Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-14
THE COUNTY PRINTING.
tho Subject Sprung In the board Of
County Commissioners.
A Lively spat and the whole Matter
Tabled this Morning.

day, growing out Of motion TO transfer
the county printing from the Union
street to the Jefferson street "organ,"
the following was adopted as eompro-
mise:
Resolred, As II is the imperative duty
of this Board TO consult economy and 10
save the public money by all the means
in It's power, that the public printing for
the county be let until the FIRST Monday
in January, TO the lowest bidder for the
same; and that bids be invited for that
purpose.
Resolyed, That this Board employ no
publicprinter except for special work.
On the re-assembling Of the Board this
morning the question, however, was
again sprung.
The gentleman from Iowa moved TO adj
vertise for bids in the Post and Bulletin.
"The President thought the matter
had alreadybeen sufficiently made public.
Mr.. Merriman begged leave to differ
with 1.-THE President" No official mott
lication Of the action of the Board had
yet appeared.
The President-"I have no objection
to notice being published one time
that bids will be received at so much
line, to be paid in county warrants"
Hack moved publication in theAppeal
and Post.
Mr.. Merriman was willing that very
brief notice should go into all tb e papers.
"The President" would be satisfied at
the publication in the two papers of the
highest character of both parties, aud
moved as a substitute the publication in
the Post and Appeal Or, he was willing
that publication should be made in the
LEDGER and Post.
White moved to amend by adding the
Bulletin to the LEDGER and Post.
Mr.. Merriman would further amend
by moving the Bulletin and LEDGER.
Louis moved to amend the amend
ment by adding the Post.
Mr.. Merriman moved to further
amend by adding the Appeal.
Father Hack moved to drop the whole
matter, which was carried.
Hack-''I also move to adjourn until
we get in better humor." Lost.
Hack, again" Then I will leave you
to fight it out without me-" And there
upon the gentleman took his hat and
made his exit.
1.-THE President =" Really, gentle
men, if this thing is to continue, / would
suggest dose of vermifuge."
1.-THE Doctor "-"I would amend by
prescribing Mrs. Winslows Soothing
Syrup"
A temporary calm then set in, and the
happy family took up the matter of GER
tain appropriations, which were allowed
ARE OUR PEcUEIkRY RESOURCES MEX
HAUsTlBLE 2-Is there no check on the
extravagant and illegal appropriations of
the County COMMISSIONER This is
question which addresses itself with no
little force to the mind of the Taxpayer
barely able TO stand up under his present
burthens, and with actual bankruptcy
staring him in the face, should the exist
ing condition of things longer continue.
A very slight examination of the facts of
the case will be ample to ascertain that
the Commissioners are making appro-
priations of mountainous sums out OF
the county treasury without author.
ity for so doing; indeed, without
the semblance of authority. Nor
are they withal even careful to
conceal their acts from an outraged
public, but on the contrary, with bold
ness almost amounting to audacity, pub
lish them to the world. We have to go
no further than to the files of their or
gan " to discover all that is necessary for
our present purpose In their published
proceedings of the 18th and 18th, for in
stance, occurs the single item of $3.50 as
the quarterly appropriation TOLLS Honor,
G. w. Waldran, for salary. Now, it we
are not greatly deceived, the statute
creating Judge W. (if, indeed, he was
created at al), provided for the pay
ment for his valuable services out of the
State Treasury, at the rate OF $4,000
per annum. What, then, is this $3.50
for7 We further learn that the Com
missioners have generously concluded to
add $500 per annum to His Honors
stated salary, without one syllable OF le-
gal authority for so doing. Why, we beg
leave to ask, make Waldran's salary
$4,000 when no other judicial officer OF
the State gets so much for his services 7
Where ia the law that authorized this
Must the taxpayer who, it may be, labors
through winters cold and suamer's heat
for the maintenance of his family, gently
submit to such wholesale plumber for the
benefit Of petty functionary2 Where
is Merriman, the guardian of the
public treasury ?" Has the legal head of
the Board converted him to the belief
that there is any authority for such trans
actions If so, we do not hesitate 10
say to him that your President has
either ignorantly or designedly deluded
him. But why particularize We have
before us long list of appropriations of
similar character to the above. We