The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1891-09-18
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE.


than during the whole of the previous
session. In the House Speaker Meyers
offered the following joint resolution.
which was adopted:
Whereas, 1t is the Judgment of the
present extraordinary session OF the
General Assembly that immediate and
decided steps should be taken toward
the erection of new penitentiary, ana
that such laws should be enacted as Will
best enable us to wisely carry out THIS
purpose; aud
Whereas, The building of such new
penitentiary will require large ex-
penditure of money, the question being
of such great Importance to the people
of the State as should receive our most
attentive and mature consideration look
ing to the selection of proper location,
the selection of plans for the same. and
the approximate cost thereof; and
Whereas, It is the Judgment of this
General Assembly that in selecting a
site for such new penitentiary and
adopting plans for the same, special re-
gard should be had as to what shall be
the future system of prison government
and convict labor in this State, having
in view the permanency of the system;
such productiveness of convict labor as
cial burden of crime as far as possible,
and the adoption of such a system as
will protect the interests of the State,
the peace of its citizens, and free its
whole prison system from the disturbing
complications incident to the conflict
between capital and labor; and
Whereas, It is the anxious desire OF
this General Assembly to obtain such
reliable information as will enable
it to act in the premises with such Wis
dom and deliberation as will attain all
of the desirable ends at the earliest
practicable day; therefore be it
Resolved by the General Assembly OF
the State of Tennessee, That joint
committee of --- on the part of the
Senate and eight on the part of the
House be appointed by the speakers of
the respective bodies for the purpose OF
making full investigation of the whole
subject matter embraced in the pream-
BILE of this section, and report to the
General Assembly as hereinafter pro-
vided.
Resolved, That said joint committee
be required to report specifically
/. As to suitable site for such new
itentiary-whether one or more
sites-adapted to the several methods
respectively of prison government and
mend.
2. The plans and specifications for
same, together with cost of site and
buildings and such additional cost as
will fit the prison for occupancy and the
safe-keeping of the prisoners.
3. That they report fully and exhaus-
lively upon the several methods OF
prison government and of convict labor
suitable to the character OF the States
convicts, their adaptabilitY to perform
skilled and unskilled labor. reporting
on the several systems discussed Ia the
Governors message and such other sys-
TENS as may commend themselves to
their consideration and specifically
recommend such system as will, in their
Judgment best conduce to the future
interest and welfare of the State.
Resolved, That the said joint COM
mittee take such testimony, expert or
otherwise, as may reach the ends OF the
session, visit and examine other State
prisons if they think desirable, or APP
point a subcommittee to do SO; employ
architects to furnish plans and specifl-
cations and estimates of the cost thereof.
Resolved further, That in order to
allow said committee to obtain the in
formation to make full and exhaustive
report on the sub1ecL matter committed,
that this General Assembly take re-
cess from Saturday evening, September
IL, o'clock p M, to November 80, 1891.
Mr.. Shelton's bills amending the reg
istration law so as to apply to counties
having a population of $4,000 passed on
final reading. An amendment seeking
to apply it to the whole State was ruled
out of order.
The bill prohibiting the issuing of
scrip by railroad companies or corpora
tions engaged in mining and manufac-
turing, and requiring an adjustment of
accounts between them and employees
every thirty days, passed.
The bill making interference with the
labor of convicts felony and punisha-
BILE by imprisonment from three to fifE
teen years, was passed; also the bill en-
powering the Governor to call out the
militia to suppress disturbance beyond
the control of the local authorities, as
did the bill appropriating $4,000 for
the maintenance of the military.
The Senate
In tho Senate there was also buck
ling down to business and the body con-
tinued in session nearly all day.
The committee to inye 5tigate Messrs.
Alleman and Ford asked to be discharged
for the same res ons assigned by tho
House Committee, and it was done. A
vote of % to II buried the Ledgerwood
bill, reducing witnesse fees in criminal
cares.
The bill appropriating s25, 900 for the
suppor5 of the State military was
passed by vote of 20 to 0.
The bill imposing privilege tax up
On all railroads within the State was
passed, but in such tattered shape as
to destroy it's usefulness. Roads paying
an ad yalorem tax were exempted, and
the balance can claim unconstitu-
tionality.
The House bin declaring prize fight
ing and completely in it a felony passed
with but one dissenting vote.
The bill to prevent embezzlers escap-
ing punishment by restitution of stolen
money was rejected.
The bill providing that the State shall
only pay costs in cases punishable ty
death or imprisonment, was passed.
The bill correcting error in the regis
tration law, was passed.
Minor Mention.
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