Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-14
ANOTHER FIRE.
Several Tenements Burned on
Beal Street.-The Losses.

Boal Streot-Tho Losbob.
The bright light in the southern por'
ton of the city about one o'clock this
morning was the result Of fire near the
market house. The frame tenement on
Beal street Immediately west Of the mar
ket house, and the row Of little tenements
running north and south in the rear OF
that first mentioned, we're partially de-
stroyed. On the corner Of Beal was f.
A. ST. Sure's grocery and provision store,
containing stock worth about S25OO
The flames evidently originated in this
tenement, which, with the greater portion
Of the contents, was destroyed. We I'M
derstand Mr.. st. Sure had $500 insur.
ance. Next door was Mr.. Henderson's
"South Market Bakery" His east wall,
connecting with ST. Sure's, was burned;
but the principal damage to his stock
was from water. His loss will probably
not exceed SlOOO-no insurance. The
building occupied by Mr.. st. Sure was
owned by Mr.. Wilkinson, who resides
10 the county. Immediately in the rear
of St Sure's was barber shop, the roof
of which was considerably damaged.
The contents were saved, North Of this
was j. Heinrich's " Butchers Hall " sa-
loon. 1t was also somewhat damaged;
nearly everything was removed during
the progress of the flames. The total
loss by this fire will scarcely exceed
$4,000, including that sustained by the
buildings.
THE RIGHT OF TIE PRIVILEGE CoLLEC-
TOR To REFUSE CITY SoRIP.-The amen
ded Metropolitan Police law requires the
Tax Collector on Privileges to pay his
receipts into the police fund, to be used
in the payment of that force. 1t also
provides for the taxes on privileges to be
paid either in currency or police scrip,
city warrants not being received. The
passage of this provision was obtained
in order to compel the city to support
the Metropolitan Police, for which the
Board of Aldermen had refused TO make
any allowance. The legality of the en-
tire provision has been questioned, and
a case came up an the police court this
morning by which it will be tested.
Messrs W. H. Passmore & Co.. license
expired in June Mr.. Passmore held
city scrip to the amount required for the
present year (S250), 'and profered it.
Mr.. j. D. Davis, the collector, refused TO
receive anything else than police scrip
or currency, and Mr.. Passmore, declining
to pay it, permitted his license to expire
without renewal. He was brought be-
fore Colonel Beaumont in the police
court this morning. The facts, as stated
above, were admitted by Mr.. Passmore,
and the court admitted the tender of the
city scrip. A fine of twenty'f dollars
was imposed, and an appeal will be taken,
in order to thoroughly test the right of
the Collector to refuse the city's paper
for Indebtedness due the city. The new
law, forbidding business men to pay their
licenses in scrip, has materially assisted
in depreciating the city's currency, and
proved no little hardship in several ways.
1t is exceedingly doubtful whether any
court not conducted in the interests of
the now dominant party in Tennessee,
instead of justice, will decide law so
Aagrantly unjust constitutional. This is
a question in which very large number
of our citizens are interested; and if
there is any probability of fair test
being obtained, it is to be hoped that Mr..
Passmore' example will be generally
initiated.