Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1921-04-14
TENN. LEGISLATURE
HAS ADJOURNED Sine DIE
After An Expensive Session Of Seventy-Five Days.
Representative King Explains

The regular session of the sixty
second general assembly Of the state
of Tennessee passed into history Mon
day at noon, when that body adjourn
ed sine die. The seventy-five days
allotted for the transaction Of the
states business for two years has
been taken up, and the law makers
will now return to their homes and
pursue their regular avocations.
Taking 1t all In all the sixty-second
assembly has mot accomplished much
in the way of constructive work for
the good of the commonwealth, but
at the Same time it ii to be hopeo
that it has done no especial harm.
When the legislative branches are
made up OF men of the opposite po-
litical persuasion from that of hte
administration, it is always difficult
to bring about enough cooperation
and harmonious action 70 accom- plish
very much in the way OF needed re-
forms or innovations in .law-making,
as each faction insists on taking cred
it for whatever may bo done which
meets the approval Of the masses,
and laying the blame OF unpopular
acts on their opponents. The gene
raj bills passed by this legislature
are few In comparison with the ses-
sions Of recent years, while the To-
cal bills have been very numerous
indeed. IN fact there has been ten
dcncy to locaiize measures that
should have been statewide in ex-
tent, ana this II one of the weak
points Of the session.
Instead Of rapealing the nefarious
Back Tax Laws OF the state the legis-
lature capituiated to the Back Tax
forces ana put more teeth in the
laws now on the statute books, CIV
ing the hack tax collectors more le-
verage than they have ever had be-
fore. At the time the state needed
economy in the administration of its
affairs, 1t has been handed dose of
profligate extravaganza.
Possibly the most unpopular act of
the solons was that of voting to them
selves $450.OO expense money for the
session, thus placing an extra 100000
on the shoulders of the tax payers OF
the state, who were already crying
out for relief in the way of reduction.
This bill was included in the miscel
laneous measure and was promptly
vetoed by the Governor, but was
passed over his veto by both branch
es of the legislature. We are glad to
state for the information OF the pub
lie that both Representative King
and Senator Overton voted against
this bilf>to the last ,and they. should
be commended for their action, as it
was an unnecessary grab" and should
be condemned by all fair minded
people. If the salary is not suffic-
lent, them provisions should be made
for an increase hereafter, but each
man knew when he ran for the Of
fee, just what his compensation
would be, and unless he could have
afforded to serve at the salary, he
SHOULD nos Ss.vvSe asked to be sent to
the legislature.
We are publishing letter in this
issue from Representative King, IN,
which he sets out his work in the
legislature, for the people to Judge.
as to Its merits, etc. Mr.. King states
that he believes he got all the in-'
portant legislation enacted for his.
county and feels that he has ,accomp-,
lished just what he was sent there
to accomplish.
He, of course, upholds his action
in helping to localize the Dog Law,
and incidentally in repeating it 30
far as Putnam county is concerned.
He undoubtedly tried to please all
factions and sections of the county
Rs far as possible, and It remains to
be seen whether or not IN so doing,
he pleased. the people of Putnam
county as whole. 4