Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-07
mELP cAssruk. oRIsINK.
a Small Talk with Tax-Payers-Wher
the Money GOes-"S Straw BOmds.''

a Small Talk with Tax-Payers-VVhere
the Money Goes" Straw BOnds.''
The civil administration of city of the
wealth and importance Of Nashville, re-
quires no small amount of foresight and
financial and executive ability. The
question of a mans honesty does not
always render him eligible to Offices of
great pecuniary responsibility. The law
establishing the various Offices in our mus
nicipal government requires that each
officer before entering upon the duties Of
his Office shall give bond for a specified
amount, for the faithful performance of his
duties. Wise governments do not believe
in the Immaculate honesty of human ma
ture, and hence they have guarded the
rights of the people, the Taxpayers, by re-
quiring officers who are to handle their
money to give bond. The law, in its effort
to shield the people against possible dis
honesty, requires that bondsmen shall not
be mere "men of straw" but shall have
certain property qualifications. Before a
bond is accepted, it must be approved by
the Mayor. 1t is the Mayors duty to give
a rigid investigation OF the property held
by each bondsmen. As the guardian of
the peoples rights, grave responsibility
rests upon him. Without discussing
the high handed usurpation by which
strangers took possession of our city
government, or the personal charac-
ter of those who now rule over us,
it is our right and sacred duty to demand
the enforcement of the laws, and protest
against breaking down the dykes which
guard the peoples treasury. We have
taken some trouble to test the property
qualifications of various bondsmen, whose
names are affixed to the bonds of several of
our newly elected officers.
Take the bond of B. J. Sheridan, the
Revenue Collector and Secretary of the
Nashville Soup Association" As to the
personal honesty of Mr.. Sheridan we do
not presume to speak, as we know nothing
for or against him, bat the fact that he has
been elected to the Secretaryship of the
Nashville Soup Association" is primo
facie evidence of his honesty. He may be
as lust as Aristides, and his honor may be
as peerless as a knight of chivalry, but the
law says he must give bond in the sum Of
$4,000 before entering upon the discharge
of the duties of his Office. Carpet-bags,"
though very useful when one wishes to make
a hurried trip, are not generally taken as
frst-class security. The Office of Revenue
Collector of the city of Nashville is one of
vast responsibility. The taxes assessed by
the city for 1867 were $245, 1888 So, and the
city authorities complain that the amount
is too small. The revenue collected in the
last three months, as shewn by the Revenue
Officers report amounted to S68, 824 81,
which, at the same rate for the year, would
amout to $275, 1903 %. This amount at
least is to go into Mr.. Sheridan's hands
during the year. But this sum, great
as it is, will not meet the expenses
of the city government; and the cry
comes, in a plaintiye tone, from the
Mayors Office to the DISTINGUISHED tax
payers, saying "Help us, or we sink" To
the grievous taxes now impoverishing US,
other and heavier burdens must be added.
Fearing the people might rebel and re-
fuse to pay their taxes the city authorities
asked consultation with someofour monied
men for the purpose of devising ways and
means to replenish the treasury. The con-
suItation was held and the subject discussed,
and committee appointed TO work out
this financial problem.
en-. Donaldson, the first bondsman on
Mr. Sheridan's bond, has $500 worth of
real estate, but the Assessors books do not
show that any of the other bondsmen own
any real estate in this city. They may
own other property, but the books do not
show it. The object of the bond is to Sc
cure the city against all contingencies, and
the security should be equal to the de-
mands OF the law. Mere STRAW bond"
will not satisfy taxpayers. We would
suggest to the committee who have the
city finances under consideration, to inves-
tigate the value of the bonds given by
those who are to handle the peoples
money,