Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-17
THE REFORMATION.
Citizens Meeting Yesterday-Reso
buttons OF Reform Adopted.


Over FIVE hundred citizens attended
the reform meeting at the Greenlaw OPP
era House yesterday afternoon. Colonel
T. A. Nelson was elected chairman, and
Judge Mulroy and Colonel Smeltzer
were appointed secretaries. Mr.. Estes,
of the Committee of Fifteen, reported as
follows on sixteen resolutions, viz; Ac-
cepting the Grand Jury report as true
until the contrary appears; to call on
officials to discharge their duty, and to
invoke wise legislation on the part Of the
General Assembly; burdensome taxes
must be removed; the meeting repre-
sents Shelby county without distinction
Of class or condition; to request the
next Legislature to reduce the number
of ofIice-holders and their fees and sala-
ries wherever practicable; to fix the fees
of officers at a limited or stated amount
by fixing the maximum sum according
to the skill and labor employed; to
abolish one of the Circuit and one Of the
Chancery Courts Of Memphis; to re.
model the jury system in civil causes so
as to dispense with the same, except
where it is demanded by either party; to
remodel the present County Court sys-
tenn; to reduce the fees of the County
Trustee; to abolish all Offices that can
possibly and constitutionally be dis
pensed with; to call Constitutional
Convention; to request the Judge, Attor-
ney-General and Grand Juries Of the
Criminal Court to proceed and expose
corruptions, official delinquencies and
punish offenders; to compel ofiice'hold-
ers to settle up; to appoint committee
of ten to raise money to use in carrying
out the above resolves. Resolutions 10
and l6 are most important and are pub
lished in full.
Is. That commit, of twenty-five repre-
sentatives be, and the same is hereby APP
pointed, to be called the " Executive Com;
who shall stand as the representatives OF the
people, whose duty it shall be TO embody in
suitable memorial to the next Legislature OF
Tennessee the forms Indicated In these reso-
lutions, petitionng the Legislature to take
the same into consideration, and enact such
laws as will afford the relief desired; TO SEND
TO the Legislature such suitable representa-,
tons Of the citizens as may be chosen by salu
committee to present the memorial, and Sc
cure, by all lawful and proper means, the leg
islation indicated therein. 1t shall also be the
duty of this committee 20 receive and disburse
the funds, which shall be raised by the peo-
pie, in accordance with these resolutions; 70
make investigations of official disorders and
Irregularities; to aid and assist the officers OF
the law in bringing offenders to justice TO- cal
the people together in mass meeting, from
time TO time, if il shall be necessary; 10 CON
slider and take action upon matters OF public
interest, which, in their judgment, may de-
mand attention; and in general, to watch for
and represent the interests of the people; and
this meeting. and the members thereof,
pledge themselves to sustain said committee
in all their acts done in pursuance of these
resolutions.
Is. That the people present and represented
in this convention pledge themselves each 10
the other TO oppose by all reasonable and lc-
climate eiforts the election Of members to
the Legislature without reference to party
distinction who do not indOrse and approve
the reforms embodied in these resolutions.
The following Executive Committee
was appointed J. j. Busby, F. H. Steph-
enson, C. W. Goyer, II. II. Higbee, Ben
Eiseman, W. B. Greenlaw, ST., W. II.
Walker, D. II. Townsend, M. Burke,
John T. Stratton, Eugene Magevney,
Step. Fransiola, j. F. Frank, Il. Dow,
G. NJ. Bartlett, John E. Randle, A. Sees
sci, W. j. P. Doyle, A. ]. White, c. Kor-
trecht, r. A. Pinson, John Duttlinger,
G. W. Gift, M. E. Cochran, Thomas
Boyle.
The Finance Committee is composed
of the following gentlemen: G. V. Ram
baut, F. S. Davis. W. o. Harvey, Ben.
F. White, c. B. Church, G. II. Judah,
G. L. Dennison, D. T. Porter, j. S.
School6eld, R. A, Parker and James
Elder.
The resolutions were adopted almost
unanimously, after which the meeting
adjourned sine die.