Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-20
MEETING OrrmEoOmmoN COUNCIL.

4 AAN 0AgL8AnttAaAa abhah-iDtNCAAAs EA&AD
bers ON the Election QnestiOn-N'
Definite Conclusion 60 what Is q
Become of Us All.
The bill offered by Mr.. Winston, at the
last meeting in reference TO the paymen
of the discount which employees have has
to pay, was taken up. The following il
the substance of the bill:
Resolved, That all discounts which the
| officers and employees of the corporation
have had TO submit TO on corporation
checks, since the first of January, 1867
shall be made good TO them out of the eity
treasury; provided, il does not apply tC
contractors or those working under them
and provided, that the Mayor and mem
bers of the City Council are excluded from
| the benefits Of the same.
ESQ. Paul was sworn in to fill the vacan-
cy caused by the resignation of Mr.. Dun
nivant Of the seventh ward.
Mr.. Wilson wished to know if this bill
excluded those who had done work for the
corporation before there was any discount
on corporation checks2
Mr.. Reed was opposed to excluding the
Mayor or any other member Of the City
| Council.
Mr.. LelIyett said that the Mayor was
excluded from matter of delicacy, as he
would have to sign the bill, and the same
charge brought against the Legislature for
voting money into their own pockets,
would be brought against him, and all
members of either board who were instru-
mental in passing the bill The contract
ors knew when they made their contracts
that there was discount on the corpora
ton checks; and they founded their con-
tracts on this basis.
Mr.. Rhea offered the following as an
amendment to the original bill:
And provided further, That the provi-
sions Of this bill shall not apply to any
officer whose salary or salary and perqui-
sites shall exceed $1,000 annually.
Mr.. Morris voted nay because he was
opposed to the amendment in toto, as its
adoption would answer the passage of the
| bill.
The amendment was rejected by a vote
of to 5.
Mr.. Rhea explained that the reason he
did not vote against this bill when the
question was up before was that he did not
wish to kill the bill as he wished to give it
u lllOIOuEu GAhllIudllOu- llG lLAt
no city in the United States paid its officers
better than Nashville. We are to legislate
for the citizens as much as the officers.
There is a general distrust among our citi-
zens, and we should look to their interest
The officers are in no greater difficulty than
the majority Of our people. When these
officers were elected they knew they would
have to be paid in checks, and they had
the opportunity to resign if they were
not satisfied with their salaries. Our city
finances are in tangled condition, not that
we owe so much, or are at all insolvent,
but that there is a want of financial
ability in the management of our resour-
| ces. All the contracts nov given odt will
bring more clear cash to the contractors
after the discount has been paid, than it
would cost to have the contract now, if let
| out to new contractors. This is equally
true of all the employers of the city. La
| borers can now be hired to work on the
| streets at less than the net amount now Sc
| cured on the corporation checks, even at
the high rate now charged by brokers.
Mr.. Walsh, from the third ward, said he
voted for this bill as the poor mans bill
1t was the duty of every city to take care of
| its poor. The day laborers can hardly live
on their present per diem, at the enormous
discount now suffered.
Mr.. Rhea wished to know if in employ
ing laborers the price was not regulated by
the discount they had to suffer on the cor
poration checks.
Mr.. Walsh resumed by saying that while
the rich are able to hold their checks until
they can be paid in current funds, the poor
man has to spend his money at whatever
cost, to buy his bread for his wife and child
rem.
Mr.. Walsh said that the Finance Com
mittee had given current funds to certain
| employers.
Mr. Morris denied this, and said it was
reflection on the Finance Committee, and
that no such instructions had ever been
| given by the committee, but that such in
structions might have been given by indi-
yidual members of said committee.
Mr. Walsh replied that he had met the
| Recorder in company with Mr.. Thompson,
and asked him by what authority he paid
a part of the city employees in greenbacks
and others in checks to which the Re
corder replied that he was acting under
orders from the Finance Committee, and
| that he would have to settle with that
| committee.
Mr.. Wilson denied that any such in
| structions had ever been given.
Mr.. Paul thought that if this bill was
passed, it would entangle the financial af-
fairs of the city. How were the various
amounts at which the thousands of checks
had been discounted ever to be determined?
Hundreds of those who had been shaved on
II - III alrs and fhax nnuld
not be benefited by refunding the amount
of discount. They could not be found now.
1t was the misfortune of those who had had
to suffer by discount, that they were thus
situated Other laborers had to do the
same thing, and all should agree to bear
their misfortunes as best they could.
Mr.. Reid offered a bill in lieu Of the
original bill, providing that all officers
and employees of the corporation shall,
after this date, be paid in money during
the remainder Of the present administra-
| ton.
Mr.. Thompson, as a member of ti.e FL
nance Committee, wished to explain that
he was absent at the time the question of
paving the police in current funds was
proposed, and was in favor Of paying the
police and other departments in money.
Mr.. Walsh wished to know what had be-
come of the proceeds Of certain note Of
$500 which was sold to Charles O'Neil.
Mr.. Hays said that he had sold the note
TO Mr. O'Neil at the bank rates, and that
the money had been appropriated TO the
payment Of interest ard other city debts,
ali Of which would be exhibited at the
proper time.
He said he had offered the note to Mr..
McCrory Of the First National Bank at
the same rate before it was offered 20 the
gentleman who purchased it. If Mr..
McCrory wished to buy such notes, he
ought to have accepted the proposition
! when it was made to him. The discount
allowed is nothing more than is required
By all the banks Of the city.
Mr.. Reid, after discussion on the bill
be offered in lieu, by Messrs. Rhea, Nor
ris, Lellyett and Cotton, withdrew it.
Mr. Morris moved that that part Of the
bill which excluded the Mayor should be
| rescinded, and the word Mayor" be
| stricken out. Carried.
The bill then came up on Its third and
last reading, and passed by the following