Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-10
SHELBY COUNTY AFFAIRS.

County Attorney McDO"ei auuAOsSSN
a communication to the Quarterly Court
yesterday of considerable interest in
regard to county affairs. The current
expenses of the county last year were
$l43,567 SO, which he suggests should be
reduced, if possible, to 100000 this year.
He urges that the poor-house expenses
should 90 back to $4,000 or $4,000 year.
as in 1870. What the expenses were in
1873, or whether this is practicable since
the poor-house has been enlarged to
receive the insane, we are not advised. 1t
must be borne in mind that fifty insane
persons we're added to the poor-house on
Christmas day, 1872, which greatly in
creased the expenses for 1873. Exten-
sive improvements were made last year
at the old Pope place, now used as
poor-house, which will not be necessary
this wear; so Of course there will be a
falling off on that score of expenses.
The next suggestion of Importance is
that the Office of Railroad Tax Col
lector at the end of the pres
ent term be discontinued, and the
duties thereafter be discharged by
the County Tax Collector. The law
does not require a separation, but 1t may
be done at the discretion of the Quarterly
Court. The present incumbent is the
only one ever elected, as well as we re-
member, in this county, and that was
done at the October term of the court
in 1872. Mr.. Mcdowell shows that
consolidation would save the county an
expense of over 1892 per annum, be-
sides being satisfaction and convent
ence to tax payers, who often get lost
among so many tax officers, and miss
one or two, to their surprise and cost.
He favors the excellent plan suggested
by Col. E. NJ. Apperson, of having each
tax receipt countersigned by the County
Court Clerk, which would lessen the
bond and the liability of bondsmen-
a very practical and sensible method to
guarantee prompt settlements lie re-
commends that all applications for the
reduction of assessments for 1874 shall
be required to be made on or before the
first Monday in May next, and that
committee of FIVE be appointed by the
court 70 meet on the fourth Monday OF
May to examine such applications as
may be filed, and to continue in session
ten days and report to the Quorum
Court for final action. The total valua-
ton of property this year is about $685.
OO0, 900, which Of course includes large
amount of personal property not found
last year. A reduction of taxes is pos
sible, and the following rates recon-
mended: Current county tax on the
800, zoe; judgment tax, l0c; court
house tax, lOc; NJ. and o. R. R. tax, Toe;
Mississippi River railroad tax, l5c;
school tax, lOc; total, 70 cents, against
81 10 last year. These rates, he
says, will be sufficient to meet
current expenses under an eeonomi-
cal administration. He further recon-
mends that the merchants privilege tax,
removed last July, be still omitted from
the schedule. The County Court is ad-
vised to fix the bonds of officers to be
elected in August at this term, so that
all may know what to expect, to-wit:
Sheriff, at 100000; County Trustee,
$40 900; State and County Tax Col
lector, s2S5,OOO; County Register, Sl2,-
600; County Court Clerk, who will col
lect the privilege tax after the present
term, $4,000. The facts stated iudi-
cate, thorough knowledge Of county
affairs, and the suggestions will doubt
less receive the favorable consideration
of the Court.