The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-01-21

w oNMtiNAs
Perhaps the most difficult problem
which will confront the Legislature
will be the matter Of railroad taxation,
and It Is extremely doubtful as 10
what measures will be adopted. The
cause Of the matter Of taxation Of
railroad, telegraph and telephone prop
critics being included In the Governors
call was the decision rendered by
Judge Clark some time ago when ne
enjoined the State Board Of Equalizers
from certifying the railroad tax as
sessments to the Comptroller. 1t was
thought that some remedial legislation
might be necessary to cure any defects
that might be found In the existing
laws blythe judiciary on that subject.
The railroad cases have not yet been
decided by the highest tribunal the
constitutlonality Of the Railroad Com
mission act has not been passed upon,
aud therefore there is likely TO be some
discussion as to the best methods 10
be pursued under the circumstances.
1t is known that at least three bills
have been prepared and will be intro
duced In regard to the assessment of
railroad property. One Of the bills val
idates the assessments made by the
Railroad Commission, and approved,
for the most part by the State Board
of Equalizers, on the supposition that
the assessments were invalid.
Another bill valldates the appoint
ment of the Railroad Commissioners
as State Tax Assessors, on the as
sumption that the appointment was in
valid, and that they had no authority
to make the assessments.
There is still another bill, while
practically the same as other bill.
on the subject, is more general In it,
, character. 1t is doubtful whether {
bill will be introduced to place a priv
tlege tax on railroads.
! 1t is quite likely that a bill will b,
| introduced to back-assess the rail
roads.
Among those who will introduce bill
on the subject of railroad taxation
are Representative Chambers, of VIII
son; Representative Johnson, of pa
wilson, and Representative ThomI
son, of Marshall. Other members will
also have bills on the subject.
/ One member of the Legislature VIII
q has looked up the law on this sui
Y ject, says that by a decision of tn
! Supreme Court of this State a priv
lege tax cannot be levied on cigar
cites In original packages. There wi
be nothing unusual in the bill to repeI
q the clgar-stand tax. Senator Wade
Is has prepared bill on the subject.
II Two minor matters included in tn
u Governors call are relative to til
u amendment of the charters of til
u towns Of Martin and Bolivar. A bi
Is will be introduced to authorize Marti
TO to issue bonds for electric lights an
u water works.
A bill will also be introduced provi
v ing for the levying Of a school tax
"a Bolivar.
L OF special importance to Nashvil
~ Is the bill which will be introduce
no pertaining to the Incorporation of Il
~ Centennial site. The bill is yet in ell
~ bryo, but it will most probably
. prepared by the joint committee fro
~ the City Council and the Centenni
- Committee, of which NJ. T. Bryan HI
~ ~ charge. The bill will likely be subm
y ted to the Legislature with recoI
" mendation concerning the best mea
'e of bringing about the desired end, VII
Az The acquisition of a public par
Whether the Recommendation will a
is the assistance of the State in the ms
res ter or whether the city shall ISIS
TO bonds for the purchase of the site,
OIL not yet known, but it is practically
no cided that the park will be one Of t
nd first matters to be considered by t
~; Legislature.