Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-14
MEEEING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL

MEETING OF TRE COMMON COUNCIL
Lively Times in the Municipal KegisIa
Iure-Cheeks vs.. Greenbacks and th'
LabOrers-FGnancIaI Doom and Cor
pOrntIon Ionesty-The Treasurer
Charged with ShaVing-The RccOr
dcr's Court from "a Financial Stand
point-The Scholastic Census.
An adjourned meeting of the Common
Council was held yesterday afternoon
President Cotton in the chair.
Present, Councilmen Ambrose, Coltart
Walsh, Wilson, Morris, Reid, Rhea, Dun
can, Lellyett, Edwards, Winston, Hudson
Laitenberger.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Mr.. Ambrose's bill providing for the
payment Of the police in currency instead
of corporation checks, after September lst,
1867, was taken up on its second reading.
Mr.. Coltart thought it would be non-
sense topass such a bill there was already
a law covering the case.
Mr. Walsh warmly advocated its passage,
declaring that all employees and officers OF
the city should be paid alike. Injustice
had been done in paying one department
in currency and another in checks, and the
people were beginning to see this injustice
If there were but one dollar to divide, he
wanted to see that one dollar equally di-
vided.
President Cotton said the money could
not be paid when it was not in the treas
ury.
Mr.. Walsh made the point that officers
had been paid money, while laboring men
had been compelled to accept checks, and he
insisted that justice should be done.
Mr.. Ambrose said the checking and
shaving must be stopped. He accused
the City Treasurer of shaving checks at the
rate of fifteen and twenty per cent, and
declared that this could be proven.
Mr.. Winston offered the following bill
in lieu, and strongly advocated its adop-
ton:
Be it enacted, That all the employees of
the corporation of Nashville, who have
been compelled to sell checks of the cor
poration at a discount, or who shall here
after be compelled to Go so, shall be reim-
bursed IN the full amount, and that for the
purpose Of ascertaining such loss, COM
mittee of one Alderman and two Council
men shall be appointed by the respective
boards; Provided, that the word employees"
in this act is not intended to embrace con-
tractors, or those working under them, but
the direct employees of the corporation
only.
Mr.. Morris moved to lay both bills upon
the table. He declared that if either
should be passed, the discount upon cor
pOration checks would be fifty cents in less
than forty DAYS. To carry out the pro-
visions of the bill in lieu, it would be ne
cessary to employ a force of twenty-five
clerks, at a salary of-Lord knows what,
and there would be no end to the expense
Of such an undertaking.
Mr.. Winston could not see how the dis
charge Of an honest debt would increase
the discount on checks. Even if this we're
the case, it would be no business of the
Council; it was their duty to pay every
employe of the corporation in money. He
believed the cry of discount was all bug
bear.
Mr.. Walsh called for the yeas and nays,
and the motion was lost by the following
tie vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Coltart, Morris, Reid,
Duncan, Wilson, Rhea, and President
Cotton.
Nays-Messrs. Ambrose, Walsh, LeIl-
YETI Edwards, Winston, Hudson, and
Laitenberger-7.
Mr.. Duncan spoke emphaticalIy against
the bill in lieu, and prOphesied further dis
count on checks should it pass. He wanted
all employees paid in money, but there was
now no money TO do this. Taxes were
being paid in corporation checks, and
nothing could be done until the stoppage
Of the issuance of checks. There was little
or no money coming into the treasury save
from the Recorders Court.
After some further discussion the bill in
lieu was adopted by the following vote:
Ieas-Messrs. Ambrose, Walsh, Lell-
yeti, Edwards, Rhea, Winston, Hudson
and Laitenberger-8.
Nays-Messrs. Coltart, Morris, Reid,
Duncan, Wilson and President Cotton-6.
On motion Of Mr. LeIlyett the words
during the present municipal year." we're
stricken out, and the words "since January
Let, 1867, inserted.
Mr.. Wilson moved to lay the bill in lieu
upon the table, and take up the original
bill.
Mr.. Reid moved to adjourn. Lost.
Mr.. Rhea moved to amend the bin in
lieu so as not to include the Mayor and
City Council in its provisions. Adopted
by 7 to g. The bill then passed on its
second reading.
The resolution from the Board of Al~
dermen, providing for a scholastic census
was concurred in.
Mr.. LeIlyett moved to suspend the rule
and take up the bill in regard to payment
of corporation employees, but afterwards
changed his motion to one for adjournment,
and the Council thereupon adjourned to
Monday next at 81 o'clock, P. NJ.