Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-06
THE PAVEMENT CONTRACT.
Another Council Meeting Moth
Ing Final Agreed Upon.


Mayor and Aldermen was held last eve
ming for the purpose Of hearing the
report Of tho committee to whom was
referred Mayor Lo1ands message in
regard to the paving contract The
following report was reAd;
Your committee, TO whom was referred
the message Of the Mayor, for the pur
pose of investigating matters set forth
In il in reference to the financial effect
and interest to the city in giving out the
contract to parties for the pavement Of
the streets of tho city, beg leave to sub
nit tho following report;
Our impartial investigation OF this
matter among many OF the leading bank
era and citizens Of the city, resulted in
their free and decided expression Of
opinion, that the interest and credit Of
the city would be enhanced in making
the contract with Messrs Greenlaw l.
Jones for paving the streets of the city
Your committee, in view Of these facts
before them, and being governed by no
othor motives in this report than such as
influence us for the good and interest of
the city, would recommend that the con-
tract for paving the streets be entered
into with Messrs. Greenlaw h Jones, and
that the action Of this Board heretofore,
ia awarding bids to Messrs Hopper Il
Montgomery and Greenlaw h Jones, be
rescinded. G.. ID. JOHNSON,
A. T. SHAw,
HENRY J. LYNN,
III. LEMON.
Alderman Passmore said the report
was not made by majority Of the Com
mittee, when Alderman Amis moved to
adjourn, which was lost Alderman
Lynn moved to adopt the report of the
Committee, when sharp debate ensued.
Alderman Passmore stated that the Com
mitiee had visited the bankers in the
morning, and that Mr.. f. s. Davis had
told them that, no matter who did the
work, scrip would be advanced He saw
no reason why Jones Il Greenlaw should
have the contract, because they are rich.
He did not believe in grinding down
poor men to fill the pockets of the rich.
he did not believe Jones & Greenlaw's
facilities for raising money as good as
the other bidders, who had already
800, 900 in the city banks, and plenty of
money in Louisville and elsew here. The
report of the Committee be did not
regard as a report, and submitted the
following minority report;
We, the undersigned members of the
Committee appointed to investigate the
message of the Mayor, report as follows:
/. That, in our judgment, the Mayors
message needed no Investigation, being
simply an investigation on the part of
His Honor for his course in the matter
pertaining to the paving contract.
g. That we have been unable to dis
cover from any source how the financial
condition Of the city is to be enhanced
by giving the contract to Greenlaw d
Jones.
,. That we have every confidence in
the parties to whom the award has been
made, that thoy will carry out the con-
tract in good faith and sustain the credit
of the city. W. II. PAssMoEE,
LEWIS AIMS,
T. O'DoNNELL.
The names of the bondsmen offered by
Messrs. Hopper & Montgomery were
read Among them were Mossrs. j. c,
Lanior, W, II. Cherry, John s. Toof, P.
G. Meath, r. B. Hawley, D. c. Cross, d.
Cockrell, T. G. McGavoek, Jos. Mitchell
and NJ. ]. Wicks. After considerable
debate, in which bribery was spoken OF,
Gen. Forrest was invited to address the
Board. The General said that after the
award Of the contract to Hopper Is Mont
gomery he was collected to take an in
terest in it After the bribery question
had been raised, some of the Aldermen
SAID if he took an interest in it the trou
BILE would be- quelled He took fourth
interest, and had been promised $780,
600 by bankers He adverted to his SER
vices as Alderman, commencing in 1889.
Once when the city needed money he
raised it outside and paid it, He did
not desire the contract unless he could
secure the cooperation of the financial
strength of the city. He wanted no
wrangling and qusrreling He and his
partners were ready to 20 to work and
push the contract through, Men who
we're now veiing for the opposition had
promised him their votes if he took an
interest in the contract He reflected
upon Aldermen who did not know their
own minds He wanted no duplicity
practiced upon him. Let the contract
be given to some one and the work com
menced.
Alderman Lemon said he supposed he
was one of the Aldermen alluded 20. Ho
had promised Gen, Forrest his hearty
cooperation If he became q partner in
stead of Mr.. Hopper; but Gen. Forests
name did not appear before the Board.
1t had been voted down. Alderman
Townsend supposed he was one Of the
parties alluded to by Gen. Forrest He
had told the General that he hoped he
would get an interest with Jones & Green
law, bat emphstically stated that he
would not favor giving contract for
even cent to Hopper h Montgomery.
Gen. Forrest explained that he had no
allusien to Alderman Townsend He