Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-25
THE CITY.
The FaiSure OF Mayor 5OslasOn-,The APP
pears Position Conceded Correct.
The Remedies PrO9OsesI-The City and
County Of MemPglss-A single Set
OF Officers.

| OF OfdceES.
EDITORS APpEAL-The articles tina
have appeared recently in your columns
| in regard to the condition of city affair
and finances, has awakened considerable
| interest in the community, and aroused 6
| good deal Of inquiry as to what is to bs
done. It is easy to discover the defects
| or shortcomings Of any system, but Il
suggest new systems that have merit
| enough TO attract public attention, enc
! secure trial Of them, is 10 easy matter
| and while / cOncede that you have done
| your whole duty in advising the people
Of the condition Of affairs, still have noI
seen in your columns any suggestions as
TO how We are to remedy our evils. There
fore L viii presume upon your general
kindness to offer a suggestion of my OWL
/ for the relief Of The city, which will, i'll
my opinion, relieve the county at the
same time. 1t is simply this, divide
/ them. In all the large cities Of this
| country, experience has taught those
who, be il remembered, We're s5O1O %
learn, that two local governments viii
| constantly produce conflict, and antag-
| onisms, which lead, certainly, to the
| oppression OF the citizens. Hence, New
| York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and per-
| haps other cities, have been incOrpO-
rated into Independent governments az
| to their local affairs. Now, let us sup
pose that ali the territory from the State
line on the south, to an equal distance
on the north, and east, should be incor-
pOrated as the city and county of Mem
phis, then divide that territory into
wards, or districts, and let the charter
provide Tor each district 60 take care Of
itself o. to local affairs; IN other words,
let all taxation be special, road or street
tax, police tax, fire tax, school tax, etc,
alto be expended for the particular dis
trict where collected. Then, for officers,
salaries, interest on funded or bonded
debts and other general expenses, let
there bea general tax. Country districts
viii be taxed but lightly tor police and
fire departments, and cOmparatiyelylight
for streets. This would edualize taxa
ton as near as human wisdom could
reach it, and each district would con-
tral its own affairs 50 far as local expen-
ditures and protection is concerned, for
al the time Of election they could vote
on the rate Of local OF special tax. and
thereby the people would fix the rate
themselves, and not be dependent upon
too often indiscreet or inefficient repre-
sentatives. Other benefits suggest them
selves, but the question will be asked,
"HoW are we TO be benefited by this
arrangement How is it now? Shelby
county now supports seUen cOurthOuses
and SIX COLLECTORS OF REVENUE.
Gould not one man do all the work of
these six, with a salaTied deputy for each
department? Could not two Police
Courts, sitting constantly, do all the
work Of p. NJ. Winters and the eight
magistrates that daily sit in Memphis?
suppose these men do work for fees, and
not salaries, don't the people pay them?
The source Of our trouble and depres-
sion is, that we are governed to death
we have much office, and too much office
holder. There may be raised, as an OBJ
lection to this, that the country districts
would not he UillinQ to it. That is no
objection. The Legislature has the
power to make it so, whether thew wish
it or not; and it is to their interest, just
as the laws against concealed weapons
etc, are against their will, and still for
their interest. They pay heavily for
as it is, and have no bene-
fits scarcely. Furthermore, why is it,
that around the suburbs of the city, Just
outside the corporation line, land is
worth from one thousand dollars or
more down to one hundred dollars per
acre in all the territory to which l
have alluded? Is it not because the
city is here? Lands equally good,
fifty miles away, are only worth ten dol
lars, or less. Whatever helps the city
and Increases its population and pros
nnrffNv hAlrg hOflvv t,s
ty miles around. But if the city is re-
tarded by taxation and restricted terri
tory, then all are injured.
As to how all this viii relieve the
county, think may be already seen
Memphis being a part of the county,
requires the county to provide for its
poor, prosecute its criminals and pro-
vide for its courts. And in doing this |
is aroused between city and
and one will not do because the
other viii not. We have no workhOuse, !
because it would be the city that would I
Ill it. We have no pC0ThOuse of re-
lDeetable capacity, because it is the city
hat should support it. We have no 1
hospital for the same reason. We have /
/ jail and police stations, which add to /
lur sWaTms of officers, while one would /
S in debt to the amount Of four million /
iOllars or more, while the taxable prop
,rty at two and a half per. cent. of taxes, |
8 barely sufficient to pay current ex-
,enses, and nothing to pay interest on
he bonded debt; and the bonds are too
Ow to be quoted.
The county is in the same condition, |
some three hundred thousand |
,11 fr-
family falling behind and increasing the
PeciGt taxes to avoid the State law that
jrOvides that the county cannot levy a
,TeateT tax than the State. Let US con-
Oidate the governments and only pay
neset of officers. tits not to be expected
hat l should give exact figures, but I do
ssert that the city government costs as
much as 1t would if we were governing
he whole county, and the county gov
rnment costs as much more.
Statesmen all over the world have
against the union of church
nd state because Of incOmpatibility. |
American statesmen nave, as far as pos
ible, adhered to State rights for the same
eason, and the true science and philOs-
ply Of all government is that it be sim
lie and single, and adapted to every in
crest. a municipal corporation within
municipal corporation must needs be
ppressive, yet we Of Memphis have
lem-the county, the city and the COM
lOn school. Let Us unite our fortunes
\ one strong, good firm, and thereby
nhance our credit, reduce our expendi-
Ires and unite our heretofore conflicting
lterests. At least let us discuss the
uestion, 80 as to find something that
ill save US. Who can make more prac- .
cable and feasible suggestions than /,
lose abOve2 GRUaIBLER.
EDITORS APPEAL have noticed
uTing the past few weeks, in the differ ,
ut newspapers Of the city, many arti-
les and communications upon the de-
lOrable and unsatisfactory condition of
le finances, etc, of the city of Mem
his; condemning Mayor johnson and
lie General Council for their ineap1city, !
2d management, and the passage of !
Of unnecessary laws, which
re seldom or ever enforced. l aow G
lake 3 suggestion, which I trust will :
leet the hearty approval Of all the i
ewspapers Of the city. On the second I
az of January next, there viii be elect
J for the ensuing year twenty-five
lembers Of the General Council; and In
hat l desire, is, that from this time s
ltil the day Of election you urge and 1
sist upon every citizen and taxpayer, C
aving any interest in the future well
re of the city Of Memphis, TO go to the
ills on that day, and send to the Cen
al Council such men as are capable of 1
anaging and governing a city like {
is; send none but thorough, practical
lsiness men, who are identified with
-ery interest Of the city. Now, under =