Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-03
OUR ooxnor COUNCIL.
OLD CUSTOMS.

Ga sh.s OLD CUSTOMS. ssiisas
The custom Of roll.callipg, like log
rolling, is of ancient origin. 1t first took
place in the days of Noah before the food.
The Great Patriarch who presided over
the FIRST assembly of sages was blind, and
therefore It became necessary to call the
names of the Fathers congregated ere he
could tell who was present. The follow
ing of this good old practice in Memphis
is very useful to people who meet to hear
affairs of the city discussed, for when the
circle of brilliant lights called Alder
men is through repeating here :
twenty times, no man OF sound
sense or sentiment can gaze upon
that august body without being deeply
impressed with its wisdom and impor-
lance. AS class-meeting for the eluci-
dation of the most difficult problems it
stands higher than any debating society
we read of in the annals Of the Greeks
or Romans. Another good old custom is
the reading of the minutes, which be-
comes q matter of necessity in order TO
refresh the memory of Aldermen and
tell them what an amount of business
they had transacted at their previous
meetings very fattering and praise
worthy performence, even if it occupies
little less than two hours time.
Still another ancient and laudable
custom is the reception of what is called
by wise men Mayors message. Such
a document is ever taken as the strongest
proof that the Chief Patriarch has
earned his salary. On this occasion his
Worship explained his financial
scheme" and presented views on the
management Of railroad stocks seemingly
satisfactory, as ne one made the least
attempt to question their soundness.
Indeed the message was read in solemn
silence, and then, like many an old
fashioned sermon, quite forgotten-an
example to the rising generation of the
cool and careless manner in which
| sages take advice.
OFFICERS REPORTS.
The City Attorney furnished the graft
\ fying information that Memphis is in
debted to James Simpson the small sum
| of Sll, 900; to 81. Amy & Co., $4439
Poston & Humes, $1,000; E. D. Smith
$780, and that judgments against the city
| for these sums had been granted and ex
ecutions upon them issued. The City
Physician stated that at the end of De
eember there were 81 patients in the
hospital; since then 76 had been re
ceived, l63 treated, SO discharged, II
died, and "a remain. The North Mem
phis Matchmaker collected 5000; South
Memph Matchmaker, 1916 rs; Tax
| Collector, S5049 81; Coal Inspector
5000 "A; Wharfmastcr, $3677 10. The City
Controller gave his receipts as $76,37l 81
and expenses as $s2,73 76, exhibiting I
praiseworthy excess of expenses amount
ing to the triaing sum of SIC, 364 20. TIL,
Street Com missioner was pleased to sa,
he had expended during the past month
$244S on the streets, $679 so Of which
went for cleaning the Nicolson pave
ment, $l25 for laying sidewalks in Chel
sea and 1910 for repairing Seventh street
in Fort Pickering. The City Engineer
expenses for the month were sll97 81
He expressed his opinion that the streets
lately paved were in good condition, ex
cept that portion of Main street where
the Gayoso Gas Company had taken ny
blocks to lay down pipes, and that the
cost of repairing that part would not ex
coed $1,000.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The report of the Committee on
Accounts embraced numerous items
of outlay, among which were sums
for swapping and doctoriug horses
supplies" "sundries, " and so-forth. Il
wound up by Alderman Moffet offering a