Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-18
THE CITY TAx-LIsT.

The Appeal offers up a most piteous
and heart-rending complaint this morn
ing in the anticipation of defeat in
procuring the publication of the city tax
list. In eloquent terms it speaks of the
vast amount of sweat and treasure al
ready expended in the interest of the
city, thinking to move the obdurate city
government in its intentions to save the
overburdened tax-payers,-and to allow
the "old reliable" the means of support
ing its pretentious title 1t would be
well, however, to ascertain more aceu-
rately, than from the mere statement of
the interested party, whether or not i'll
usage is threatened, and to one who has
already suffered so much. To dive at
the bottom of the case at once, we would
PROFOUND few plain and modest ques-
tons to our neighbor, who may respond
if II pleases him. The first is,
was the Appeal the lowest bidder for the
position of City Printer If not, as the
record will show, it would be well to be
silent on that head. The second inter
rogatory is to the effect, if the burden
complained Of, of printing the reports of
the two Boards, had not been undertaken
at two cents line by the Appeal, would
it have published those proceedings for
noihing2 We apprehend it would, as
the Avalanche, Sun, and sometimes the
LEDGER, are compelled TO do so in order
TO furnish their readers with the inform
alton that is looked for generally in
newspapers The Appeal was in the
habit Of publishing these proceedings Of
the two Boards and making no charge
when the Avalanche rolled in the luxury
of City Printer And by referring to the
columns of this last named and unofficial
journal of yesterday, the public may find
even better and more satisfactory re-
port of the proceedings of the city legis-
lature than can be found in the Appeal
of two days continuation Of the same.
The sum and substance of what we have
been last saying is, that the Appeal
would publish these proceedings at no
cost to the city government whatever, if
not elected City Printer-being COM
pelled to do so 10 furnish its readers with
the local news of the day Where, then,
is the burden so loudly complained Of,
when the city kindly pays that sheet two
cents line for such matter as it would
otherwise publish without it? One other
question of like import, and we will per-
nit this beggar TO descend from the
witness stand, and cease to an
nor him with our yexatious cross
examination. In being elected City
Printer, was il part of the contract that
the Appeal shonld publish the tax list at
the rates prescribed by law, and, in fact,
was this a subject of contract at all be-
tween the city and the official publishing
company? The written record of the
proceedings of the two Boards do not
show it TO be 50. The Aldermanic part
of the Board accepted the proposition of
the Appeal to print the tax-list. bnt in
the Board of Councilmen il was wisely
stricken out, intending as we are as
sured by the chairman OF the Finance /
Committee that it shonld be a subject
for future consideration. The LEDGER,
heretofore silent, will now pat forward |
its claims for some Of the loayes and .
few of the little fishes that are 10 be
given away. We are willing to enter
into a fair contest for this prize, and /
challenge our neighbors oil to draw their
"Boabdil Chico blades, aud 10 meet us
somewhere without the suburbs Of
Philippi City HALL, and there settle the
dispute The result Of such conflict
can but rebound to the city peeBBiary
interest, and can do no great harm 10 /
any one. The attempt Of the Appeal 10 |
create public sympathy in its own behalf
is quite unmanly and ought, in fact, to
operate against it. We are sorry that
the expense of running the machine is
fifteen hundred dollars per week and
not 4 cent less" 1t certainly cannot be
making money at that rate Of expendi-
ture. Who would have thought that 1t
cost so much to publish the Appeal,
weekly II would not be right. how
ever, to take the money from the
pockets Of poor taxpayers 10 meet these
heavy demands of this prosperous jour
nal, although its winnings may annoy
the gentle public The LEDGER is not
run with snch a guste and donrish of
long accounts of cost. but is equally sn-
titled to consideration when the city
government requires printing to be done,
ana well done.