Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-23

lucy uafo ocoh oho"odf hhc oePeAfeN
friend, to rest in peace. But the ever
increasing burden Of taxation which the
citizens have TO bear has induced me TO
once more pay my respects to their
august majesties, and bestow an ooca-
sional offering to their official dignity,
however so much they may rival the
animals mentioned in Scripture before
which the pearls were cast. Straying
into their last meeting, Twas impressed
with the intelligence and quick percep-
ton Of one who after having had ex-
planned to him several times, that the
question was the payment of city
officer for selling market stalls, very
seriously asked if the butchers were
belligerent. But il that raised him in
my estimation, only fancy how adored
him when he cropped out in pristine
glory and urged the Board to give away
five hundred feet fronting on the river
aud running back two hundred feet, for
the building of marine nays Ay, more,
if it did not belong TO the city, that
quantity Of land was to be pu' chased,
and presented as Christmas gift to
some modest individual, whose wants
being few, was willing to put up with a
lease for twenty years, on condition Of
being exempt from texation. Good,
generous Father, twas but a triAe to a
friend, and the city would never miss it.
1t is not my purpose now to lose time
in hunting up parallels; but it is within
the province of every taxpayer to know
what becomes of the money paid in, and
what use the city property is put to. As
one OF them, interested in a small way, /
would place before that astute Alderman
few circumstances which be appears to
have entirely forgotten or ignored. Some
time ago there was large tract of the
city property on Wolf river leased by the
Board for the very same purpose; and
yet not the first attempt TO put up marine
Gays has been, nor can be found, with
the strongest microscope, while the un-
scrupulous individual who diddled the
city out of the lease enjoys his rents and
snaps his fingers deGantly in the face Of
the present Fathers, because they are
afraid to interfere for the city's rights.
Now what assurance can our present
select Alderman Che was chosen by the
Board, and has never received the peo-
Piles vote) give that the same benefit will
not accrue to the city by this second
attempt to establish marine soaysf 1t
will heavily tax his wonderful logical
powers to prove that the people will not
gain loss. He must also have been
very observant of the course Of events in
and around Memphis-as select man
should-if he is ignorant of the fact that,
convenient to the locality of the proposed
Christmas gift, dry dock-or marine
iodys-has been, under the auspices of
capitalists, attempted, and the finale is
magnificent failure. If he doubts this,
let him look at the long list of Tom, Dick
and Harry against the Memphis Dry
Dock Company in the published records
of the courts. Doubtless he will bring to
bear that unanswerable argument that
where a wealthy company has failed, an
impoverished individual may succeed in
obtaining a crutch from the city. Well,
then, a city ruler should know when the
city is able to bolster up defunct dry docks;
aud l seriously ask him if he has the
effrontery to say, now is the time"
With taxes so extremely high that the
citizens can scarcely pay them, with
credit so extremely low that it cannot
be found, with Scrip" exposed at
street corners for thirty-three cents on
the dollar, with business dull and money
scarce, with plethoric checks at the
treasury, and starving vampires eager
for pull, and with unexpected reckless
ness guiding the municipal caravan,
what superlative wisdom is displayed in
making such a muniicent Christmas
gift to particular friend 1t really
does make one question the motive, and
inquire of himself, What Alderman has
land in that vicinity which, if sold at a
high price for Scrip" at thirty-three
cents might not treble that high price
when other men and other times had
brought the city's credit to what it should
be ? The Mayor is to be one of the party
to this holiday generosity, and we there
fore request him to be just before he is
generous; to consider the propriety of
letting the poor men who have worked
for the city, and the fremen, who yet
work and risk their lives for the preseI-
walton Of property, be paid for labor
given, that they may be spared the hu-
initiation of having their well-earned
dues left to the mercy of Committee
on Claims" To the sensible members
of the Board it might be no harm to say,
Remember the fruits of the first marine
Uays, and wait until the tipe has arrived
when the city will be able to make do
nations for. the benefit of individuals
before you sanction such a proceeding
as that which your suggestive chairman
places before you tomorrow evening,