McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-01-05
STATE ASSEMBLY
CONVENES MONDAY
LAWMAKERS OF TENNESSEE TO
CONVENE AND TAKE UP
QUESTIONS or STATE.
PLANS TAX LEVY INCREASE
Big Fight On For Speaker Of Both
Branches of the Assembly-The
Governors Message Will Be
Interesting.

The first meeting of the new geh
eral assembly will be held next Mon.
day and, as is usual just before the
biennial gathering Of the states law
makers, there Is much post-prandal
talk anent the election of the two
houses; and along with this advance
talk, as is also usual on such occa-
sions, sundry vague suggestions are
being whispered around about dark
horses Meanwhile Gov. Rye is view
ing the situation, with complacency,
and as far as appears on the surface
OF things is not taking sides in either
the senate or house race. Sectional
ism is playing part in the game, and
one hears much talk about the claims
of each of the three grand divisions Of
the state.
Gov. Rye Is now engrossed in pre-
pairing his message to the incoming
legislature. The biennial reports of
the various departments are now suf-
ficiently advanced in the course of
preparation to enable him to asCer
tain with readiness what has been
done by them during the first term OF
his administration. The message, in
addition to the governors recommen.
dations, will present in succinct form
the main features of the operation of
each of these coordinate links in the
state government.
The governors message will make
plain his views on the subject of the
states financial affairs, its sources OF
revenue and its expenditures, with
view to impress the lawmakers with
the Importance of shaping their enact
ments so as to fortify the common
wealth against even temporary EN-.
barrassments on account Of a lack OF
available funds to meet at all times
the states obligations.
Another Fight ls Coming.
Charles C. Gilbert, secretary Of the
Tennessee Constitutional Convention
League, has returned from Memphis,
where he had been in conference with
the officials of the Constitutional Con-
vention League of Shelby county, 60.
ing over matters pertaining to the
work of the league during the coming
session of the legislature.
1t has been decided by the officials
of the league that permission will be
asked of the legislature when it con-
venes in January to enact measures
giving the people Of Tennessee the
privilege of again voting as to wheth.
er the constitution of the state shall
be amended. Inasmuch as the bills
are being drafted by the officials Of
the Shelby County Constitutional
League, the Shelby county delegation
in the Legislature will be asked to in.
troduce the measures, and in all prob.
ability bills No. l in the house and SEN
ate will be known as the constitution.
al convention measures.
Urging Official Code.
Col. Joseph H. Acklen, chairman OF
the committee on legislation of the
Bar Association of Tennessee, attend.
ed the last meeting of the Davidson
county delegates to the legislature and
presented the recommendations OF the
association for codification of the
statute laws of Tennessee. He pointed
out that not since 1858, over half q
century, had there been an official
code. He said that however excel
lent had been the private compilations
yet these were not official and could
not be quoted as the law. Col Acklen
read from the proceedings of the Bar
Association extracts from the address
of the president and reports of com.
mittees strongly urging legislative &C
tion. He is now preparing the bill tt
be introduced.
Booze Sellers pardoned.
Gov. Rye pardoned l.. w. carp, OF
Hamilton county, convicted of selling
liquor and sentenced to ninety days in
the workhouse and to pay fine OF
$50. carp having reformed and join.
ed the church, was relieved Of the re.
mainder of his workhouse sentence
upon payment of the fine and costs.
The governor also pardoned R. L.
Wayman of Hamilton county, convict
ed of selling liquor and sentenced to
four months in the workhouse and to
pay fine Of $50. He was relieved OF
the remainder of the workhouse sen.
tence upon payment of the fine and
costs.
Governor Releases ConvIcts.
Gov. Rye has pardoned Norman Tay.
lor Of Fayette county, convicted In
1914 of horse stealing and sentenced
to three to ten years in the peEiten
tiary. The pardon was recommended
by the trial Judge and the prosecutor
who state that the man is mentally
weak and nearly blind.
Gov. Rye pardoned Ed Owen, col
ored, and C. H. Windham. Owen was
convicted in 1915 in Obion county Of
voluntary manslaughter and sentenced
to two to ten years in the peniseh.
tiary.
Lock D In Operation.
Announcement of the completion OF
the construction of Lock and Dam D
at Dover, Tenn. In the Cumberland
river was made by Major Lyle Brown,
U. s. engineer for this district.
Work on Lock D was commenced
approximately four years ago under
contract with the Foster-Creighton-
Gould Company Of this city. The coz