Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-01-23
MAKES VIEWS CLEAR
TO THELEGISLATORS
WANTS THE sIxTY.FlRsT ASSEM-.
BLY, TO CLEAR STATE 5usl-
NESS AT OUTSET.
GOvERNOR-EL is BUSY
Working On Five Or Six Bills Which
viii Embody PIans-Gov. Rye
Central Figure At Presenta-
ton of Oil Painting.
NASHVILLE, TENN.

NASHVILLE TENN
The sixty.first session of the general
assembly of Tennessee convened jan
6. This legislature is going to set
many precedents unless present indi,
cations fail. There will be an absence
of factionalism that promises well
There will be a steadier application to
the business of the state, few II 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 a 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
systematic correlation between the
states receipts and expenditures he
realizes that this will meet with oppo-
sition in some quarters, and particular
| " 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 brief summary Of
what Judge Rssartk4otd the arriasi ~
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. ,.
Judge Roberts has made one other
request. hIe wants his Inauguration set
early in the month and made as simple
and as abort 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
ton during the past four years and
make few parting recommendations
The governor, with brilliantly attiret
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 ant
the room was filled to OVERLOOKING
with those who had gathered to honol
the retiring governor.
To the organization Of the senate
ara house and the election Of theii
speakers there seems to be little qucr
ton now that the gentlemen known t.
have the support of Judge Roberts
will be elected.
That means the election Of A. L
Todd of Murfreesboro as speaker o
the senate and Of Seth NJ. Walker o
Lebanon as speaker of the house.
John B. Thomson is said to be Ger
tain of reelection as state comptrolle
These are the only big offices to b,
filled this year.
: Members Of the Shelby delegation
have not openly asked for anything
yet, but they have their, eyes on set
eral nice committee chairmanships
Such they hope to have come their wa.
when the committees of the tw