Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-03


was read aAd received:
MAYORS OFFICE, CITY HALL,
December 2, 1874.
Honorable Board General Council:
GENTLEAIEN-I return to you, with
out approval, the resolution which pro-
poses to increase the police force by an
addition of six more men. 1t should not
be necessary to say much to convince
you that the present is not the time to
unnecessarily increase the city's indebt-
edness, and an increase of the police
force can be nothing else, for at present
the city's expenses exceed annually
by hundreds of thousands the revenue
collected for city purposes. The prinei-
pal reason assigned for the proposed in
crease is that there are but fifty-four
patrolmen, and that more are needed
for night duty. Yet, on the other hand,
there are on the police pay-rOlls, officers
and men, seventy-seven names. Thus
we have fifty-four patrolmen and twen-
ty-three officers. This should not be so,
and evidently some change Is needed.
| Under other circumstances l would most
cheerfully cooperate with you in giving
public positions to clever citizens, but at
present the people are not able to bear
any additional burdens, and We should
rather curtsil expenses than create ad-
ditional liabilities. The police depart
ment cost, for the pastt months, $780,
125 IS, an increase OF S7325 So over the
corresponding ten months Of 1878. If
we continue this expense for the two
months remaining to be accounted for
we will have expended for the police de-
partment alone S102,1 This is more
than the Taxpayers can afford to pay,
and we should reduce the cost rather
than increase it. From this mode of
reasoning, if you agree with me that we
should begin to economist, let US calcu-
late what can be appropriated for the
police department, and every other de-
partment, then let the expenses be kept
within the limits of the appropriation.
IL my experience is worth anything
to you on the subject of receipts
and disbursements, l state it candidly
the city cannot afford to spend for the
police department over seventy-tWO
thousand dollars per annum, and that is
fully one-fourth of the entire revenue for
city purposes; this sum, during these
pressing hard times should give the city
a good and efficient police force. Is it
not more honorable to decline to employ
than to employ and, after receiving the
service, to refuse, through inability, to
pay? May it not very properly be asked,
why should public expenses be greater
now than heretofore? AT this very time
weare urging the necessity upon the city
bonded debt creditors to scale down the
Indebtedness which they hold to an
amount which will be within the power
of the city to pay. With all these facts
staring us in the face, should we not do
all in our power to convince our creditors
that retrenchment and economy is our
motto? l would not, gentlemen, have
written so much on this subject, had it
not been that l have resolved with my
self that I would agree with you in all
cases touching public affairs; but l re-
gard this increase of expenses at the
present time so unnecessary that l deem
it my duty to present my views TO you.
Hence, return this resolution without
approval. Very respectfully,
JOHN LEAGUE, Mayor.
On motion OF Councilman Barinds,
the resolution was passed over the
mayors veto.
A MANDANUS.
United-States-De puty-Marshal Tor
bett, served the council with an alterna-
tive writ of D10nddnlUS, compelling the
levy of a special tax in order to pay GER
tain judgments against the city, and in
favor OF M. J. Parsons ct al. The Off
Ger served sixteen writs Of the above
character.
The regular monthly reports Of officers
were next read, the more important ones
being given below:
CITY TAX.CoLLECTOR's REPORT.