Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-27
Proceedings, Etc.
BOARD OF ALDsRMEs.

At the regular session of the Board oi
Aldermen, which convened at 9 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, the following message
OF Mayor Morris was received and for
warded TO the Common Council:
MAYORS 0FFIcE, April 26, 1879 To the
Honorable City Council of Nashville You
viii remember that the city finances came
into our hands after being managed for o
time by Receiver, appointed by the Chan
| Gerry Court of Davidson county. The agent
of the court, finding the treasury empty,
and the credi. of the city almost annihila-
ted, was forced to unusual methods forindu-
| cling the payment Of taxes. And the rigorous
| system of collections pursued by those who
Immediately preceded him had left SMALL
| er average on the books than had existed
for many years. The result was, that when
the present Mayor and City Council began
their arduous task, they had neither money
nor credit, and scarcely any resources from
which to obtain money. Their only en-
enlargement lay in the fact that they sup
posed they had the hearty sympathy of the
| entire resident community-especially of
the tax payers-and might confidently look
| for their earnest support Notwithstanding
the straitened nature of our position, your
Finance Committee and myself determined
at the outset that we would proceed upon
cash basis, and create no new debts and
l believe every member of the City Council
agreed with u$fn this determination. So
far we have worried out that determination.
and have cashed every new bill contracted.
To do SO, close economy has been used of
course, but close economy is the only
sound-the only honest policy for an in
solvent government, as it is for an insolv-
ent individual.
This Is the first time since the beginning
OF the present administration when we
have been threatened with inability to pay
the honest laboring men employed on the
various departments. 1t is true that hold
ers of heavy claims have formally pro-
ceeded to sell much Of the municipal prop
erty; but this has not prevented us from
supplying the city with water and gas, nor
from paying limited police force and
making few repairs upon the streets.
We have even managed to pay the expense
of some charity patients in the st. Vincent
Hospital, and of a dispensary economi-
cally conducted But some persons
persons from whom we expected ANYTHING
but harshness and seyerity-have inaugu-
rated system of persecution through LEGAL
process, or pretended legal process, which
fear may disable us, temporarily at least.
from paying the various departments at the
close OF the current month, which is fast
approaching. Ineed not dwell in this mes
sage on the inquisitorial steps of impatient
| and elamorous creditors, which threaten
to withhold from the laborer his hire. Ny
object is to call your attention to such
| further measures of retrenchment as these
fresh embarrassments may force upon us.
For my part, l am determined to do moth
ing on credit; and believe you will sus-
tain me In this determination. Whatever
differences of opinion may exist in the
City Council on minor questions, l feel
confidence IN their unanimity upon this
subject. am determined that men shall
not be employed on the police force, or at
the Waterworks, or upon the streets, or
elsewhere, and paid for their services in
deprecated evidences of debt, which they
must sell at the street corners to merciless
usIrers before they can satisfy the cries OF
their children for bread feel an implicit
reliance on your support in this resolution.
Let us stand firm in our determination
that no system of persecution shall
drive us to the issue of any checks except
those which are paid at the counter on pre-
sentation. And until we can devise some
means for keeping from the grasp of hun
/ cry creditors of our predecessors that
which we may provide for the payment of
those we employ to labor for the city's
welfare, | suggest that you suspend as far
as possible the expenses of every depart
ment. 1t is for you to DIRECT IN this OK
tremity. ! take this occasion to call your
attention to section 10 of the CITY Charter
which requires that the City Council shall,
before the Assessor and his assistants
have completed the valuation, determine
the amount of taxes required and neces-
sary TO be raised for the ensuing year. It
is important, as you will readily perceive,
that this matter should be attended to at
| once. X. ]. MoRRIs.
The Waterworks Committee reported in
favor of granting the petition of Mr.. j F
Hosrich for an extension of water pipe.
The same Committee reported adversely
to the petition Of Mr.. Carpenter in regard
to street sprinkling privileges. The petit
ton was subsequently, referred to a Joint
Committee of three, from each Board.
MEETING OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Council met at 3 o'clock, President Her
riford, in the chair. A quorum being
present they proceeded to business.
| A communication from the Mayor was
received stating that the special object Of
the meeting was that Council may take
steps to consider at as early a moment as
possible the amount of taxes required and
necessary to be raised for the ensuing
| year in accordance with section 10 of the
City Charter, and that any other business
the body thought proper to consider would
be in order under the call.
The Board of Aldermen was notified tina
the Council was ready to meet them
IN CONVENTION.
President Carroll and Speaker Herrifor,
presided. The President stated that the
object of the meeting in convention was Il
inspect ard receive the Assessors books