Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-14
TIE CITY CHARTER.

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various charters that have been obtained an'
that remain unrepealed, and Of the amend
ments made to them from time to time-an'
consolidate the whole into one coherent il.
stumen., adapted to the wants OF a IargI
city, such as Memphis is becoming. W
scarcely expect this to be done during th0
present year, but what changes are made, i
! strikes us, should have in view the entire re
modelling that ia wanted, and be consistent
with the present and prospective order o
/ things. The changes thus far suggested By
| the committee refer, FIST, 70 an extension o.
the city limits. This is s subj'ct which re
marks OF our own, and debates in Council
that we have published, hsvs made familiar Il
our readers. The exteasiopists, led By Alder
man Morgan, are DESTROYS OF including within
the city limlts, and msking contributors &c
the city expenses, large tracts Of rsaI
estate which reap the advantages Of the cost
~ improvements In the city, without bearing
any share In the large outlay by which they
are so greatly gamers. The justice Of this
proposition is evideat, but the non-txtension-
Ists, beaded BY Alderman Kortrecht, contend
that however Just the measure may be, it is not
polite. That where the city collects taxes Il
must make OUTLAWS, and that to grade streets
build bridges, establish police, proyld, markets,
and open schools over a large and thinIy popu-
lated district, would mike that district a
source Of expense instead OF income to the
city. The non-sxtsnsionisis also contend that
no surburbIn population should b. included
within lie city limits, uHlsss By its own con-
sent.
The second IMPORTANT amendment proposed
by the committee is, that eE,b Board Of Al
dermsn shall, Immediately preceding the expi-
ration Of its term of service, declare what
compensation, II any, the members Of the Iuc-
ceedlng Board shall receive. We think tbs
soundasss # this proposition is doubtful. As
4 number Of the members In any Board are at
the time immediately preceding The expiration
of their term ot service, candidates for re-
election, 1t is putting them in a delicate and
Objectionable position, TO ask them 10 vote on
what may bs their own compensation. L an
other Of the propositions Of the committed
should become law, one-half Of each Board
would remsin members for e second year,
these would positively be voting on the CUES.
tion of their own psy. At present the ques-
ton Of pay Is left to a vote Of the people, but
at the various elections so few votes are cast
on the subject, that it is manifest another way
Of settling the question ought to be provided.
The best wsy would probably be for the com
mittse to suggest a given sum, which The Leg
isla ure should tx, and thus take the pay
question altogether out Of the region OF debate.
In fixing that sun, the COMMITTEES would hnd it
necessary to consider whether payment should
be made at 80 much for the whole year, or at
30 much for each meeting. It would also be
necessary 20 consider whether a large pay
ment should be given, 50 as to secure a class
Of Aldermen who would devote themselves 20
transacting the affairs Of the city in Council
unas a part Ct their busin.ss-just as a lawyer
undertakes to manage the affairs Of a client
or whether merely such an amount should be
fixed as will pay members os small means For
the loss OF the time they devote to the
city's business from their own, and at
the same time secure those Of larger
income from mourning serious sacrifices
in dsvoting 70 the city a portion of their
business tine, and The receipt OF which
should put them under obligation to attend to
the dates confded to them by their fe'low-cit-
liens. Each Of these ways Of looking at the
question will be found worthy OF attention.
a. E-.A .shA - --~nFl 1000 fhnA ., rar q
fixed sun to each member for each meeting be
attended, would work well, as there would be
a stimulsnt urging members 20 attend meetings
that does not now exist. Ia practice, where
this system has been adopted, it has not been
found to work well; It leads to q multiplicity
Of extra mestlDgs-for extra meetings are ex-
ira pay-and consequently it encourages that
prevalent vice Of City Councils, speech ma
king, and lesds to the commission Of that great
error, over-IegIslsting. The stimulsnt to EN-
courage attendance at meetings can be COM
binsd with a fixed annual salary, by providing
that, at the end OF each year, the whole amount
Of the years salary shall be divided by the
whole number Of the MEETINGS held within the
year, and = sun equivalent to the q%Hotient
shall be paid over to each member, for each
meeting 1t which be hes been present and re-
mslned until the termination Of The meeting,
or until allowed to retire By the assent Of the
Board. To this there should be but one ex-
c~eption, that is when a member is absent on
city business appointed hia By Council. For
Instance, il a member OF the Board were sent
BY the Board to Nashville, to present these
amendments to the Legislature, it would be
msnifestly unjust to discontinue bis salary for
not attending meetings that might occur during
his absence. We must postpone the consids-
ration of the other amendments proposed by
the committest 10 a future opportunity.