The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-01-25
WANTS THE sIxTY-FiRsT ASSEM-.
BLY, TO CLEAR STATE 5Usl-
NESS AT OUTSET.
GovERNOR-ELECT is BUSY
Working On Five Or Six Bills Which
viii Embody PIans--Gov. Rye
Central Figure At Presenta-
ton of Oil Painting.

assembly OF tennessee convened jan
s. This legislature is going to set
many presidents unless present indi-
cations fail. There will be an absence
OF factionalism that promises well
There will be steadier application to
the business of the state, few if any
junketing trips and determination on
the part of the members to work for
the upbuilding of Tennessee.
1t is evident that the sessions are to
be both busineslike and harmonious.
This is the general sentiment of those
members here and is also the strongly
expressed wish of Gov.-elect Roberts.
The governor has outlined his posi-
ton plainly to those members of the
general assembly who have called upon
him, and most of them have. He takes
the position that the finances of the
state must be completely reorganized,
He made his campaign largely upon
that platform and he has given the
matter months of careful study. He is
working on five or six bills which will
embody the main points of his plans
In a general way Gov. Roberts be-
lieves that there should be created a
tax commission with real authority to
bring about more equitable assess
ment and taxation on the property in
the state. He believes that the budget
system of appropriations should be put
in force. In order to bring about a
systematic correlation between the
states receipts and expenditures he
realizes that this will meet with oppo-
sition in some quarters, and particular
ly from the educational interests of the
state, which will fear decrease in
their appropriations under such sys-
TEN. Gov. Roberts, however, is conf
dent that through friendly conferences
with these and other interests affected
he will be able to secure their cooper
alton instead Of mourning their oppo.
sition.
The foregoing is a brief summary OF
what Judge Roberts told the members
of the general assembly, but first he
insists that these proposed bills Of his
and the other general bills must be
taken up promptly as soon after the
two houses convene as possible. He
wants the states business attended to
and disposed of early in the session
instead of in the rush of the closing
days, and he wants all local legislation
held back until these important gen
eral bills have been acted upon
In other words, he is trying to get
the members of the legislature to start
the new year right, and as he has a
most persuasive manner of handling
any business matter that he takes up
and has, moreover, the political pow
err of the incoming chief executive, he
may succeed in having this innovation
adopted. There are no political issues
such as have divided the democrats in
number of recent legislatures, and
the way seems to be cleared for some
real constructive work for the people
of Tennessee.
sasss
Judge Roberts has made one other
request. He wants his Inauguration set
early in the month and made as simple
and as short as possible so that he
may at once take up the problems he
has to meet
Gov. Rye has been very busy man.
He finished his final address to the
legislature, in which he will outline
briefly the history of his administra.
zion during the past four years and
make a few/parting recommendations
The governor, with brilliantly attired
members of his military staff, was the
central figure at the presentation and
unwilling of an oil painting of himself
which Is to be hung in the state Ii
brary, where the ceremonies were
held. Gov.-elect Roberts sat at Gov
Rye's side during the proceedings and
the room was filled to Overlooking
with those who had gathered to honor
the retiring governor.
To the organization OF the senate
ara house and the election Of their
speakers there seems to be little ques.
ton now that the gentlemen known to
have the support of Judge Roberts
will be elected
That means the election of A. IL,
Todd of Murfreesboro as speaker OF
the senate and Of Seth NJ Walker OF
Lebanon as speaker of the house.
John B. Thomson is said to be Ger
tain of reelection as state comptroller
These are the only big offices to be
filled this year.
Members Of the Shelby delegation
have not openly asked for anything
yet, but they have their eyes on sew
eral nice committee chairmanships
Such they hope to have come their way
when the committees OF the two
houses are made UP, and as Shelby
county has habit of getting a number
Of these Legislative plums there is ne
reason to doubt that they will succeed
this year.