Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-21
UNION NO. 2.
A Quorum $ cured and Busi-
ness Proceeds.
That SI,OOO,OOO OF City Bonds
to be Investigated.
Speeches Of II. II. q. Brooks and
j. B. Bingham.

The property holders met at the hall
of the Chamber of Commerce last night,
and completed their organization by
f~leeting r. G. Brinkley president. Judge
l.. V. Dixon vice-president, Jno. B. Rob-
inson secretary, and John OVertOn treas
urer. The appointment OF committees
was postponed to give the president time
to select persons who can devote n
necessary time to the duties required.
1t was determined that when the
Committee on Abuses is appointed, they
be instructed to at once proceed TO in
vestigate the public bond matter, and
learn what abuses have been practiced
by public officials.
A resolution was passed i~nstructing the
Abuse Committee to find out the facts
connected with the sale Of The million OF
bonds of the city, issued to fund the float
ingdebt, and takethe advice OF competent
lawyers TO ascertain whether they can
establish fraud in fact or in law, and If
so, whether the city can secure anything
for the same, either in law or equity,
from the parties who sold or bought said
bonds. The committee is to be APP
pointed by the President, and their
names announced in all the city pspers
on Tuesday morning next.
Suggestions were made to appoint q
special committee to investigate the
bond bueiness, but Judge Dixon thought
it would obstruct the attainment of the
desired object; and he also thought it
would be be best not to take action until
a large meeting could be obtained. be
attributed the paucity Of the numbers
present to the fact that impediment5 had
already been too many for the good OF
the association.
Col. Bingham said the remark Of Mr..
Dixon led him to infer that there WAS
opposition to the Association, but there
was no danger Of that, every prop
erty owner desiring harmony being
willing to pay there means towards
carrying out the wishes of the AssOeis-
ton he, himself, it had been intimsted,
was ininicsl to tie Union, but, since all
differences had been settled, and the
only object now in view was TO ferrit
out fraud and rascaIity and bring guilty
parties to punishment, he, and all CT
his friends, were heart and soul for the
Association. He was tired Of paying
taxes to be sguandered by corrupt off
cials-they had been trying to whip
the devil round tho stump" long
enough-the city had q large h)ating
debt, which, under the head OF ledger
OaiSC ose," were by law
and he thought something should be
done to stop it.
3. F. c. Books said he had come
into the meeting g casual OBJ
server, ignorant of its object or de-
sign, aud only through curiosity.
From observation he learned that they
are after thieves, rascsIs and villains.
He has been after them sort of folks for
thirty years, and now he was willing TO
go in still more, aud drive them out of
their holes, Or into them, If more proper.
He would suggest that legal steps be
taken 10 cause the coming bond election
to be stopped until the committee could
report their Investigations.
MIR. Robinsoa said he wished the peo-
pie to understand that fifteen years ago
our taxes were but ffteeD cents OF the
hundred dollars, and our city credit was
then par. Now we pay tsxss on prop
erty assessed at $50, 600 900, which is Just
double the assessed value Of Nashville
property. He, like the rest, wished pub
lie effaiTs Investigated and ventilated,
and would not rest until It was done.