The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-04-28
TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS

NASHVILLE, April 15.-The legislative COM
mlttes which examined into the operations OF
the State revenue agents submitted their report
today. 1t was SO long that three hours and
half was required to read 1t. The deposition Of
Chief Clerk Trousdale, OF the comptroller's Of
fice shows that twenty zone county trustees are
delinquent for taxes of isee-g7, the amounts
varying from $50 to $500.
The senate tinkered with the revenue bill
pretty much all day, and when adjournment
was taken late in the afternoon little had been
accomplished. 1t was the old fight over tile
clause placing private tax OH cigarettes. and
yet endeavOring not to destroy the anti cigarette
act now on the statute books. The question at
issue is whether or not the legislature will, by
implication, repeal the law now on the statute
books, prohibiting the sale of cigarettes in the
State. The cigarette men want to be taxed, and
the enemies Of the Rogers anti-cigarette law
have resor.ed TO every sort OF parliamentary
move TO have this tax inserted and thereby kill
the effect OF the law. In the original bill as 1t
came from the house, a tax OF $40 was placed on
dealers in cigarettes, but a clause was placed at
the head of the section which read, Not sold in
violation of the criminal law" This was done
in order to get some revenue out OF the business
in case the law was found to be unconstitutional.
OF course, If the United States supreme court
affirms the decision of the supreme court Of the
State the tax will not be collected. After two
days fight over this section it stands practi-
caly as it was when 1t came from the house.
While the Objectionable words, mot sold in
violation OF the criminal law have been
stricken out, an amendment has been tackled on
to this very one which struck out the words,
which provides that nothing in the bill shall Ia
any way be construed to repeal or affect the law
prohibiting the sale of cigarettes.
s-nong the amendments to the bill adopted
today were those reducing the tax on distillers
and placing heavy privilege on second hand
clOthhAr dealers. An amendment was adopted
fixing a graded tax on electric light companies
according to number Of lights used.
In the house ESQ copies of the revenue agents
report was ordered printed and it was also or
dersd that tn appropriation BILL which has just
been completed in the committee, be printed.
Mr.. Finley presented report from the COM
mittee appointed to Investigate the alleged dam
age done citizens Of Morgan county by waste
from the State ~,oal mines washed into Crooked
Fork. The daElage was reported to be small,
and it was recommended that no action be taken
at this time, but that the prison commissioners
watch and report the result
The bill to change the line between Stewart
and Houston C, tnties was rejected after debate.
1t shown that the bill would take $500, 600 of
taxable property, including Cumberland City,
out of Stewart county. 1t would also reduce
the area of the cunty below the constitutional
limit.
The house pass>d the bilrto cede to the United
States government lands purchased for park
purposes near Chattanooga.
The road bill prepared by a special committee
was discussed great length and with much
heat, but finally failed for want of a constitu-
tOnaI majority--40 to q. A motion to recon-
slider was entered.
APRIL Il.
The senate finally got through with the reve-
nue. bill today. The privilege tax on railroads
was stricken out-I9 to IL. So many changes
have been made in the bill that the house will
hardly recognize it when it gets before that body
again. The principal changes made today were
increase Of sleeping car tax by $500; the elimin-
alton of item taxing news associations, and the
placing OF a tax of 500 per annum on street car
advertising companies. The vote on the pass
age of the bill was "a to Z
Bills were introduced in the legislature today
to make it unlawful to net, trap or capture
quail in the State; to provide that resident and
nonresident defendents may be sued jointly,
the former by summons and the latter by attach
ment; to provide for the assessment of railroad,
telegraph and telephone properties by the rail-
road commissioners; to create State board of
legal examiners to make the violation OF an in
junction a crime; to create the Office OF State
chemist at 81 $50 per annum; to make superin
tendent of penitentiary, physician and warden
board of pardons; to require insurance COM
missioner to furnish list of licensed insurance
agents to insurance agents; to create the Office
of fire marshal at salary of 5000 and expenses,
not to exceed $1,000 per annum; to repeal the
anti-cigarette law.
The One-thousandth bill was introduced in
the house at the morning session. This breaks
all previous records.
In the senate today Waddel called up the bill
abOishng Judge Tylers Montgomery county
house amendment, which makes the bill take
effect thirty days after its passage. The motion
TO On-concur Tailed, and the senate then con-
CURED. This abolishes Tyler along with judi
cial Of3cerS. Mr. Thompson OF Marshall intro
duced joint resolution directing clerks of the
respective houses to exclude Sundays in count
ing the number of days the general assembly
has been in session.
In the house a joint resolution was adopted
providing constitutional amendments that the
governor, secretary of state, treasurer and comp
troler be elected by the people for term OF four
years and attorney general for eight years. The
provision that the legislature be elected every
four years was stricken out. Another resOlu-
tion making sherlTs, trustees and registers in
eligible for reelection and fixing their terms at
four years, all elections to be in November, and
providing for local school road laws, failed for
want OF a constitutional maiority-yeas 81, nays
80.
Mr.. Bullock again got up the senate bill max
ing women eligible to the Office of notary pub
lie, and Ii was again rejected.
Bills on third reading were then disposed of:
To compel railroad companies 10 grade railroad
crossings down to level of tracks, passed: to
regulate business of pawnbrOkers by requiring
them 30 furnish list OF articles to chief of police
daily and to prohibit them from taking articles
from minors, drunkards or notorious thieves,
passed. The general road bill was recOnsidered
and passed-56 TO 21.
At the night session the bill providing for the
cremation OF animals dying of contagious dis
eases passed. Other bill acted on were: To pro-
vide for uniformity of terms OF Office of commits
sioners of elections and commissioners of regis
tratiOn, passed; 10 prevent stock from running
at large in Lauderdale county, passed.
APRIL IS.
When the senate assembled this morning word
came from the house to the effect that the house
had refused TO concur In the senate amendments
TO the revenue bill The senate also stood pat,
and it was necessary TO appoint cOnferees.
Speaker WaddeIl called on the part of the senate
Messrs. Chambliss, Caldwell and Mann.
Mr.. Tute introduced joint resolution au
thoriZing the governor, secretary of State and
treasurer TO settle and adjust differences grow
ing out of railroad litigation now pending in the
Federal cour5.
The house resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution relative to the selection
of governor, secretary of State, etc, by the peo
pie, was referred to a committee.
The bill for the protection of life and property
against loss and damage from steam boilers or
operated by incompetent persons was
The resolution providing for settlement with
revenue agents alleged to owe the State money
was offered, and lies over. The same resolution
was offered in the house.
A resolution was adopted to appoint COM
mittee TO take charge OF funds raised to erect a