Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1919-02-07
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HAS BUSY WEEK.
Pass Graft and Inheritance Tax Law
viii Be Up. Many Others
On Calendar.

due to come up Tor actlon.
The week was for the greater part
taken up with local legislation, and
but few important measures receiv-
ed the attention of the solons. The
bill providing for the state railroad
commission to assess large corporate
interests was passed. The house
passed the inheritance tax law which
places a tax upon sums inherited,
including insurance, government |
bonds, etc. This bill is one of the |
special reform measures of the ad-
ministration, and will place a tax |
upon property that has been escap-
ing taxation. Under this act non
taxable government bonds may be
taxed when they become Inheritance.
The senate will act upon this meas
ure during the present week, and it
is apparently assured of passage.
Another measure which has passed
the house, and will provoke big
fight in the senate when it comes up
is the bill making it incumbent upon
railroads to furnish free transpor-
tation to state officials and wards of
the state. Opponents of this meas
ure claim that the passage of such a
law would be a backward step in
Tennessee legislation.
The bill seeking to repeal the act
of 1917, providing for 1925, 900
bond issue for the state normals, and
the bill seeking to abolish the Cook
vile Polytechnic School, will come
UP this week and a big fight is an
ticipated on these measures. The
school men are here and will remain
on the job until these measures are
disposed of.
A bill proposing tax on dogs and
providing for the levying and the col
lection of the tax will likely be con-
sidered during the week. This bill,
fostered by Senator Mcfarland, of
Williamson county, has the approval
of all the sheep growers and other
agriculturists of the state.
Other measures to be considered
during the week are a bill to pro-
vide for the election of county SUI
perintendents of schools by popular
vote; bill to prohibit county court
clerks from issuing marriage licenses
to persons affected with communica-
BILE diseases, and requiring doctors
certificates in all cases; bill to
repeal the Torrens land title act of
1917; bill to repeal the anti-ciga-
rette law, and another to make it
unlawful to sell cigarettes to minors
under 18 years of age.
During the last week the bill re-
pealing the act of 1917, which was
an amendment to the state text book
laws, was passed. This bill places
the text book law as it was in the
original act, making the governor,
the state superintendent and three
members of the state board of edu-
cation, to be appointed by the gov
ernor, the state textbook commits
sion. It also makes the governor
ex officio chairman of this commits
sion.
The first general law, or chapter l,
public acts of 1919, is senate bill
II, increasing the powers of the Ten
nessee railroad commission by i'm
posing the duties of state board
of equalization on it. AS taxation
reform was the most important sub
iect urged on the general assembly
by Gov Roberts, it is appropriate
that the first new general law should
be the law providing for fair, equal
and just assessment of property in
/ the state.
Senate bill 314, which was Of
fered Friday as the latest taxation
and assessment reform or remedy
introduced at the suggestion of Gov.
Roberts, embodies the ideas of prop
err legislation to correct unsatisfac-
tory conditions in regulation and as
sessment. This bill changes the name
of the Tennessee railroad commission
to railroad and public utilities com
mission of the State of Tennessee.
The measure, in addition to chang
ing the name, gives the commission
complete control of regulation of all
public utilities. 1t adds to the du-
ties, and it is said, provides legisla-
ton that vitality interests corpora
lions and the public. This bill is
one of the measures designated to
make the railroad commission a
very active central head of assess
ment and taxation in the state.
Gov Roberts Saturday issued a
proclamation calling on the people
of the state to assemble at their coun-
ty seats Feb. Is, to take steps to re-
lieve the cotton situation. He is
anxious to do ANYTHING he can to