Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-15
CITY COUNCIL.
Veto Message of Mayor LeGtwich
Public School Tax.

Council Chamber Saturday, Judge J. T.
| STsyne in the chair, the following veto
message was received from his honor,
Mayor Leftwich
MAYORS OFFICE, June Is, 1888
| To the Honorable Board Of Aldermen:
The ordinance passed at your last meet
| Jog increasing the rate of taxation for
| school purposes from twenty to thirty
| cents in the one hundred dollars IL open
| to such grave objections that am COM
PEELED by a sense of duty to return it,
with the following reasons why cannot
approve it:
| Weighty arguments might be used
, against the justice and propriety of tax
| ing one man to educate the children of
another, when the latter Is equally or
probably more able to pay for ii himself:
| but this we pass, and only present the
| insurmOuntsbie facts that array them
selves against the measure.
The depreciation of our railroad stocks
and other assets, as s result of the war !;
| the occupation by the Federal forces for
| six years, without rent, of the navy yard
| property, which heretofore yielded a
| handsome income; and the government
of the city during the war by military
| appointees, who we're net interested in
OUT welfare, are among the causes which
have given US a large debt aud poor
credit and to reduce the former and
! improve the latter is the first and highest
duty We owe those whom we represent.
Your City Tax Collector is daily re-
minded and convinced OF the utter ina
bility OF many heretofore prompt tax
payers to pay the amount already asses
sed against them without the forced sale
of property st ruinous rates. Your
Treasurer is as often Eumiliated at his
inability for want of funds to pay lust
debts of long standing to needy creditors,
while all who have left any remnant of
human sympathy are hourly mortified
at the actual and Immediate want that
has to be turned away unrelieyed, to say
nothing Of the important sanitary meas
ures and many needed improvements
that have to be dispensed with for want
Of money.
TO relieve US partially from these
pressing endorsements you authorized
the Issuance of thirty years six per cent.
bonds and asked the voters Of the city to
ratify your action. This met with fierce
opposition, the main argument against
the measure being that the Issuance OF
these bonds would cause you to disre-
gard the policy of retrenchment that had
been inaugurated with such beneficial
results. This argument was successfully
met by pointing 10 the statement of the
Finance Committee already made, and
which bad set apart twenty cents on the
one hundred dollars for school purposes
Negotiations have been made with this
allowance, to the extent Of our wants for
that purpose, SO that it would seem that
we have no right to go beyond it, but
are in honor bound not 10 DO SO. Other
important negotiations are now pending
which are liable to be retarded, ii not de-
feated, by this early attempt to go be-
yond cur pledges by the increase of an
already oppressive taxation.
1t might, with propriety, be said, "that
corporations, like individuals, when In
Strengthened circumstances, should seek
relief by curtailing expenses" and this
has necessarily been done in all the de-
partments Of our city government to q
greater extent than we recommend to
the public schools; indeed, from the fol-
lowing features it will be seen that Hbe-
raj provision, under the circumstances,
hes been made for them:
The estimated requirements for school
purposes for the next scholastic wear ia
$40, 100. The allowance already made is.
in round numbers, So, 800, or SIG. 700
above the requirements; but this addi-
tionsl allowance is Esked for to relieve
an existing Indebtedness which, from
facts already presented, would be, at this
time, an Unjust imposition on the tax
payers.
With this surplus above the estimated
requirements of the next year, the good
sense for which the Board Of Visitors is
proverbial will readily determine to what
extent the due Indebtedness shall be re-
duced, or the requirements for the next
year be diminished.
With the deep interest feel in the ed
ncatiOn OF the children of the land, / can
but regret that our poverty has imposed
on me the unpleasant duty of returning
your ordinance without my approval.
Y.urs, very respectfully, etc,
JOHN W. LEI TNICH, Mayer.
Alderman Powers moved to receive
the message. Carried.
Alderman Rsnner moved to concur.
After considerable discussion, partici.
pated in by Alderman Johnson, Ruffin.
Rsnner, McDavitt, Moffatt and Magev-
eny, q vote was taken to concur in the
veto, with the result Of 8 ayes to noes,
and the motion was adopted.
A petition was received from DR.. Frs.
kline and several other physicians rela-
tive to the establishment of free dis
pensary for the benefit of the poor. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Finance.
Alderman Powers resigned his posi-.
ton as Chairman Of the Improvement
Committee, and Alderman O'Donneu
was appointed to Gil the vacancy.
Alderman Johnson resigned his posi-
ton as Chairman of the Hospital Com
mittee, aad Alderman Mageveny was
appointed in his place.
A petition was received from a num-
Der of citizens, asking to be allowed the
use of the rooms in the third story of
the old Medical college Exchange build.
ing, for Bethel school.
Alderman Johnson supported the pe-
tition, and said they also intended to es.
tablish q soup kitchen in connection
Herewith.
Alderman O'Donnell was afraid of any
such move, as the children might be
taught a religion to which their parents
might object,
Alderman Rufin supported the peti.
ton, and did not think that parents who
failed to support their children had anv
right to object to their being taught
some religion Catholic or Protestant
could do no harm.
The Chair supported the petition, as
did Alderman Wright, ADD the prayer
Of the petitioners was granted.
A petition was received from r. G.
BriRkley, Esq, asking permission to
place a steam engine and boiler under
the basement Of the new hotel In the
Brlnkley block. Referred to the City
Engineer.
The meeting then adjourned.
Bills LadIng pFi2tea at the Lowest
Prices at the Appeal Job OAiee.
DR.. 0TEY has removed his office 10
1874 Main street, opposite South Court