Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-28
LIE muNrCrpAn ELEcTIOx.

ItE MUNICIPAL ELElEAONs
An inquiry for municipal voters tomorrow
is. what good can be accomplished by a
change in the administration of the city |
government VIII the substitution Of Mr.. !
fscovEL for Mayor Brown lessen the city |
debt or tighten the load Of taxation? The |
corporation finances have been managed
during Che past year with judgment and
the credit Of the city is in as good condition
as It could possibly be after the four years
in which the city was little more than an
army garrison, spending without a revenue.
The dilapidated condition Of the streets have
required large expenditures, but they have
been made wisely; while other institutions
| have been maintained at an economical
point The rate Of taxation has been sensi-
bly, reduced, and with prudent financial
management may, and will be further re-
duced. There is, and can be no reasonable
exception to this feature Of the city admin
istration. Does Mr.. SCovEL's Radical
reign promise TO relieve or still further en-
cumber the city finances? II there is one
thing to be looked forward to with certainty,
under his election, it will be the prompt in
auguration Of the Metropolitan police sys-
TEN, Of which he is an advocate. Will this,
with the enormous salaries attached, and
the limitless, lawless and uhFestricted power
Of taxation which goes with it improve
the condition Of the city exchequer, lessen
the burdens Of municipal government on the
tax payer? Let sensible men answer the
question, and act accordingly.
Can the proposed change prove a benefit
10 the public school system Within the
term Of Mayor BRowN, the disorganization
resulting from the war, has been reduced to
order. The new school districts necessary
! from the enlargement Of the corporate
ediices have been provided for them, and
the whole machinery again been placed in
successful operation. Is there any ground
to expect Mr.. ScovEL, during whose whole
experience as a city official the public
schools we're closed, could improve this i'm
portant department of the city interests2
The Fire Department is in state of com
plete organization; and we believe that
fewer disastrous fires have occurred within
the past year than in any previous one since
Nashville has been city. Has Mr.. SCovEL
any superior qualifications over the present
Mayor in experimenting this branch Of pub
lie business? If 50, the public have yet to
see it. .
The same remark may be made Of the
Water Department, the custody and disposal
of Public property, the Cemetery, etc, etc.
These, as well as the matters Of Finance,
and Fire and Schools, are in the immediate
ehargeof capable committees, but the Mayor
is the head Of the city government, and is
supervisor over the general execution of
laws and ordinances. He is responsible to
a great extent, and is entitled to credit when
the duties Of municipal government are ac-
ceptably performed.
There are, however, two features connect
ed with city affairs which are worthy of
special notice. The first is the streets and
alleys. All that has been projected and
contracted for in this respect, as a system,
by the present administration, is not COM
! pleted, but it is within the observation of
every one that Nashville to-day has more
scientifically and more solidly constructed
streets than it has ever had, and that the
work of improvement is in progress all
! over the city. This is due to the vigor
and enterprise Of the present city gov
eminent. Carping critics and local fault
finders may object to certain measures,
but the streets Of Nashville are an honor
to the officials now in Office, and no
man can gainsay the fact The sec
ond feature is the police organization. When
Mayor Brown came into authority it was
unsafe to be upon the streets at night. The
city press teemed with accounts Of murders
and robberies. Life and property were alike
insecure. In three months his energy had
organized police corps, and his vigilance
had punished and repressed crimes Of this
sort to such an extent, that from being one
Of the most lawless cities in the country, our
fifty thousand population can scarcely af-
ford material for more than petty misdemean-
or trials before a police court. The excellence
of the police system ofthis city was borne
witness to by the most strenuous advocates
of the Metropolitan system, and indeed has
been the chief means of thus far preventing
that imposition on the taxpayers of the city.
These are considerations to be weighed by
sensible and conscientious voters, and We
trust that no citizen, whatever his political
feelings may be, will pass them by. Mayor
Brown has done his whole duty. lie has
displayed no partizanship or favOritism, and
known no distinctio on among localities or
citizens in the discharge Of his duty.