Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-26

EMMONs & Son, No. 10 Jefferson Street,
and 1893 Main street, have received, Turf,
Field aud Farm, Metropolitan Record,
Irish People reeman's Journal, Criminal
Zeitung, Irish Citizen, John Mitchelps
New Paper, Old Guard, lie Benton for
November, New York Ledger, Chimney
Corner, Literary Album, Boston Pilot,
Lacrosse Democrat, and dailies from
everywhere.
A DIRECT TAx.-The Mayor called
the attention of the Board of Aldermen.
to the Memorial they had decided to
send to the Legislature asking authority
to assess a special tax to relieve the city
from debt. We cannot do better than
use the language Of Mayor Lofand in
his Message: "I have called you to-
| gether to take into consideration such
amendments to the city charter as you
desire to ask Of the Legislature, and par
ticularly to consider more thoroughly the
propriety Of asking for power to levy a
tax for the retirement OF the floating
debt. I understand from the movers OF
this proposition hat there is not the
slightest objection on their part to have
this subject reopened and fullydiscussed.
When this subject was before your hon
orable body, discussion was invited, but
none elected until after final action had
been taken. I recommend that the
subject of the memorial be again
taken up and considered, and if
this plan OF paying the floating debt is
finally agreed upon, I would suggest that
all receipts for money paid 10 the Tax
Collector in payment of the floating debt
shall be divided into three equal
amounts, and shall be received again by
the city in payment Of taxes in four, six,
and eight years, or shall be converted
into thirty year bonds, at the option Of
the holder, when five hundred dollars or
more are presented" The Board by a
vote Of six TO five rescinded the order Of
the last meeting 70 msmorsFze the Leg
islsture for the authority tofevy the tax.
Il was generally conceded that our peo-
pie were taxed heavily enough, without
an additional amount being super-im-
posed. After a ~protracted debate, the
resolution that had been offered by
Alderman Passmore, as he said in good
faith, at the former meeting, and which
had been adopted, was rescinded by s
close vote, Alderman Shaw, in the Chair,
voting in the Affirmative.
BEER-JERKERs AND KENo-IncorpO.
rated in the Mayors message, read at the
last meeting Of the Board, we find the
following " w should ask for such
authority as will enable US to break up
the 'Beer-Jerkers' Saloons and the
Keno hells. Four-ffths of the muir
ders perpetrated since the war can be
traced directly TO the former, and the
ruin OF hundreds Of our yeung men is
ehargsable TO the latter. There are in
this city many Keno rooms; some are
fitted up in splendid style, with elegant
carpets, sofas, tables, chairs and mirrors,
and with sideboards %grosning under the
weight of wines, liquors aud cigars, and
everything else calculated to invite and
amuse the unworthy, the thOughtless
and the vicious. Others are furnished in
less spiendor, but are equally pernicious
and eorrupting. If the names were pub
lished of those who visit these bells, the
community would be appalled, at the list,
both as to the number and character of
their patrons. IL would embrace names
from almost every profession, trade and
occupation in our city. The poor dray-
man or day laborer here loses in an hour
what he has worked and toiied hard al
day to gain. Iregsrd these saloons and
keno rooms as the most dangerous and
.corrupting vices that ever cursed this
city aud IL the municipal government
cannot beGlothed with authority to close
them, and stop their Fuinous practices
and influences, we had as well give 10
the control OF the city to the kenO-banks
and beer-jerkers, so far as morality is
concerned. From the law as now admin
istered by the courts we get no relief"
Are the police so far powerless that they
cannot break up these dens Of iniquity
which are equally a disgrace to the pow
ers that be and those who put them in
Officer IL Al