Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-13
PUBLIC LEDGER.
OyERpRAWN.

UNEhDhA WIN.
Our valued morning cotemporary-
Avalanche-in endeavoring to find some
fault with the Mayors message on the
water-workss rather overdraws on the
language used, abiding to the manner
in which the Water Companys charter
was obtained from the Legislature. The
clearly expressed idea is All attack on
the individuals who succeeded in having
their names placed in the charter as in
corporators and the special and inter
ested friends of the measure. No refer
cnce is made to the members of the
Legislature who voted for the passage Of
the charter through that body. 1t
was private charter, for the benefit OF
a few individuals, and the legislator
was not required to know whether the
public approved of it; and, therefore, its
passage through the Legislature was pre-
cisely as other bills of that nature. 1t
does look little strange that Mr.. Gums
name should figure so conspicuously as
a party interested, although he has the
same right to be one of the stockholders
of the company that any other citizen
Of the community would have. And
not in this instance alone, but in other
private charters passed by the present
Legislature, can the name of John Gum
be found. Our information is, that SEN
ator Cubbins, through the influence OF
the position he holds, procured the pass
age of the Water Companys charter
through both branches of the Legisla-
ture at the closing and hurried hours
of the session Whether right or wrong,
we leave the public to judge. What
we would say is this: that Mr.. Cabins,
the Senator, and his partner referred to,
could easily have had an understand
ing, and it might be presumed
that the partner had more influence
with the legislator than other people,
owing to their intimate relations in other
business Mayor johnson had no refer
ence to the members Of the Legislature,
as we are informed, in his communica-
ton to the Water-works Committee, and /
neither would we have presumed such a
thing from reading the published docu-
ment. From the promptness in which
the Avalanche flies to the defense of
these gentlemen when no attack IS made
upon them, at once raises suspicion in
the public mind, where before there was
no suspicion that anything was wrong.
Messrs. Cubbins, Jones and Townsend
nav exclaim, Save us from our friendsl
The Mayor is right in declaring that no
one who has an interest in the city could
have been found to approve such char
ter. especially when the language of the
charter, if carried ont, would be in direct
opposition to the interest Of the masses
Of our people We emphatically pro-
claim it, if it be necessary, from the
housetops that we are for the people, as
a collective mass, and before the interest
of few individuals who would use the
franchises of the city to enrich them
selves, when this wealth should remain in
the pockets of those who have the first
ownership oft, and gained it BY hard toll.
We are opposed to private monopolies,
come in whatever shape they may. If
the city finds itself unable to build and
own this great public improvement then
let enterprising individuals take hold Of
it for personal ends But until this is
assured--which we do not believe will
be--we are in favor Of the city and the
people thereof owning and controlling
the water-works for the benefit Of all.
There is nothing selfish or narrow
minded in this, and being the policy of
the Mayor, the people, whose
representative ne is, should stand by his
Honor in this matter until the courts
have fully decided the controversy. The |
LEDGER will ever be found on the side Of |
the people when matters that interest
them shall come up for discussion. In
the election Of Aldermen and Council
men. next January, no man should be
supported by the party who does not
disclose his position on the water-works
question plainly before the day of cleo
ton. The Mayor should have a Board
to stand by him in his measures for the
public good.