Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-03
THE PAYING QUESTION.
The Matter Again Before the City
Council Last nvening.

paving question. The Mayor sent IN
message, in which he gave his reasons
for expressing any Partially with regard
to any particular bid. He wanted to
better the financial condition Of the city
certain amounts of money had to be
paid, which could be raised providing
he award of the bid was given to certain
parties. He had no personal objection
to other bidders, but he wanted Greenlaw
Il Jones to have the contract. Alderman
Johnson moved that the matter in the
Mayors message be referred to com
mittee composed of one member from
each Ward, to report at special meeting
of the Board. Alderman Passmore said
that it appeared they were never to get
at an end in this contract matter, and
new things were being sprung upon them
day after day. He wished to say some
thing about the Mayors message, and
that was, since that message had been
presented to the Board, person had
gone to the First National Bank, and
had been told that there was not single
cent there to the credit of Greenlsw Il
Jones, to pay the July interest When
this Board was elected, it came into
office to do all in its power for the good
of the city. At least it was pretended
that such was its object, and that some
thing would be accomplished. They
were elected to do everything fair
ly and squarely, and on the
part of some members there was dispo-
sition to do their duty. The Finance
Committee had said that their scheme
was one of finance, and that alone would
be carried out, unless the contract was
given to Greenlaw & Jones. But can
they say that the other party would not
improve the credit as we'll as Greenlaw
& Jones, as they would not place the
bonds on the market any more than the
others. Ifthey wanted to make anything
out of the contract it must be done by
retiring the bonds until they come due.
Besides Hopper & Montgomery could
give the best security that could be asked.
He charged that everything had been
done by the other side to prevent this
contract being awarded in proper man
ner. Private characters had been as
sailed.
Alderman Passmore then read letters
from Messrs. George M. Gill, L. M. Yer
ger and ]. f. Hicks, to show that Mr.. A,
]. Hopper had faithfully carried out va
rious contracts in connection with them,
He then went on to remark that Mr..
Hopper was reliable man, and said
that when Alderman Townsend had said
he had betrayed every trust he may have
referred to o railroad matter during the
war, but General Forrest, who was pres
ent, would be able to prove that Mr.. Hop
per was not to blame in the affair. Fail
ing in this, the cry of bribery was next
raised and the Mayor uttered some mys-
terious words about friend, but would
not give his friends name, but that was
for the very simple reason that his friend
declared he had never used the words the
Mayor had uttered. All this was to
throw the lowest bidders overheard and
get in their own pets. The Finance
Committee had talked loudly of the
great benefits that would accrue to the
city if Greenlaw d Jones got the con-
tract, and Alderman Lynn, the the chair
man of that committee, even went so far
as to quote Richard III on the subject,
and exclaimed, in grand, heroic tone:
Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold,
For Dickon, your master, is bought and sold.
He would just paraphrase the couplet,
and say to the wonderful Chairman of
Finance
Jockey Of Finance, be not too bold,
For the City ofMemphis is not bought or sold. +"
He would just tell those on the other
side, that when they came down to per-
sonalities, he would ask what was the
meaning of this proposal to pay the July
INTEREST," What was the meaning Of
that scheme They we're plainly get
ting desperate. His purpose, however,
was to speak of some matters connected
with the bribery investigation, and he
would ask why it was that Alderman
Wickersham had called witnesses to en-
deavor to blacken private character
Witnesses had been brought to assail the
private character of Mr.. Hopper, and he
intended to tell what took place before
the Investigating Committee.
Alderman Shaw objected to Alderman
Passmore telling what took place in a
committee room, and called him to order.
The Chair considered the point we'll
taken. An appeal from the decision Of
the chair was taken, when the chair was
sustained. Alderman Amis wanted to
know all that took place. He had been
put out Of the room There was a deep
laid scheme somewhere. He would not
call it a swindle, but there was scheme
to take S25, 900 from the city. Alderman
Passmore made some more remarks, when
Alderman Shaw said he should not
below like he was at camp meeting.
he was in favor of giving the Mayor
message due consideration. Alderman
Boiling said he had heard it stated on