Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-17
CITY AFFAKRS-THE SCHOOLS,
FINANCES, ETC., DISCUSSED.
To the Editors Of the Union and American;

1 AEkAkEGS-KHE SOEMVOASN
FINANCES, ETC., DISCUSSED.
To the Editors Of the Union and American;
You have published in your valuable pa
| per, the UNION AND AMERICANA, q num-
Der of communications upon the subject of
the proper management of our city gov
eminent in its various departments and
particularly, in reference to the subject Of
the public schools, but all have thus far
failed to suggest any practical or feasible
| plan.
Your correspondents seem to have for
gotten, altogether, that the check mill has
stopped, and that the present administra-
ton don't propose to run that machine any
longer. But they do propose, however, to
keep alive every department or institu-
ton which they have the ability and means
to sustain.
1t is presumed that the people by this
time have learned that the city of Nash
vile is bankrupt, having been plundered
and robbed by set of adventurers, of
whom we have just gotten nd, and we
are just now beginning fully TO re-
| alize the true situation of affairs.
But from the tone of some writers on
the subject, it would seem that some very
intelligent gentlemen have not yet realized
our financial situation. 1t would be well
perhaps for those gentlemen to attend the
meetings of the Mayor and City Council,
and hear the reports made from the
various departments-they would perhaps
learn something to their advantage. 1t is
very easy matter to talk, but talk don't
put money In the Treasury.
There is not dollar of school money in
the Treasury, and but precious few of any
other sort. We have no money with which
to pay the current expenses of the present
month. How are they to be paid2 Has
any body proposed 10 come TO the relicf Of
the city-t0 lend her the cash
But it is said, Levy tax-tax the people
and raise the money. Of course, that will
be done; nobody doubts that but does
anybody suppose that if the City Council
should pass an ordinance tonight for that
purpose, that the money will be gathered
into the Treasury tomorrow? Don't all
know that it requires time to do this? The
law is, and has been for years, that the
Tax Assessor cannot commence his work
until after the 10th of January.
He cannot complete his work before the
LIST Of April or May, and no considerable
amount of revenue will be collected before
the LIST Of July. Now what is to be done
in the mean time? How can YOU pay,
before you get the money to pay with?
Or is it proposed that we shall run the
concern on credit? Well, that might do,
provided we had credit. 1t is but too
well known we have none, and it is per-
haps well for US that such is the fact.
What, then, shall be done?
Why, "a father" proposes to dispense
with the fire department, and leave the
city to the mercy of the consuming ele-
ment Let our beautiful city, with all its
noble buildings, its manufacturing estab-
lishments, ware houses, store houses,
hotels, mansions, cottages, and the homes
of the poor and humble, be laid in ashes,
and thus render whole population house
less, himself and family, but don't let the
schools stop, even for few months.
Shut of the gas, and let our people and
| the few strangers that may visit our city,
gropo their way through our streets in utter
darkness, and thus subject the city to
| further litigation for mashed heads, and
| broken bones. but don't stop the schools
| a day.
Now, IN all candor and seriousness, would
it not be better to suspend the schools for
a short season, or until we can raise the
money to pay for them? What better can
be done ? has anybody said Remember
it is money we want, not t0U. VIII any
| liberal and philosophical friend to the
| cause of education lend the money to the
city until it can be received by taxation?
If so, let him speak, and render his name
immortal. But don't forget that the Check
Mill is stopped, her machinery entirely out
of order, a nd all the c0lldterGls disposed of
Let it be remembered that no sane man
proposes TO abolish the public schools, but
all sensible people must agree that dire
! HCcGssity-want of DlORcy-may c0wpelhbejr
suspension for time. All must agree that
some departments of the city government
| are more important or indispensable than
| others. For instance, we must have
water; the water-works department must be
sustained, for all, old and young, rich and
| poor, must hare TGter. The next most i'm
| portant interest is the Fire Depart
ment il is essential TO our
very existence as a city and mHSt be SUS-
taine3. 1t is useless to say that without
| the Fire Department, etc, our whole city
| might as before stated, IN few short hours
| be laid in ashes and ruins
The next most important subject is the
Police Department For the preservation
| of the peace and the protection of the lives
and property of our people, this department
must be sustained.
1t IS understood that the expenses
| Of these departments have all been trimmed
| DOM to the forrest d0ilGr at which they can
be supported, and some too l00 to be fully
| efficient, and the expenses of every other
| department have been cut off in like man.
ner; everything in the way of street work
has been abandoned except in the way of
small repairs and cleaning up the mud and
mo other expense is incurred except such
as are absolutely necessary" Let the pub
lie feel assured that the Mayor, City Coun-
Gil and Board of Education, will stand by
| and protect and defend the public schools
| at all hazards, arbcH the means are pro
Uided far their support But let us sec the
| money first ANTI-NEw-D DEBT.