Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-07

its own detrlment. In that he value Of lis
property, being an index OF ia wealth, Il
placed Al les than pc fsal "9tsh. while .aaa.
10 the unlniuateH|n enormous percentage,
thus giving the ..earanoe Of poorer com
munlty than u reMy l., being more heavily
certainly cannot but approve tho valuation
By the city assessors, and must express tho
wish that the same principles Of action should
be adopted BY the assessors throughout the
State.
In my Judgment our city and State and
county assessments should DO made by one
and the same board OF assessors. holding
! Olicc for term Of years, which, properly or
eanired and constituted OF men lamiliar with
The value Of city and county property, would
secure, throughout, an equita9le valuation OF
all property and material saving 10 the poo-
pie. such board, one ofwhosc members, a.
| President and Secretary, 10 DO occupied by
/ the duties Of and found In his Office the year
round. would. II faithfully administered
gradually and certainly gather ~ lntorma-
ton 80 full that no property taxable Dy Jaw
would escape. a. much now does, rom its TAR
share OF tho public burthen. II provision
we're made that all the books necessary Tor
the work were 10 be made out and all other
clerical duties pertaining to the Office, were to
be performed By said PRECEDENT and Secre-
taEy, the whole cost OF such system would
come within the cost Of the assessments ~
So, too, In regard to collections Of State.
county aud city taxes; one Office should sub
serve for all. Such plan would be greatly 20
the convenience Of the taxpayer, and would
enure TO tho benefit Of the public IN an an-
nual saving Of twenty 70 twenty ave thou,
sand dollars, the commissions as now divided |
aud allowed being SIS 200 per annum Tor city,
State and county whereas. 4 ths eSil KY
including privilege amounting, all told. m |
round numbers. TO 81 100000, u commission OF
"a 70 per cent, yielding an income OF nom
twelve TO- sixteen thousand dollars per annum,
tunu la a. mi MIA a IA honest
and amply sufficient help to do all the duties
Of the office
In regard TO the Nicolson pavement claims,
no account Is now made Of them in the an
nexed statements, as the case in which they
are involved, that Of Il. II. Brown vs.. The
City, is now before the United States Supreme
Court on appeal. and the amount only when
finally determined by that court can become n
recognized debt against the city and will then
hayelto be provided for by special tax levied
for its payment,
In regard to the amount paid by indiyidu-
ais on account Of stone and Nicolson pave
ments, recommend that the Legislature be
applied 10 for authority 10 levy q special tax
on all property In the city for the purpose OF
refnnding the amounts 20 paid, with interest
by the faith on the city's requisition. is, In
my opinion. too unjust to meet with favor In
any quarter.
i have TO congratulate you and all we'll
wishers of our city's best interest ON the sue
cess attending the early working Of our lately
authorized sinking fund The commissioners
have already retired SIS 800 Of the citys
tions, to very materially add 10 the amount
from month TO month. This first step in sys-
retiring our bonds has great sig
niicance as evidence that Memphis has re-
ally started on proper course toward rcstor-
ing her much impaired credit.
The collections on account OF interest tax
TO this time being sufficient TO justify II, l
have, in the exercise of what believe to be
IL. Il II.
lie notice that the coupons of january, 1872.
will be paid on presentation at this Office
The payment of that series will be followed in
4 short time by the payment of the coupons Of
July, 1872. and January, 1873, in the order in
which they fall due, as required by the char
ter of the city. Should the collections be at
Ill up to present anticipati0ns and estimates,
both of the last named series Of coupons will
% met by or before July next, the effect of
which will, no doubt, be greatly beneficial to
he city credit.
/ have great pleasure in Icing able 10 tes-
ify in decided and favorable terms to the
energy and efficiency displayed
n the different city departments, detail re-
PORTS Of which are herewith submitted.
The police department, with a less number
IN the force, and at less cost than in yeats =
,ast, has been greatly more successful in con-
CRYING the peace and protecting property
han at any time before.
The Ere department has done its whole
uty, and has gained. as it deserves, the ap-
r0Nal OF the puDlc generally,
The engineer department has, with the lin :
ted means the city was forced to confne il !
D, achieved large amount of work. and has 2
one all that was possible under the circum-
tances,
The City Hospital. crowded from various
auses TO its fullest extent, has. though cost
~ more than usual, been well and ecOnOmi-
ally managed, for the unusual number of
atients. and tho very large amount Of work
lrOwn upon it. Great credit is due its able
nd untiring physician in charge and his
ssistants for what has been accomplished
nder very adverse circumstances.
OF those more Immediately connected with
le executive Office, the Comptroller. Treas
rer, Register, Tax Collector, and their assist ~
nts and those in my own Office, il is but sim u
le justice to say they have done their whole
nty, we'll and faithfully.
/ invite your special attention to the care
lily compiled and elaborate reports Of the
egister and the Comptroller, as embodying,
concise form, most important facts for
our consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Holm JOHNSON. Mavor.