Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-23
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

MAYORS OFFICE, July 81, 1S73.-Hon.
City Council of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. The
bill known to you as the ''Hog Bill" or the
bill 10 prohibit swine from running at large
in the city, has passed upon its t'ird and
last reading in both Boards, and is now be-
fore me for my approval or disapproval.
The question therefore presents itself,
whether, under all the circumstances, it is
best for the good of the city, or health of
the citizetis, that the bill sho1ld be approved
and at once go into effect as q law. After
a careful examination of the matter, and
with al due respeet for the members who
supported the measure, must say that
cannot concur with them in their views I'D
on the subject.
There seems to have been for some years
a diversity of opipion amcrg members of
the City Council and the citizens as to
whether it were better for the hog s'to be
or not to 10" upon the streets and
alleys of the city. 1t is claimed by
some that the hog is great nuisance
thus running at lerge, while others assert
that the hog is good scavenger, and is
therefore great benefit to the city in clean
ing your streets and back alleys during the
summer and fall Months Of much rotten
fruit, watermelon and fruit rinds, which
would soon become SO foul AMI offensive
that good desl of sickness would thereby
be produced. In this latter view of the
question, fully concur, unless the City
Council will appropriate means to increase
the seavenger force which we now have
operating.
l will be pardoped for little DEPRESSION
.sr trx ntokA IL "a =
asserted by many that hogs, and the un-
cleanly condition of the city was the chief,
if no. the only cause which produced or
brought the cholera into our midst. The
latter readily accede to, and offer 1t as a
good reason why the city should have its
scavenger force increased. Again to the
point. Should it be that hogs running at
large are nuisances, it seems to
me that should the bill become a law
and be strictly enforced, that it will be the
cause Of creating greater nuisance than IL
it should net become the law, for the rea-
son that you do not abate or remove the
supposed nuisance from the city but only
from the streets and alleys. If those who
own swine are not permitted to let them run
upon the streets, then they will gather them
into their vards, or pens In their back lots,
which would only tend TO concentrate the
supposed evil instead ofremoving it. Anott.
er objection / have to the bill is the great in
justice which it does to that class of our cit
izeLs who own swine. They are generally
the poor and lsboIiDg class, who are not
able to patronize our meat-market and lay
in their ecanty supplies, but are compelled
to look to another source, which Is the rails
ing of their own supplies. The further OBJ
jec;ion to the bill is that if passed, it goes
into effect immediately, and does not give
tie owner of swine a single day to
sell or otherwise dispose of his
property, and within twenty four hours af-
ter it becomes a law, the City Marshal
would not only be authorized to arrest and
impound every hog in sight upon the
streets, but the Recorder also would be au-
thoriZed to fine the owner of the same
three dollars for permitting it. 1t does
seem to me that, in all fairness, ifyou shall
determine to have hog law, it would be
but justice to pass one, that should take eff
feet some months heuce which would give
sufficient time 10 parties to dispose Of their
property, and not force them to sacrifice it,
as this law would do. My experience and
observation has taught me tha, laws cannot
be enacted which will suit or please all per-
sons alike, ard hence law which pleases
the few to the detriment and injury Of the
many, could not sanction.
Gentlemen, l entertain for each of you
tie highest esteem, and recognize fully
your official capacity, Whatever you may do
in this matter.
The above are my reasons for vetoing the
bill. Very respectfully,
THOMAS a. KERCHEvAL, Mayor.
According to the report of Capt. Yater,
Chief Of Police, I,02S persons were arrest
ed during the quarter ending June 30. he
gave some very good suggestions in refer
enCe TO an amendment to the present sani-
tary laws, one Of witch is t. compel per-
sons TO cleanse their premises during the
winter months, and to provide place for
the dumping Of garbage. Referred to a
special committee with Instructions 20 draft
q bill. Aid. Gleaves was appointed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Resolution to pave the alley leading from
Ash to Mulberry street. Adopted.
a bill to abolish the Office of Wharfmas-
ter passed its third reading.
THE HOG BILL.
A motion wss made to pass the bill to
prevent hogs from running at large on the
streets over the Mayors veto and failed, two
thirds Of the members not voting in favor OF
the motion.
The vote stood as follows.
Ayes.-Messrs; Garter, Blantop, Chamber
lin and President McCIea.-4
Noe5-Messrs. Pentecost, Wilson, Breen.
3.
Alderman Gleayes was excused from vot-
ing.
DIZZINESS FROM THE OTHER BOARD.
Bill fixing the rate Of taxation for the
year 1873 amended By addiDg2 mills for
sewerage purposes, was taken up. TIE
amendment was non-concurred in. Bill to
provide system of sewerage and establish
ment of a Sanitary Commission.
Consideration of the bill was postponed
until the next regular meeting. The COM
mitlee on improvement and expenditures
will report new bill at that meeting,
Bill to appropriate 500 to lay water
pipe on Maple street. Passed third resd-
ing.
Resolution appointing committee 10
equalize taxes on prop rty for 1873. Con.
Cured in, and Alderman Chamberlain ap-
pointed on the part of the Board Of Alder
men.
Resolution making an appropriation OF
about $50 to lay water pipe on South Cher
ry street, near the crossing of the n ashville
and Chattanooga Railroad, was concurred
in.
Resolution directing the City Marshal to
notify Steifle & PIiffer to abate the nuisance
arising from their brewery and sewer.
Concurred in.
NEW BUSINESS.
petition from the County Workhouse
Commits siOners in reference to the confine-
ment of prisoners under the small offense
law, in the city workhouse, was referred to
a committee of two on the part OF the Board
of Aldermen and three on the part of the
Board of Common Council, with instruc-
tions to report to the next regular meeting
Aldermen Wilson and Pentecost were sp-
pointed on the part of The Board of Alder
men.
Aid. Pentecost introduced bill appro-
priating $3.50, or as much as is necessary
for the purpose of purchasing a mule fol
the street department. Passed third read
ing.
Aid. Bianton introduced bill apprOpri
atipg $120, or as much as is necessary, fol-
the purpose of erecting four gas posts Oh
Knowles street, in the Tenth Ward. Passed
first reading and referred to Gas Commit
tee.
By Mr., BlaDt0n. a resolution authorizing