and persons owning or controll-
ing competing railroad lines which tend to
defeat competition" was made special
order for 10 o'clock this morning.
When the minutes had been read, Mr..
Nelson introduced Senate bill No. 40l to
repeal IN act entitled an act tu enable
counties and incorporated cities and towns
to subscribe 20 the capital stock OF any
railroad company incorporated under tho
general laws OF the state In the mode pre-
scribed therein aud 10 provide for the
payment of such subscription, passed Feb
ruary II, 1887, being Chapter 3 Of the Acts
! OF 1887.
Mr.. Bcrry's bill was read. II was re-
commended Tor rejection bya majority Of
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Lamb offered a number OF amend
ments changing the phraseology Of section
ono Of the bill.
Mr. Nelson said ho was uniltembly
opposed To the bill and the amen iment.
Mr.. Williamson opposed the amend
ment.
MIR. Berry made strong argument in
favor VI the amendment and the bill,
which lac had introduced to preserve the
| Midland Road from being purchased. The
solo opposition TO the bill comes from the
railroads now IN existence In Tennessee.
At the conclusion OF MIR. Bcrrys speech
The Senate adjourned until AIN. to-
morrow.
~ ruE HOUSE
The House bill, introduced by Mr.
Pearson, TO require the payment OF poll
tax bolOrc voters can cast their ballots,
was taken up rs u special order.
Mr.. stainback opposed the bill and
made lengthy speech, giving expression
to his yicws. lie said the bill was simply
property qualification la disguise, aud
| argued that u would work more cOrrnp-
uon, as inr B the billot-boN was con.
cprucd, than any o,hor piece o. lcglslalon
ever enacted by the state. II would be a
regular pandora box for corruption. Ii
would give the rich candidate q very dc.
cided advantage over the poor candidate,
and nothing would rcjulcc the Republican
party more tlnn the passage ol this bill.
| iit were passed anu Democracy should
| 90 before the country with this bill hang
ing 10 is neck Il would certainly 80 bound
| la defeat.
Mr.. Collins said that nothing would at
| ford him more pleasure than to see abe
| Democratic party buried out Of sight The
| Republican inUmbrrs opposed the passage
! ol this bill because ii was wrong IN princi-
| pie. IL would destroy the liberty 0i the
| billot-Dox. Whenever men attempt to
! destroy their country they ought to be Ills.
iiauchiscd. This bill was simply putting
q price ON votes. In a vehement aud cx.
cited manner Mr. Collins began 10 air
| himself ~ 10 the Confederate soldiers, but
was called To order by the Speaker, who
decided that tho gcntlcman's remarks
| were not gcrmnnc 10 the question under
discussion. Taxation, said Mr.. Collins,
| was dangerous 90 the country. There was
| no necessity for this measure. II was
wholly un-Amctican ana was u difcct stab
/ against our free institutions. lie WAS sorry
that such clause ever crcpt into thc con-
| siilulion. The bill was an abOmination TO
everything that had the sembanoo OF dc.
ccncy,
Mr.. Palmer said ho was surprised at
WHIT Mr. stainback y Il said la regard to
tis defeat Of the DuaiUcfaiic party In tho
event this bill passed lie would like 10
know II the passage Oi the bill would
work such injury 10 the Democratic party
why was Il that every Republican member
OF the House would oppose the measure.
The Democratic party certainly would be
responsible Tor tile acts oi the present den-
crnl Assembly, aud Il would not suilcr by
the pas,lgr vi this bin. This Is the qucs-
ton OF what ought or what ought not 10
bc done, but a question OF enforcement.
This measure is less oppressive than the
one now on the statute books. II u man
can be corrupted for ~ he can be cor
rupicd for less sum, and II men are TO DO
corrupted why not let tho state giI tho al.
vantage Of H. Tho passage OF this bill
would be Of great benefit 70 tho youth Of
the State, aud would make the school fund
morn sacred than IL Is now. They had
elected lsham g.. Harris United States
Senator because he had preserved tho
school fund. From this understanding OF
the constitution the Legislature would DO
dcrclict Ia its duty II II did not pass such
law as tho one under consideration.
Mr.. Harris spoke against the bill. IL
was sought by this bill, hc said, 10 enact
legislation that would fall very heavily
upon some OF tho heads Of members lie
was satisfied Of the fact that Il this bill
should become n law large portion OF
the people OF Tennessee would be dis
tranchiscd.
Mr. Myers argued the cous,ilutonality
OF the bill and was earnest IN behalf OF
the measure. lie said that thcrc had not
been legal election since the adoption OF
tine constitution requiring that voters shall
give satisfactory evidence that they have
paid their poll tax before voting. lie
quoted from Judges Cooley, Lumpkin,
Thurman aud others 10 show that OIL
provisions Of a constitution were manda.
tory aud said that all tho men who voted
la the constitution for this doctrine had
been highly honored since the constitution
went into effect The Law was once passed
but was repealed before II had been fully
tested Pending consideration, the House
adjourned until 2. 3Oo'clock this afternoon.
The House met at 800 o'clock and dis
cus.ion of the poll tax was resumed IL
was defeated by vote Of 81 TO 40.
Adjourned.
Thc Democrats Of the Legislature, In the
Hall oi Representatives. discussed tho
registration bill, but adjourned till tomor-