Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-07
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRD DAY.

HI Present, Aldermen CLANCY, Johnson
: Joyce, Black, Magevney, Cartwright,
r O'Donnell, Cicalla, Rufin, Moffet, Rem
d nsr, Passmore, McDavitt, Ellis, Brown,
7 and Goodlett.
n Alderman Rui1in was called to the
3 Chair, and called the Board to order.
! The unfinished business OF the prece-
I ding day was taken up, and Alderman
Rsnner offered the following preamble
r and resolution;
WHEREAS, The taxes aecrung in the
city from mercantile and other licenses
and privileges, are now collected entirely
Tor the use of the Police, without, so far
. in any way having been accounted for
70 the Board Of Mayor and Aldermen;
and
whereas, Now the commercial inter-
ests of our community bears the burthen
Of the Police alone; and
Whereas, This interest needs at present
all the alienation and encouragement
that can possibly be extended 10 il; and
Whereas, tt is Of the utmost import
ance that the Board should have the sole
and individual control of the city tax;
and
Whereas, There is great prospect that,
by proper management, the expenses for
police purposes could be lessened and the
force made more efficient,
Resolved, That the Finance Commit.
tee be instructed to take without delay
steps necessary to bring the office OF
Privilege Tax Collector again under the
control Of this Board and report at an
early Executive meeting.
Alderman McDavitt said that he as
Chairman of the Finance Committee
would beg that action should be delayed.
He would be compelled to leave the city
soon on account of his health, and there
fore could not attend to it properly He
thought that next fall would be better
time to take this matter under consid-
Grafton, as there would then bs eur
plus Of money, and the city could go
ahead and move in alters that she
now could not.
At the request of Alderman CLANCY.
the Secretary read heresolution second |
| time.
| Alderman Renner said that he would |
wish to be understood as giving the
chairman Of the Finance Committee ali |
the time ne required. He did not know |
ne intended leaving the city. In few |
torci5le remarks he supported his resolu
tons, aud said by adopting them, and |
an early and earnest movement, thou |
sands Of dollars could be saved the city, |
and still have the heavy burthens on the /
merchants removed. As the thing was
now managed, the privilege tax was q /
b1rthen on the merchants and citizens,
and accrued to ths benefit of no one ex-
cept the police. We need workhouse
and must have 1t, and could soon build
one with thess privilege taxes that were
boing spent, no one knows how. Be-
tween five and six thousand dollars were
expended by Col. Beaumont during the
past year ia lawyers fees alone, defend
ing himself against charges brought
against him. The City Attorney could
have done this work for him as easy as
not The Board paid between 81, 600
aud 8l4,0 900 for legal advice last year.
This money that is collected by Beau
mont lie used for purposes that have no
connection with our city-pursuiDg GRIM
insls ST distance. The county, too,
gets great snare of the advantages, and
he thought that there should be some
understanding, and harmony between
all parties.
The resolution was seconded, put to
vote, and passed unanimously.
Alderman Cicslla offered several reso.
lutions and petitions looking to the i'm
provement Of his Sixth ward, and the
repairing Of the streets in the same-sll
of which were adopted, or referred to the
proper committee.
Alderman Ruffin called Alderman
Passmore to the chair, and taking his
place, asked to be allowed to reconsider
his vote on the ordinance passed Monday
evening, nor allowing cotton to remain
forty-eight hours on the bluffs.
He was informed that he could only
do so by offering an ordinance repeating
the ordinance.
While he was preparing the requisite
document, the chair passed to the Sixth
ward, and Alderman O'Donnell pre-
scented several petitions and resolutions,
all of which were passed or referred to
the proper committees; among them
was an ordinance for the widening Of
Main street, between Batter and South
streets. The street is now sixty feet
wide, and it is proposed to make il eighty
feet by taking twenty feet from the But
Ter block, $50 feet front.
The ordinances passed on the fret read
ing, and, the rules having been suspend
ed, passed on the second reading.
Alderman O'DonDell reported a con.
tract with Cubbins & Gum for conplet-
ing Front street bridge. Contract rat
fled.
Alderman Hoist offered several reso-
lutions, which were referred to proper
committees or adopted, one OF which
authorized the Fire Committee to sell a
horse belonging to them, and an old bell,
and TO buy horse for the use of steam
fire engine No. 4.
Alderman Cartwright presented pc
tition from John B. Johnson, requesting
that the City Engineer investigate GER
tain grievances which he has sustained
at the hands of the city, in changing
grades, etc. Referred to Paving Com
mittee and City Engineer.
Alderman Ruffin then got the floor
and offered the following, which was
passed at the first reading and referred
Be IL ordained, etc., That Section OIL
siJ OINlDAuCo DHoscN Ou tue ENGnlDR OF
the 4th OF August, relating to the use of
public grounds or prOmenades, be amend
ed by having the words "eKeeeding
forty-e eight hours - stricken out, and Ia
every other section where such words
occur.
Alderman Johnson moved that the
vote adopting the ordinance preventing
the storage of cotton, etc, IN business
houses, be reeonsidered, and his motion
was lost by the following vote:
Ayes-Gianey, Joyce, Cartwright, Ruff
fin, Renner and Ellis.
Nays GoOdlett, johnson, Magevney,
Black, Hoist, 0'Donnell, CicaIla, Lemon,
Moffet and MeDavitt.
Alderman Ruffin offered a petition
from William Yanaky, asking permis-
sion to occupy his stall in common with
others. Referred to City Attorney, with
power to act.
BY the same;
A petition from L. A. Dixon, asking
an abatement of an order To change
street grade. Referred to City Engineer
and Paving Committee, with power to
act.
By Alderman Black:
ResolUed, etc, That the property