Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-05
CouNCIL P-RoCEFDINGs.

Of an earthquake that has ever been felt here.
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Council, on Tuesday evening, was occupied
principally with matters Of formal business.
We give the pith Of the debate upon the only
questions that excited discussion. Alderman
Kirby delivered a philippe Of Demos henian
energy upon the subject of the kind Of policy
pursued, as be charged, by certain parties in
the Board. We regret that its personality pre-
vents our giving a sketch Of It.
L~ABoRER's WAGES.
The Street Commission informed Council,
in a communication, that The chain-gsng could
not be worked without oreTseers, and those
formerly employed having been discharged,
the force had not been worked for some days,
A resolution was offered by Aid. Kortrecbt,
prescribing what assistance the Street Com
missioner should be allowed to employ, and
what their pay should be. Alderman Gailor
thought it would be wrong for the Board to
take advantage Of the tines to reduce The
wages Of mechanics, az prescribed in Alder
man Kortrecbts resolution. No employer in
the city had done that, and it should not be for
the city 70 lower he rate Of wages. Alder
man Kortrecht said lis resolution was based
upon the rates at present paid in the Street
Commissioners department. AID. Farmer re-
that when the city bad work done, it
advertised to give il to the lowest bidder. AID.
said that the city should not set The ex.
ample Of "gTinding the faces Of the
poor y the establishment in which be work.
ed, and other manufactures, pay S125 and
in some cases 81 80 per CAV for uRskilled
labor, and the city should not pay less. AID.
Robinson considered what was paid in shops
was no rule for what should be pal for work
n the streets. Labor varied in skill in the
Of it, end in time, and it was not for
Council to set up a standard for wages anu
them. Offer men q dollar a day-it
was enough-and let these take it that choose.
It was pitiful nonsense to talk Of "gTinding
the faces Of the poor" Aid. Gallor said gov
eminent paid 81 % and 81 so a day. Aid.
Robinson considered that government example
was no rule for the city, which had free liberty
to taEe its own course. Aid. Kortrecht said
the object Ct bis resolution waB not to settle
the rates OF wages question, but to provide
assistance for the Street, Commissioner. A res
offered by A'd. Tigbe, to pay laborsrs
81 %, instead of 81 a day, was lost, and AID.
KortFecht's resolution passed.
PAYING CITY BILLS.
A bill was introduced for SIS for repairing
&. 49, ErN.--2,-4 - a. -sE- II. -
were not ordered by the Board, and a strong
debate arose as to whether the Board should
pay for them. One side contended that when
city officials incurred expenses on behalf Of the
city, without the city's authority, the accounts
ought not to be paid. The other side called
such a proceeding "repudiatiOn-" The impu-
tation was denied, and it was stated that in The
city papers an advertisement had been publish.
ed for many months, stating that no account
contracted Oh behalf Of the city would be paid,
unless the contract had the authority of Coun.
Gil. 1t will be we'll for those receiving orders
for goods or work from city officials and otherp,
to notice the position Of Council on this sub
isct. The S7S was not ordered to be paid BY
the Board.
IMPREsSTNG WOMEN.
By permission DR.. Keller was allowed t.
state to tie Board, that the washing Of the
sick soldiers had not been done for two weeks
the cleanliness Of the hospital and consequent
~ the lives Of the soldiers was involved. FIT.
teen dollars a month each woman wOu'd b
paid, but DO effort had been able to procur,
women, ether black or white, who would re
main more than a day or two. DR.. Keller
called upon Council to order the police to com.
pei pine to do the work. Aid. KortTecht Of
fered a resolution to grant the request. AID
Merrill said the request deserved attention, il
it was Only from Tie fact that it was the first
the military power bad made Of the city
authorities. That power had Hitherto paid
little a~'tenlion to the oEcers and laws Of tbs
city. Aid. Voliintins doubted tie power OF
the city to use compulsIan in tbs case. Aid.
M0rgaa denied that the Board had any power
to compel, especially in reference 70 the hos.
pital, which is not within tue city limits. Aid
Kortrecht, in times so exigent as the present
would take The power. Aid. Morgan ques.
TONED the justice Of making those who could
earn q dollar a day by making soldiers gar.
ments, work at he hospital for fifty cents 4
day. The Board had no military power: lei
the authority that created the hospital procur,
such labor as it required. The Board refused
to assume authority to coercs persons Il
labor in the military hospital, and he reques
Of DR.. Keller was not granted.