Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-10
MEETING OF TAX PAYERS.
Petition 20 County Commission
ers for Reduction Of Taxes.

Ats large and respectable meeting OF the
u taxpayers of shelby county, held yesterday,
! the following memorial was addressed, by a
4 unanimous vote, to the BoiIrd Of County COM
] missioners:
= To the Honorable Board of County Commits
siOners for Shelby County
We, the undersigned citizens OF and taxpay-
efs In shelby eounty, respectfully present this
E relief at your hands from the ~g-ievous burden
/ and tax now borne by your people.
1t Is unnecessary and Inappropriate here to
state In detail the financial and commercial
difficulties under which we have All Iabored
since the Late disturbance Of the country SUI
hce 1t to say, that all appreciate fully the
embarrassment in administering the afaiss
OF cur county, the outlay requisite 10
a sn,iyy e., 5as necssSsry Expenses OF that
have brought about the heavy taxes which are
nOw imposed upon us. While We sdsait The
necessity of an Increased taxation throughout
the country in Its present troubled condition
We would respectfully ask your attention to
the enormously heavy rate now imposed upon
the people OF our county ard their uttsr Ina
billty TO bear SO great a burden.
The difficulties that have almost bankrupted
orr State, county and municipal governments,
have also had their effect upon individuals oi
these governments AS a clnssquence the ma
foriiy Of oar citizens are utterly unable to pay
the enormous tax imposed upon them. Taxes
have steadily advanced stree the close OF tn |
war aud there has been no corresponding In |
crease in the value OF property, which in many |
vaIue.
would most especially ean the attention
OF your honorable Bard 70 the tax Imposed FOR
the year 1883 By the State and county a tax
of 81 % on sI0O worth OF property is
levied, and an additional special tax Of
50 Genus on every one hundred dollars worth
o. property has been recently imposed by your
Board, which addtiional tslS Is mere than the
reepectfuffy' but earnestly iasfH, tthaaffTf d 4 ES
CENTS additional tax imposed by your honor
able Board be repealed, and thataIl such ether
reduction in the rate OF TAXATION be made as
lha a haOInfR ranmfFAmAmEa nT the fnnnfU viii I
admit.
In presenting this me1noria We are setuated
by no spirit OF resistance tOfhe collection ofalI 1
reasonable taxes ina posed, but we respectfully
ask that you give the relief sought for in the
premises.
The utter inability Of a great majority OF our
citizens to pay the taxes now levied upon them,
will render the sale OF their property necessary.
Property sold for taxes is bought generally by I
the State and placed in the state School Fund
and, IL redeemed, no part 9th money paid for
its redemption Is returned. to the county;
whereas. II the tax imposed were SO
reasonable that 1t would be within the power !
OF all TO pay it, thers would be ever any, !
sales made for taxes, and the county would re l
ceive Its revenue In fun. r.,
The tax collected in Shelby county bears a I
large proportion to the tax collected in all the 9
portion Of tie state and while we ,
do not make this a CAUSE of complaint, we :
would respectfully urge thai our county tax a
should, IN consequence, be reduced to its lowest 2
possible extreme. Il
We learn that your Board contemplate issu- L
ing bonds under 4 eeent act of the LEGISLATURE o
tor funding the Heating debt OF the county.
We think it unwise and impOlitic to do so, and .
earnestly request that no bonds be issued. Il
In ali cases requiring an expenditure or the :
funds OF the county, we would most respect ,
fully but earnestly ask the careful atten-
ton OF your Board, and that you ex- u
the utmost economy and frugality
IN the administration OF our county affairs. d
The welfare of our county requires the exsr. a
OF great economy. Tue peace and pros y
OF the community require 1t. The sue ii
'ess of our COMMERCIAL and financial interests -
-equirs IL. The quiet OF every household re- Y
IUIres 1t, and we, as individuals, and as a COM
nuntty which you represent, ask IL earnestly lie
" your hands.
JOHN 3. RoBIN5ON,O OIL
n. h COCHRAN. SCom. "
W. W. GOODWIN,
The following committee was appointed to y
Fait upon the citizens OF tie city and county n
md request their signatures TO it:
LIST Ward-R- d. Baugh, John Clancy. th
I'd Ward-B. 3. WaddelI, VIM. Chase. la
Sd Ward-Jobn Johnson, Charles J. Phillips.
4th Wsrd-JnO. OvertOn, Jr., ]. 7, Cartwright. CI
5th Ward-TbeO, Hoist, John LenoW. "
9Th wsrd-John Haistead, E. L. Risk. al
18th Wacd-G. V, Rambaut, Joe Bruce. IN
Sth wards. T.. D~unscomhs, 6. A. Norton. ne
9Th WHid-JOnn Cabins, I'D Danbury. pI
l0th W. rd-N. =. Bruce, HI BuIxely. &C
For the County at LArge-W. J. Taylor, John er
:. S~tratton. John b. Robin son, William H. hI
Walker, j. y. Mercer, and George Jones. tn
For the convenience OF those wishing to sign %
he memorial, a copy will be found at the office az ~
I the Peoples Insurance Company, at The o. "a
ce of J. J. Murphy, at the Ovsrton Hotel and be
House, and at George Pattison q In
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