Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-10
THE CITY.
MUNICIPAL.
Meeting of the City COuncif-SIayOrs'
Message-City Etnances--Hetrench
menf etc,

An adjourned meeting of the Board Of
Aldermen was held last night, President
Carroll in the chair and quorum present.
A message from Mayor Morris was read
and ordered to be fled.
A petition from Ferdinand Phister ask
ing that he be allowed $40 for services as
clerk in settling up affairs with the Finance
Committee and the Commissioner of the
Metropolitan Police Laid on the table.
TIE POLICE BILL.
Alderman Patterson submitted a mi
nority report explaining his objections at
some length against the adoption of the
first section of the bill, believing that the
health and prosperity Of the city would be
better benefited by larger police force.
The minority report was accompanied by
two amendments providing that the force
shall consist of one captain, four sergeants,
one sanitary sergeant and thirty-four pat
rolmen. The captain to receive 800 per
month, sergeants 800 and patrolmen $50.
The report was received and fled.
The bill regulating the police Of the
city was taken up and acted upon section
by section.
The amendment of Mr.. Patterson, pro-
posing to increase the number of the force
was rejected
An amendment was adopted requiring
members of the force to be residents of the
city six months previous to their appoint
ment.
Mr. Cabler moved to strike out that por-
ton of the third section requiring mem
bers to know how to write and read intel
| lightly. Carried
Mr.. Cabler moved to amend the eighth
section by reducing the salary of the SER
geants from $50 to $50. Adopted
The bill then passed third reading rs
amended-ayes 3, noes l, Mr. Patterson
voting in the negative.
A bill to amend chapter SO of the revenue
lsw, SO Is to make the tax on spurious
liquors seventy-five dollars, which was re-
jected at former meeting, was reconsid-
cred and passed on its second reading
A Dill TO tax insurance companies doing
business in other States, acting under one
agency, 500 passed three readings.
Several petitions of minor importance
were disposed Of
Mr. Hurley offered resolution calling
for a committee to settleup with the County
Court Clerk on account with the city. Adopted
and Mr. Hurley was appointed on the part
of the Board of Aldermen.
The Board of Common Council was then
notified that the Aldermen were ready to
meet in convention TO elect Police Commits
sioners.
The amendment to the bill regulating
the keeping of the Workhouse was nom
cOncuTed in.
BOARD OF COMMON COUNCIL.
The City Council met last night in regu-
lar session, and was called to order at seven
and a half o'clock, President Hereford
being in the chair At roll-call quorum
answered to their names and business was
proceeded with The minutes of the
previous meeting were read and approved.
The following message from the Mayor
was read and received:
MAYORS OFFICE, Dec. ., 1SG9.-To the
Honorable City Council of Nashville: feel
it my duty again to call your attention,
briefly, to the financial condition of the
city.
The amount Of revenue collected from
all sources for the corporation, since the
appointment of the Receiver, Is 1896, 727. so.
The disbursements have been $157, 365.0G,
which, after deducting commissions of the
present revenue collector (S132. 62), leaves
a balance on hand of 50, 229.92. OF this
balance. several thousand dollars must be
paid out within the present month, to meet
positive engagements. The collections
during the current month must be very
small so that we cannot reasonably expect
to have on hand, at the close of the month,
a sum sufficient to pay off the employees,
the school department, and the current
monthly expenses. The reports of the
Treasurer and the Finance Committee will
give you the details of receipts and ex-
! penditures, which need not be repeated
| here.
The Chief of the Fire Department, act
ing in concert with the Committee
| of that Department, has made changes
which will work considerable reduction
| of expense; vet | cannot refrain from sec
| onding the praisewOrthy efforts of those
| gentlemen, by recommending that two of
| the steam Fire Engines be retired from the
regular service, and kept in their respect
i've houses in such a state of readiness
that, under the prompt management of our
| able Chief of the Department, they may be
| brought into temporary use with little de-
Law on occasions of extraordinary danger.
| This will reduce the Fire expenses nearly
| one-haH
Heavy reductions will be made in the
|
| passage of the bill reducing the number Of
! the police. Both these departments are
under faithful management and it is pain
| full to urge their reduction. The police Is
| composed of competent, efficient men. and
their number is not greater than would be
| proper under any but circumstances of
| financial distress Doubtless, the Com
missioners you are about to elect will find
| "a I 81,
| will part, when all are so well discharging
| their duties
| But after these reductions the current
| expenses Of the city government per month
will not be much less than $50, 700. Of
! course, 1 do not allude in this estimate,
| to interest accruing on the debts Of the cor
poTation; but merely to the running ex-
penses of the various departments.
| From this timepntil the first of July next
it is estimated that the collections of rev.
| enue from all sources cannot exceed
| $S5, 600, exclusive of any amount which
may be realized from the collection Of
taxes to be levied for the year 1870, (Which
are not generally available before that
time, and including the water-tax of the
next semi-annual term. The expenses, at
the rate of 500, 900 per month, will amount,
from the LIST of December to the LIST of
July, to $4,000 and we have engaged to
pay about $4,000 on Judgments on old
bonds and interest, in March. Other liza
bilities will have to be met, amounting,
perhaps, to $40, 600 more. This will show
a deficiency of $4,000, making apparent
the urgent necessity of reducing our cur
rent expenses one-halE
It is true that under the present
Law, if our usual assessment he COM
pleted in time, we may begin to collect
taxes for the year 1870 before the 1st of
July; but, on the other hand, there are
judgments against the city, in the United
States Circuit Court, obtained at the last
May term and previously, on which exeeu-
tons will presently issue, for more than
fifty thousand dollars. These judgments
have not been enjOined, and a portion Of
them cannot be; it is not certain that any
of them can be. Suits are also pending IN
that court for large amounts, which stand
for trial at an adjourned term to be held in
February next; and if judgment 60 against
us in these, execution will issue soon after
on a portion of them which are for amounts
under 81, 900, and on the others unless ap-
peals be taken and security given.
| recommend, therefore, that we should
not depend, to any extent, on the
revenues TO arise from the property-ta1
of the ensuing year, in making pro-
vision for the current expenses Of the next
seven months. But on this point I will
here take occasion to remark, that the law
fixing the time for the election of Tax As
SCISSOR should be at once amended so as to
bring on the election of that officer at the
last regular meeting in December; so that
he may make his arrangements TO begin
the work of assessment promptly on the
10th day of January, 1870. We shall need
the property tax TO meet the liabilities
mentioned above, other than current ex
penses, at the earliest day it can possibly
be collected. And as, under the present
law, the collection may be fastened by al
early assessment, it is important the assess
ment be made with all possible dispatch.
As to the current expenses, / feel bound