Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-16
The asst Message discussed.
Alderman EEOfTat Makes Grave
Charges against the Mayor,
Comptroller s Treasurer.
a Esreezy Time in the Board.

- SN(aA86 II Nll A11Ae8l0 ~
as per resolution Of adjournment. Al
deIman Swayne took the Chair, and
quorum being announced the BSard pro
ceeded to business.
The following message was then resC
from his Honor, Mayor LefGwich:
MAYoR's OFFICE, CITY HALL,
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Jan. Is, 1862
To the Honorable Board of Aldermen:
You ere assuming the reins Of the city
government at q most critical period il
its history, and to insure success it is es
sentiai that you clearly comprehend anC
accept the situation.
Through the exercise Of a practics
economy and a sleepless guardianship
over the Treasury, cur credit gradually
Improved throughout the past corporate
year till very recently. For reasons thai
coming events will expose, 8 combined
and ceaseless opposition was made against
the line Of policy that had been agreed
upon as necessary to protect our honor
and credit.
This Was loudly heralded as a great
victory, and one modest individual
claimed that q hecat0mb should be
rSised il his honor therefor. 1t NAV
have seemeda victory" to those who
| owe no debts and live in ease and luxury
with 40 want unsupplied but to the
poor and dependent, the unpaid street
lab0Ter, hospital nurse, fireman and other
city employees, 20 well as merchants,
druggists, coal dealers, ETC., not to men
ton bankers 10 whom the city is indebt-
ed, the " victory" was not apparent, and
the hecat0mb, If q costly one, they were
willing fer the present, at least, to dis
peass with.
The smoke o" victory having passed
away, and the din Of se!f-Iaudation being
hushei, the stubborn fact is revealed
that our debts are still unpaid, and after
ali it remains for 0 20 provide for
heir payment. Aleading Editor, claim
ing to large financial ability, suggests
certainly a nOUet plan, "to-Wit:" the
ssle of thirty gear bonds at Csc, and the
purchase, through 8 "shrewd" agent, of
our " due Indebtedness at soc. would
question both the morality and the
feasibility OF the plan. But that its sensi-
tive author might think it a sneer at
the press y and consequently a fatal
DlunGeT." 1 leave it to his brethren OF
the press who have q better right to dis
cuss the merits OF his plan, and il found
applicable ia this Instance, it solves the
problem Of specie payment n insures
also the prompt payment of the national
debt.
To avoid repetition / respectfully refer
to my last message IS embracing my
carefully matured convictions, which
time and reflection have but confirmed.
I have sought in vain for other relief
than those suggested, or the alternative
Of pIedgirg cur railroad stocks to ecu
9 loan. Objections are made to both
these propositions, but the directors do
nothing nut object, and we need positive
aid rather than Negative advice. One
thing is certain, you must adopt one or
the other Of these plans, or propose q
Of your own, elae the aldermen, and not
the Efayur, must he held responsible TO
the poor and needy who daily throng
these hal.s pleading for e mere pittance
Of their hard earned cues.
Ispesk not of those creditors who WiH
not, but those no cdH not wait, aud in
dividual instances Of Injustice and suf-
feriUg are nov ia my mind, the bare re-
citsl Of which would bring the blush OF
shame to your choek, as Il has 20 mine.
One warning suggestion indications
Justify the tssT that large %sppropria-
lions some Tor visionary schemes and
zuacUlStiye lots" Eud others for legiti-
mate aud m~efit0Fious pHrposss-wiil be
asked for ct IN early day, Till cur pres
emf ODiEE ANADho ~ AAGtg oAh Jul NBBACg
give taxation reduced, ] hope you will
re all such demands, but it will re-
qu!re he highest order Of moral courage
10 successfully resist the Establishments
and threats that will be used in their be-
half.
Our safety lies in making no Gppropri-
atoms whatever, without Knowing
where the. money to meet it is to
come from, aUd then to sell all
that we have, aud giveito our creditors.
This course rigidly adhered to for n
year, with = c!Cso collection of taxes,
will pu. Memphis out of debt, except her
bonded Indebtedness, and whoever aids
in producing this happy result will be
hcnored and respected by all good men,
the clamnr Of rival and ~jealous rings"
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
1 have ignored all questions except the
financial one, because l esteem hat Of
fret and paramount Importance, and for
2 more detailed statement OF our wants,
I respectfully refer you 60 the report and
books Of the Comptroller.
Yours most respectfully.
J&O. W. LEFTMlCH, MsyoT'
On motion of Alderman Moffat the
message wss received and laid over until
il came up in regular order.
AAlNA EEEh 4TAIAA~1 " 49,
Oh Contested Elections, reported BIS fol-
lows: In favor Of allowing Mr.. J. E.
Wiiisms, of the Tenth Ward, to take
his seat, Mr.. Prendergsst having with
drawn his objections also in favor Of
MIR. Ogden, of the Seventh Ward. The
committee zane to the conclusion that
the Board have 40 jurisdiction any way
In contested elections, They are matters
for the courts. The case OF Mr.. Vincent
was also decided in his favor.
On motion of Alderman Cicslla Il was
received and adopted, aud the gentlemen
called forward, Rnd the oath of Office
administered by the Mayor.
Chairman SWRyne then stated that he
was elected for two years, and be was
therefore entitled to his seat, but as it
was no ~pleasura TO him to hold en- office
where he thought there was objection to
him, he therefore wished TO know the
sense of the Board on the subject.
Alderman Gallagher moved that the
City Attorney give the Board his opinion
on the subject.
Motion prevailed and the City Attor-
ney being called upon stated that this
w&s simply 8 matter OF construction OF
the city charter. In this doc6ment there
ia no provision limiting the tenure OF
| Office Of the chairman OF the board OF
| committees to one year. The general
| construction OF the charter is thst the
municipal organization is for two years,
| The mayor, chairman of the board, and
other officers are enOsen foF two years.
| The ten aldermen whose time expired
and who left the board, are simply re.
tired, and their places filed without dis
turbing the organization.
The opinion of the Attorney having
been given, Chairman Swsyne an
nounced that unless there were objection;
ne would continue ia the chair and pro-
coed 10 business, There being no objec'
ton he proceeded to the appointment o
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Ia doing this he announced that Ia
had exercised his best judgment; he haC
displaced no one, and had merely as
signed new members to the posifionI
held by the retiring members whosI
places they filed. He had also enlarged
some committees. Tbs following is thu
list a. they now stand;
COMMITTEE on IMPROVEMENTS,
Aldermen 0'DOnuell, Vincent, Rem
per, Msrshsll, Black, Cartwright, Clan
CIV, Ciealls, Moffat and Ellis from
each ward.
ACCOUNTS.
Aldermen Dyer, Hoist, Ogden, Black
Gallagher, Mohat.
FINANCE.
Aldermen Wa'cofk C6rtar. BLACK. Rau