The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-01-26
FIFTY.FlRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
It's Past and Prospective Work.

The General Assembly has been in
session three weeks and is now in a
position to transact some important
business. As yet no general laws have
been passed. Both the Senate and
House have separately passed some
measures Of general interest, but both
branches have not united in sanction
ing them.
The House has passed u bill proyid-
ing that Coal Oil Inspectors shall turn
their fees into the office of the Comp
troller Of the Treasury and that they
shall be paid monthly one-half of the
fees 50 paid in until they shall have re-
ceived 81, 500, and that all over this
amount shall go to the State. The bill
has not been considered by the Senate.
1t is in line with the Governors mes
sage, and it is presumed that it will be
passed by the upper body, There is
some doubt as to the constitutionality
Of the bill. Many members are of the
opinion that it is clearly |unconstitu-
tional, while others are just as strong
in the opposite belief. 1t is said that
by a recent decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, the bill
will be constitutional. In case the law
does hold good, it will mean much
revenue for the State. The coal oil
companies will hardly question the con-
stitutionality of the act, for they would
doubtless as o o pay the State the fees
as to turn them over to individual citi-
zens.
The House has made some amend
ments to Mr.. Chambers Senate bill in
creasing the fees in the office of the
! Secretary of State. This bill will be
returned to the Senate with the House
amendments, The changes made by
! the House are not very material, being
to lessen the fees of the original bill in
: some particulars. All these fees are
turned into the State Treasury, and the
higher the fees the more evenue is
gained thereby. 1t is estimated that
this bill will save something like &c.,
900 yearly.
Memphis monopolized the extra SEES
! sion, but Knox county seems deter
il mined to be the sensation of the Fiji
l0 ty-tirst General Assembly. The bill to
=" detach Knox county from Chancellor
II Lindsay's division and to provide that
Judge Sneed, the Circuit Judge, shall
hold the Chancery Court of that coun-
y ty was the principal topic in political
u circles last week. The Senate Judici-
. airy Committee, separately and in joint
10 sessions with the Judiciary Committee
i0 of the House, heard arguments on botl
0s sides Of the question. Charges have
-. ~ been made against Judge Lindsey anG
II against Judge Sneed, and the whole
IA business had bad odor. The Senate
L committee will meet this afternoon ant
re hear som more arguments on the cues
o. ton and will then take a vote as It
D. whether the bill will be recommends
III for passage or rejection. There are
u large number of Knoxville people il
II the city who are interested in the bill
Judge Lindsey is a republican an,
Judge Sneed democrat. Charges O
er corruption have been made agains
ny Judge Lindsey, and an effort is bein
made to get rid of him on this ground
10 There has been a good deal of tai
about Hobbies during this session q
~ the Legislature, but as a matter of fac
or the lobby is less in evidence than
ne has been for several years. The raj
III roads have no lobby and seem willin
Is to abide by whatever the Legislator
may see fit to do. The school book cor
co Germs have several men on the groun
who are watching their interests close
e. ly, and the members are also watchin
90 them with open eyes, as they and thei
no mission are known. A few county Of
ficers drop in occasionally and put in
'c- word about the Jarvis and Estes laws
mt but they had just as we'll try to lift tn
NY Capital from the hill as to get this Leg
oe i%slature to repeal these acts which hay
10 proved so satisfactory to the people {
the State. The laws may be amende
W. slightly, but not materially.
The most important matters have t
TO be considered this session are to CON
o. before the Legislature yet. The quet
ton of a sinking fund has not bee
re, considered and DO bill has been intro
re-