The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-02-05
A REFORMATORY FOR YOUTHFUL CRIMINALS.
Reformation in the State Election Laws-Fee Reform Along
Present Lines Ursed-SuggeStiOn That Taxes
May Have to BE Increased.

the innumerable warrants, inGict-
ments and multiplied processes
issued in frivolous cases and the
endless stream of unnecessary court
costs of every description, constitute
the brood of evil which has been
hatched out by the present fee sys-
tenn.
The inquisitorial system is barely
tolerable among free people, and
when the grand jury room becomes
tub mill to grind out and pile up
multiplied frivolous cases at an
enormous public expense, it is high
time that the lawmakers curtail its
powers. After the grand jury has
ground its grist there are too many
cases dismissed upon actual cost
which consists of the fees of the
officials, leaving the State and
county to whistle for theirs. A man
who has committed an offense de-
serving of punishment should make
amends to the power offended; he
has certainly committed no offense
against the officials. l insist that if
the otfense is so frivolous, the Offici-
ais should be as generous as the
State and let the offender go free.
| suggest further that magistrates
should not be allowed to issue war
rants while grand juries are in ses-
sion. This would save large
amount of money to the people.
There are hundred sources of evil
in our present fee system which it is
impossible for me to enumerate in
this communication, but | am con-
strained to rely upon the intelli-
gence and industry of the represen-
tatives of the people for complete
solution of this problem which in
wolves at least half million of dol
lars annually to the taxpayers of
Tennessee.
Finances.
The operation of our assessment
laws is an ever recurring perpleXity
Past Legislatures have racked their
brains in the effort to cure the in
equalities Cf the system, but it is
still open to well founded criticism
In my Judgment, we will never
reach a perfect system until every
form and item of property is taxed
at its actual value. This would
place all property holders in the
State upon an equal footing, and
would reveal to the outside world
J the true wealth of Tennessee. Be-
sides, it would enable us to so re-
duce the rate of taxation as to invite
Investment and enterprise from 9th
er sections.
nE nt
this juncture, however, is how tt
make our assessment and revenue
laws yield sufficient revenue to meet
the demands upon the Treasury
This is question which challenges
our earnest and immediate attention
find myself at the beginning of
my administration threatened witt
the dragon of deficit which we have
fought so long to conquer.
1t is my imperative duty to cal
upon you to give me the means tC
meet honorably and promptly, moi
only present obligations, bnt those
which must arise in the near future
We cannot afford to risk the pos
sibility of defalcation in the pay.
ment of our obligations, because
such defalcations would bring
irreparable dishonor upon the State
am determined that no such
calamity shall befall the Common.
wealth while L am Governor. L an
not sure that we can safely reach
the port upon the present decreased
tax rate. [ shall rejoice if the eX
! penses can be cut down and thus
meet the emergency, but | fear il
cannot be done in time to aver
danger. We ought not to borrow
we must not and shall not default
There is no question that if the tax
rate is placed where it was before
the last Legislature reduced it, all
our doubts and fears will vanish
In these hard times we all shrinR
from placing additional burdens
upon the people, but | do not believe
that they themselves will object il
it is shown to be necessary for the
protection of the public credit. If
In your judgment, it is necessary tC
restore the tax rate, you cannot
afford to shrink from the perfor-
nance of your duty to your country
If we can weather the storm with.
out it, [ will rejoice with you.
Penitentiary.
Now that we are about to occupy
a new prison, built and equipped OF
modern lines of advancement, it be.
comes our duty to institute reforms
I in prison management in conformity
with modern ideas. The old idea
was to punish crime without regard
to mercy or to humanity. The re.
suit was to harden men i'm crime
and if they lived through the pun
/ ishment, turn them loose upon the
country, graduated criminals. Bat
now the prison is regarded as re-
formatory institution, as well as an
institution Of punishment. l had