Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-27
CITY COMMISSIONERS.
Text Of the Bili as offered I'm
the State Legislature.

the CITY Chatter, aud place Memphis in
the hands Of Board Of Commissioners
appoiutsd by the Governor;
SrorIos :. Be Il further enacted,
That there shall be established in the
city Of Memphis, in this State, Board
OF City Commissioners, 70 consist OF five
persons, who, previous TO their appoint
ment or election. shall have been resi-
dents Of said city not less than two
years; each to serve for the period OF
five years, and until his successor is
elected and qualified, except only in
case Of appointment as hereinafter pro-
yided; all Of whom shall be elect.
ed by the qualified voters Of said
city. on the first - OF January, A ID.
1873; and until which election shall
take place the said Commissioners shall
be appointed by the Governor Of this
State, who shall cause proper commits
sions TO be issued to each Commissioner,
one Of whom shall be designated as
President Of said Board and in case OF
death, resignation or vacation OF said
office of President, the same may be
filled by an election by said Board of
Commissioners; and in case of other
vacancy occurring before the time Of
election specified in this act, the same
shall be filled by appointment.
Be IL further enacted, That before en-
tering on the duties Of their respective
Offices, the said Commissioners shall give
bond and security for the faithful per-
Torrance of their duties; the President
in the sum of fifty thousand dollars $780,.
O00), and the other Commissioners IN the
sum Of ten thousand dollars each, to be
approved by any Judge of court Of re-
cord in the office of the County Commits
sioners.
BE IL further enacted, That the said
Commissioners shall be vested with all
the powers heretofore exercised by the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the
city of Memphis, whose seats are hereby
declared vacant, and oil appointments
heretofore made by them; and all va
eancies so created may be filled by ap-
pointment Of said Board of Commission
ers, who shall have power to abolish
such offices OF their discretion, in which
they possess the power of appointment,
as they may deem necessary for the pub
lie good.
BE il further enacted, That so much
| of section - as provides for the estab-
lishment of Board of Police Commits
sioners for Shelby county be repealed,
and the seats of such Commissioners are
hereby declared vacant and any and all
provisions of all acts setting aside q
special income tax for such police force
are hereby repealed and the powers
heretofore conferred upon the Board OF
Metropolitan Police Commissioners Of
Shelby equity are hereby transferred
to the said City Commissioners, one Of
whom shall be appointed by said
Board to discharge the duties of
Judicial Commissioner of said Me-
tropolitan Police, with the same pow
ers as heretofore exercised by that
officer, and said board may, at their dis.
erection, appoint one other of their num-
her as financial commissioners of said
police, and shall also appoint superln-
tendent of said Metropolitan Police
force, who shall perform the same duties,
and, subject to said City Commissioners,
| possess the same powers, and receive
the same compensation, as the chief
com missioner Of police under the pro-
visions of the act establishing said police
force, and shall be subject to removal at
the hands of said City Commissioners,
who shall cause said police to be paid
from the revenues of the said city OF
Memphis.
Be ii further enacted, That from and
after the passage of this act, it shall be
unlawful for said City Com missioners to
issue any scrip, notes, acceptauces, time
hills or other evidence of debt whatever,
except through issue of bonds fer fund
ing sf debt as hereinafter provided.
BE ii further enacted, That no city
scrip or past Indebtedness of any kind
shall be receivable for any taxes that
NAV hereafter be assessed under provi-
sions Of this act being so receivable only
mn TO the LIST of June, 1868, for taxes as
sessed prior to the passage of this act.
BE ii further enacted, That, in addi-
ton to the legitimate expenses OF the city
government, and such improvements as
NAV be deemed necessary, tax shall be
levied sufficient for the payment of all
Indebtedness, either past due, or that may
become due, including interest on bonds,
in FIVE annual payments, or as much
sooner as may be deemed expedient In
the judgment of said Commissioners.
Bet further enacted, That said Com
missioners shall have power to issue
bonds at any time for funding Of the city
debt. and for such purpose only, unless
specially authorized by a vote of the
people, said bonds to, be for seven, ten
and fifteen years, and all Indebtedness of
any kind, SO funded, shall be properly
cancelled and amount and description of
the same published.
Be 10 further enacted, That the tax
law shall be so amended that in case OF
any property being exposed for sale
upon an assessment levied under the
provisions of this act, it shall not be
necessary to specify precisely to whom
such property may belong, but to fairly
describe the said property and sell the
same for such taxes, irrespective of
ownership, and, in case of such sale,
such property can only be redeemed by
payment TO purchaser of the amount
paid for said purchase, with interest at
the rate of fifty per cent per annum.
And be ii. further enacted, That Sec
ton seventeen of an act entitled An
act to create an additional number of
justices of the peace and notaries for the
city of Memphis, in the county OF Shell,
by, and for other purposes, passed
March 9, 1867, providing that no ipJunc-
ton shall be granted by any judge or
court in the State, except upon bill and
answer, etc, shall be applicable and
apply with equal force and effect to this
act
And be IL further enacted, That no
money shall be drawn from the treasury
ovoa,,, unon a warrant signed BY the