The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-01-24
STATE LEGISLATURE.
What the Law Makers Are Doing at
Nashville.
HOUSE.

Mr.. Hills bill providing a special
penalty for sandbaggers. or footpads,
was rejected without debate.
Mr.. Holts bill to extend the lien
laws so as to include blacksmithc and
farriers came from the Judiciary Com
mittee recommended for rejection.
Mr.. Holt contended that these
classes were not protected as other
workmen were, and that they should
he.
Mr.. Heiskell held that blacksmiths
and farriers were protected by the
common law and needed no special
law. He held that the bill would 10.
jure innocent purchasers.
The bill was rejected.
The bill introduced by Mr..
Robertson, providing for the election
of a State librarian by the supreme
court instead of being appointed by
the Governor, was tabled.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Travis
providing fol the trial of rape, seduc.
ton and divorce cases in private was
rejected.
The bill to repeal the law authoriz.
ing county courts to allow certain per
sons to practice law before magistrates
came in with a recommendation for
passage.
After some discussion the bill failed
for want of constitutional majority
the vote being ayes Al, noes AZ.
A motion to reconsider was entered
by Mr.. Waddel.
The bill by Mr.. Robertson, of Will
son, to make unbelieyers competent
witnesses, by solemnly affirming in
stead OF taking the oath, was recon-
mended for passage by the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. Hull moved to concur. The
bill was discussed at length.
A motion to adjourn until 2 O'Clock
was voted down and vote was then
taken on the bill, and it passed by 6
vote OF ayes 60, noes 81.
A motion to reconsider was tabled.
The bill Of Mr.. Holt, giving black
smiths and fsrriers q six months lien
on horses or other stock, was recon-
mended for rejection by the Judiciary
Committee. Rejected.
Mr. Roberston's bill to have the gu
preme court elect the State librarian
was rejected, as recommended by thu
Judiciary Committee.
The bill to secure private trial o
rape, seduction and divorce cases wa
recommended tor rejection.
Mr.. Travis urged that the bill shoulC
pass.
Mr.. Rowan said the trial judg,
had discretionary power already.
Mr.. Heiskell said the law had beer
that way ever since Tennessee was
State.
The bill was rejected.
Mr.. CARROTS bill repeating chapte
"a of the acts of 18676S, allowing Ger
tain persons to practice law befor,
justices OF the peace, was recommend
ed for passage.
On call OF the roll the bill wa
rejected-ayes Al, noes 47-Mr. Gal
rett entering a motion to reconsider
All the House bills on second read
ing were passed and referred.
On motion OF Mr.. Estes the Hous
adjourned until ten o'clock this morn
ing.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Robesor
OF Sullivan, authorizing the town o
Bristol to issue 5000 of bonds t
fund its floating debt came from th
interpretations Committee recommenC
ed for passage. On motion of Nj
Robeson the bill was passed over infol
mally.
, The bill of Mr.. McCorkle to repes
the charter of Allentown, Carter cour
ty, was passed.
The bill OF Mr.. Fortner, of Claiborn
) and Union counties, was passed.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Boyle, {
Shelby, to prohibit the sale OF intox
. eating liquors near school-houses, WI
passed oyer informally.
Q SENATE.
Mr.. Buffers bill,to cede to the Unite
! Staten jurisdiction over certain land
: in Tennessee, was recommended +,
: passage by the Committee on FEEDER
! Relations and the report was concurre
= in by unanimous vote.
) Mr.. Fitzgerald's bill, to authoriz
q Bristol to issue bonds to pay its loa
ing debt, was recommended (,
q passage by the Committee on Coipor
t tious and the recommendation W.
:, concurred in.
}, Mr.. Whitthorne's bill, to authori7
3 the Governor and supreme cou
: judges to elect State librarian, wi
o shall be woman, was tabled on re
ommandaEion of the .Judiciary Cor