Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-09
THE OTHER SIDE.
The Animus of that Impartial Sen.
sationaI Exposure.

The following card in this morning 8
Appeal explains how certain city officers
happened to overdraw:
In justice to the present administra-
tion OF the city of Memphis, wish to
make q statement to the public that can
be relied upon. II there is anything
wrong in the administration of the affairs
of the city it should be corrected, and 1t
matters not what may have been the mo.
tive of the party who instigated the in
vestigation; but If there is no wrong or
injury to the city, the motire of the
party who makes the charges should be
exposed to public scorn.
The present administration began in
January, 1868, and will end in January,
1870. The defaulters that are paraded
before the public are officers that have
had no connection with the present
Administration. Their terms ended prior
to 1868, and are embraced in many years
anterior to that date.
An investigation Of the accounts Of
these officers was made during the year
1868, and list handed me upon which
suits have been instituted and are now
pending in our courts
The complaint that is made against the
present Controller ia, that be has permit
ted certain parties TO overdraw their &C.
counts. The impression created and in
tended to be created at the time was that
these overchecks existed when the COM
plant was made. If the public under
stood the way the accounts Of the city are
kept they would not be misled, for it
would be seen that at the end of each
month the credits are given to the Off
GERS, and if there is any overpayment it
is then settled. | will take my own ac-
count as an illustration: On the lst Of
June'my account was balanced; on the
10th / drew check for $40. II would
appear to the public that at this time |
was over.drawn $40, and yet the city at
that very date was indebted to me Sla8-
38, leaving q balance due me of 1913 88.
| have TAKEN this as an example. The
cases of Mr.. Richards and the Mayor are
in the same condition. and so it will be
found with most or all the parties re.
ported. On yesterday, when this matter
was brought up, all these accounts were
balanced, and in many instances las in
my case) the city was indebted to the
parties several hundred dollaga,
hays made this statement in iusti6-
cation Of honorable gentlemen who have
been insidiously assailed, and among
others the Mayor, who is absent from the
city.
Official corruption should be exposed
and branded, but if honest men are found
in public places, the public should testify
its appreciation and give them its en-
dorsement.
l think it speaks we'll for the present
Controller Of the city, Mr.. Aaugh, that
after a search, whether made with good |
or bad motives, his books should show,
during his administration, over-checks of
officers Of less than 5000. This embraces
period of eighteen months, and involves
a settlement of many thousand dollars.
1t must also be remembered that fire.
quently the city has been behind in its
payment to theae officers several months
salaries, If payments are made upon
account to the employees Of the city when
the services are rendered no loss can
possibly ocepF.
Our hremen and street hands live by |
their daily wages, but are paid only at
the end of the month. Can there be any
harm in advancing to these employees !
after the services have been rendered to |
meet their daily wants2 The Controller |
tells me that 10 has frequently done this
in saail SUMS The city was safe and
the necessity of working men relieved.
What I'have stated in this communica.
ton of nay own knowledge / am willing
aud ready to stand by. The inierHation
received from othels can be verified by
reference TO the books OF the city.
r I MnpnAN CITY Attorney