Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-09
Mayors Message.

AT the meeting OF the bOSrO OF Aiuor-
men last night, the following was presented
as Mayor Kereheval's inaugural message;
GENrLEMES OF THE CITY CoUNc1L-In enter
ing upon duties as officers Of the corporation
of Nashville, in obedience 70 ume-nonOreu
custom it becomes my duty to address you.
Upon the faithful discharge of the duties en- |
trusted to our care and management VIII depend |
in great degree the success and prosperity OF |
our city. Being as well acquainted with the |
affairs and condition of the city, gentlemen, as
you are it is needless for me to state to you that
the INTEREST," confded to Us is of the greatest
magnitude and the people are directly interested
in the results OF our action, and the people VIII
closely scrutinize what we may do.
The making OF and proper enforcement OF
wise and wholesome laws in indispensable to the
life, health and prosperity of the citizen. Your
action should be such as 20 make the people feel
and know that they have intrusted interests TO
your care and management which viii be
seduiously guarded and protected rT1I 4
Some of you have experience in the manage
nent of the business affairs OF the corporation,
as its Lawmakers, and are well aware OF the
duties as well as the responsibilities imposed
upon you. And those of you who are new
members, and have had no such exper-
fence, but being sensible and practicable busl-
ness men, will soon, hope, become familiar
with the duties required of you. To you,
gentlemen, is entrusted the law-mak1ng
power, under the charter of the city, and
representing the various wards OF the city
and knowing and rejecting the wants
and sentiments of the people, it will be your du-
ty, exercising sound discretion, to propose and
adopt such measures as will be most calculated
to promote their interests and the general well
fare OF the city, keeping, however, always in
view the great financial embarrassment with
which we are surrounded. am but an execu-
tive ofhcer, whose duty 1t is to see that the law
is faithfully executed, and am clothed with the
power TO veto such measures as IN my judgment
and opinion may not advance the good ana the
interests of the city. The exercise OF tins power
an unpleasant duty, hope will never be requir-
ed of me. As YOU pass along in the exercise OF
vour duties, beg leave to admonlsn you tnaG
the Corporation is largely in debt, and it viii
become you to practice economy ana expend no
more money than may be absolutely necessary
TO promote the welfare Of the city ana It's peo-
Pile The total amount OF indebtedness OF the
Corporation is now over Seventeen Hundred
Thousand Dollars As a part Of this amount
now stands in judgments and court costs, the
sum of 600, Nashville and Chattanooga Rail
road Bonds, past due, 5000. OF the same Sy9,-
600, which fall due about the list OF April, 1873
Coupons falling due this year aud past due,
SIO3, 400. And a balance of what Is
known as Morris bonds of $4,000 which
fall due about the list July, 1873 You VIII see
upon calculation that the indebtedness which the
present administration has and will fall heir 70,
will amount in the aggregate to the sum OF SzI9,-
700 This amount will have to be met andset-
tied by you in some way. Knowing that the
present financial condition of the corporation is
such that it will be impossible during the ensu-
ing year to meet and pay of all of this large in
debtedness, | would respectfully suggest Wheth-
er il would not be best to issue new bonds, run
ming for years, and take up the old bonds
they fall due, and in this way postpone and be-
queathe part Of the indebtedness to the rising
cash, during the last municipal year, was S2O2-
GIL SO, is shown from the records in the once
OF the Recorder. s -sr--s- "a r-...F.zg
am informed that they are in a good and pros
porous condition. L hope such steps will be Ia
ken and policy pursued as to make them beneh-
cial as well as successful
I wOuld call atfanfi0n to the Question OF
water tax, From this source revenue Is
brought TO the city OF some $4,000 a year, Whlch
Is some $50 900 more than the actual COST OF sup
plying the same. Water is free gift TO man,
and upon its free use depends in great degree
the health and comfort of the people 1t Is my
opinion that a sufficient amount should be levied
and collected as tax on water to make the Wa
terworks self-sustaining, and to supply the pipe
and putting of the same down. and extending
the use of water wherever necessary, and no
more. An ordinance having been passed Dy
your immediate predecessors requiring the use
of water-meterS, L would respectfully recon-
mend its repeal, and the abolition OF the water
meter system. Such system is oppressive and
is well calculated to drive manufacturers rom
the corpOr alton or force them TO devise some
other means by which they can supply and fur
nish themselves with water.
The revenue laws should be rigidly enforced,
and no taxes be permitted to accumulate. IL Is
much easier to pay them yearly and when
due, than permit them to accumulate,
for then it is rainOus to the tax
payer and becomes disastrous to the credit Of
the CITY, The prompt collection of the city's
revenue will enable you to lquidate the debts Of
the corporation and sustain its credit. And II
the officers in the discharge of this duty will act
with decision and pr0mptneSs large amount OF
revenue which has been due for years past may
be gathered and the credit of the corporation
yet sustained and its beneficial effects felt
throughout. While l will again urge upon you
the practicing of economy, / cannot close with
out making some allusiOn to our streets and pave
ments. / would urge the rigid enforcement OF
the law in rpfprpnca tn rp0uirIlo DprgOnS to DuG
down their sidewalks. With all due respect TO
YOU, must say that it is great shame and dis
grace to or city to see the rugged and dnapl1
il the present law is deemed insufficient, i
would respectfully recommend that you pass or
enact one that will prove efficient for the
purpose. would further recommend that so
far as is consistent with the financial embass-
ment of the corporation, a reasonable, judicious
allowance should be made for the Improvement
of the suburbs of the city in the way of extend
ing the benefit of good water pipe. BY so doing
many families will be induced to purchase and
build on their lots in the suburbs of the city and
in this way will be produced an increase in the
value of taxable property, thereby increasing
the volume of revenue to the city, and also at the
same time enlarge and extend the size of the
city. L would further recommend that in all in
stances where labor is necessary upon the streets
that the same be given and appOrtioned out
among thsslaborers in the corporation. There
are maly,)f our citizens who are willing to work
even at small wages per day if they could only
convict labor should not be brought in contac
or opposition to the laboring classes who want
and are suffering for the want of work and en-
ployment. In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to
say that If you will give your aid and hearty
corporation in the enforcement of the laws of
the city, will see that they are faithfully execu-
ted win assss tlat Lwill do all inTny power
to aid you in pr0mosing IN any and every way to
the interests andprosperity q our city, and the
interests of the whole people, Very Respectfully,
4 s.st,s.sss..., THos, A. KERoHEvALsi Mayor
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