Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-23
MEETING OFTHE BOARD OF ALDER
MEN

AhT hhfbB "thNS Up WIN ~ oNNsN
Session.
A regular meeting of the Board Of Al
dermen was held last night, Chairma
Nelson presiding.
Present-Aldermen Allen, Baker, Don
aldson, Kinney, Knowles, Mckee, No
Laugblin, Tuthill, Thornberg.
REPORTS AND PETITIONS.
The following reports were received an
filed:
Report of the Revenue Collector, show
ing SlI, 698 As collected from Oct 9Th t.
Oct. 22d, and leaving $239l subject to thu
order of the Board of Education.
Report of Water Tax Collector, showing
S1756 collected during the past two weeks
Report of City Weigher, showing ST. q
collected from Oct. lst to Oct. 10Th.
The Fire Committee reported having
made thorough inspection of the Fire
Department, and took pleasure in applaud
ing the degree of efficiency attained by the
late chief and the men under his control
The committee opposed any radical changes
as hazardous if not detrimental, but recon.
mended that half the present force be dis
charged and that their places be filled with
white men of known competence and good
| character.
Mr.. Tuthill objected TO receiving the re-
| port, and moved that the word white" be
| stricken out He had seen enough OF
| white legislation.
Chairman Nelson, of the committee, de-
Tended its action and thought the placing OF
| inexperienced and incompetent men in the
| Fire Department would be iniudicious and
| dangerous. He even thought the Hook
and Ladder Company, which it was pro-
posed to make up of negroes, should be
| the most competent men in the city. Op-
| posing the action of the committee when it
| had fully canyassed subject could lead to
| no good.
Mr.. Tuthill then withdrew, az unparlia4
| mentary, his motion to strike out the word
"white," and moved in lieu a non-c concur
renee in the report of the committee. He
wanted to see capable men, of whatever
color, placed in the Fire Department. If
white men could not work with colored
men, they could go somewhere else, and
others would be found to fill their places.
Chairman Nelson replied that he, too,
wanted to see capable men, regardless of
color, placed in the department, but de-
| Tended the committee, and deemed the in
| experience of the colored men a sufficient
reason for keeping them out for time.
Mr.. Thornberg said the public would
hold the Council responsible for any injus-
tice done the colored men. They had
never had any experience in voting, and
| they had voted right they had never had
any experience in shooting, but when they
did shoot they fired in the right direction,
and he believed that in this case they
| would again prove themselves right. He
offered a resolution to place the 9th ward
| engine and the hook and ladder carriage
| in the hands of negroes, and thought there
was no necessity in mixing them with the
| whites.
A viva vOce vote was then taken, and
| the report nOn-concurred in, several mem
bers not voting, and nobody daring to vote
| against TuthilPs motion.
Here a prosy communication from the
| Mayor, referring to the present and pro-
| spective condition of the various depart
ments Of the city government and recon-
mending the acceptance of the liberal offer
of the University of Nashville to provide
for charity hospital patients.
The report of the Workhouse Keeper for
September, showing total number of pris-
oners, 302, total expenditures, S296l %,
and credit account, $2l46 "A, was referred
| to the Workhouse Committee.
The Gas Committee recommended the
cutting off of the gas from Red Mems Hall
and the two saloons in the markethouse,
| if not paid for in future. Received and
| filed,
A petition, asking that portion of the
| Public Square be set apart for Custom
House, was taken up, but Mr.. Knowles
stating that the Square was county proper
| ty, the petition was laid on the table.
The petition of the old city police pub
lished in our issue of yesterday was laid
upon the table.
The report of the Police Committee,
concurring in the suspension of Capt. Pat
terson by the Mayor, was received and con-
| Cured in.
A petition from a number Of colored
men, expressing dissatisfaction with the
| hook .and-ladder ideas of the Board, and
asking that the negroes be given an engine
and an equal showing, was referred to tbs
| Fire Committee.
| FROM THE COMMON COUNCIL.
The bill for a digest Of the city laws
passed second reading.
The bill for the protection of the city
wharf passed on its third reading.
The resolution for the daily display oil
flags from the public buildings from sun
rise to sunset, was concurred in. Mr.
Knowles opposed the resolution as incur
ring needless expense.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
The bill to increase the facilities for ed
ucating colored children passed on its third
reading.
NEW BUSINESS.
Mr. Allen offered resolution instruct
ing the Chief of the Fire Department tC
place the Hook and Ladder Truck and al
engine, with the exception of the position
of first Engineer, in the hands of coloreC
men.
Mr.. Knowles opposed the idea of placing
the Fire Department in the hands of mex
| perienced persons. The lives and property
of our citizens were at stake in this matter
| Chairman Nelson did not wish to se'
his colored constituents placed where thei
necks would be risked, OF where they woulC
be damned if they should fail. Radica
changes in the Fire Department would re-
coil upon the colored man if he shoulC
prove Inefficient, and his own little hut wa
as much in danger of being swept away a.
the rich mans mansion.
| The resolution, after some further dis
cussion, was adopted by a vote of to 3
Messrs. Nelson, Knowles and Baker voting
no.
A resolution providing that unless carr
be pdt upon the Fairfield branch of the
South Nashville railroad, the track be
taken up, was adopted.
Mr.. Tuthill offered a resolution declar,
ing that the City Council should hereafter
make no distinction of color in making
laws or filling offices. Adopted.
A bill by Mr. Tuthill, providing for tn,
establishment of a city hospital, passed oil
its third reading.
Several minor matters were disposed OF
and the Board went into secret session t,
receive the report of a special COMMITTEES
| appointed at former secret session, ant
afterwards adjourned.
ssszsszzszu1ssssssszzs
M. M. TRECY,
25 PUBLIC SQUARE,
MoULD RESPECTFULLY CALL TIL!
" ~ N