Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-04
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.


Gard from John Lellyett, Esq.
Tothe Editors Of the Union and American:
Ihave been advised by sensible menthat
ought to correct certain false representa-
tions which have been circulated to injure
Mayor Morris and the whole city admins
tration. The reports relate, first, to the
contract made with Messrs. w. F. and II.
Cooper. The facts in that case are briefly
these: The city had formerly employed
two official city attorneys, with compen-
sation limited at s., 800 per annum. 1t
had been deemed, and no doubt was,
necessary TO employ assistance, or other
attorneys, which had generally cost at least
as much more. At the beginning of this
administration, an immense mass of
litigation had accommodated, aud was in
prospect; and to have followed the old
plan could not have cost the city less than
$3.50 for a single year. The City
Council determined to change the system,
and let out the work by contract The
Finance Committee was empowered, by
resolution, to do this; ana let out con-
tract to the Coopers. These gentlemen
agreed. to take all the cases of the cor
pOralion then on hand in all the courts,
except four old cases nearly finished; and
all the cases which should arise out of the
Alden administration during the next
three years. And they agreed to attend
t. all these cases-not for three years, but
Till they should be finally disposed of
and that must be many years. The con-
tract embraced probably the greatest mass
of litigation ever let out on one contract
in Tennessee-running through both the
State and United States Courts. And the
COopers agreed to employ all necessary as
sistance at their own expense. For all
this the Finance Committee contracted to
pay, not S15, 900 per year-not $751;
for three years, as many report it-but
SIS, 600 for the entire contract, though it
last forever. The amount paid on this
contract 10 this time is just So, 900.
The Messrs. Cooper, out of abundant
anxiety to serve the city well, employed,
at their own expense, Hon. Edwin H.
Ewing aud myself to assist them. 1t has
been reported that the Mayor secured nly
employment. Perhaps this would have
been a great crime, if he had; but, in
fact, he did not. He did not make the
contract with the Coopers, having no
power over it. Perhaps the COopers did
a great wrong to employ me TO help fight
the men who seek to make money by sue
ing the corporation; but neither the Mayor
nor any member of the city government
suggested it to my knowledge.
1t is also reported that have been en-
ployed by the Mayor or Council and al
ready paid 81, 900 for services this year.
This is false. There has bee1 no
business for the city TO give, of
any Importance, outside of Coop
er's contract There have been a
few trifing cases, which turned out not
to belong to Cooper's contract; and two
more important cases which pertsined to
a lot of cases put into my hands by the
Alden administration under the advice
of the late John Hugh Smith when he
was a member of that board. IhdUe not
been paid by the city one cent for
anything done for the city this gear.
l did collect from the city this year the
pay for legal services rendered from the
18th of December, 1857, to Dec. l, 1869,
on large number of important cases. l
had been employed, withou any solici-
tstion on my part, by the Alden adj
mnistration; but my services were
for the benefit of the taxpayers.
presented my bill. We did not
at once agree. l did not want to
sue, and proposed to arbitrate. This was
at first declined. But afterwards, the
committee representing the corporation
proposed to arbitrate. | agreed. The
result of the arbitration was that | was
awarded $4,000. Some members thought
/ ought to have less; and l thought l
ought to have more. But of course
both l and the corporation were
bound by the award. But if it was
wong for me to demand and receive
$4,000 for two years services in all the
courts wehave access to, in heavy cases.
while other lawyers have been paid So, 900,
$1,000, and $3.50, and such sums in single
cases, the fault is mine. The Council
could not help it. And the Mayor had
nothing in the OorJd to do oOith or
about 1t. JOHN LELLYRTT
September 8, 1870.