Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-07

/ important IN that respect, and tnereiOi'
request that you will give the subject due
consideration.
For a similar reason, suggest that Tho
| time has arrived when burials in the City
Cemetery, upon the lots that belong to the
city, might be prohibited. l do not sup
pose it to be desirable, if it were lawful
| TO prevent persons who already own lots
from burying their dead there, by the side
Of their relatives who have preceded them,
but beyond this, prudence would dictate
that no more bmials be allowed.
The management of the workhouse has
been a subject Of much discussion, and has
| furnished occasion for great abuse and
scandal. 1t is practicable, without serious
| difficulty, to change the mode Of conduct
| ing that institution so as to remove, in
large measure, the objections which have
| existed. 1t is also practicable to organize
scayenger force of the inmates of the
workhouse, whereby the ordinary street
cleaning may be eflectually done, and with
small expense. l recommend that these
measures be matured and put into opera
ton without delay.
1t has heretofore been the custom for the
Mayor to appoint seventeen committees,
each committee being composed Of as many
members as he chose to select. After a
close examination of the corporation or6i-
nance, find that the City Coun I'll has di-
rected that the Mayor shall appoint Street
Committee, to consist Of one member from
each ward; Committee on the Fire De
pdrtnlent, to consist of one Alderman and
two COuncilmen; Hospital Committee, to
consist of one Alderman and two
COuncilmen; Committee on the City
DispenSdry, to consist of two Aldermen and
three Councilmen, and Committee on I'M
prO1eneEtS and Expenditures, to consist of
three members. l further find that the
Committees on Finance, Waterworks and
Workhouse are incidentally mentioned as
having duties to perform of so important a
character as that the appointment Of them
is necessity at least until specific laws
can be passed. l further find that there is
not even an allusiOn made to the commit
tees on the -Markethouse, Schools, Wharf,
Gas, Public Property, Street Railroads, and
Cemetery, except in the list of committees
contained in your rules Of order, The
Mayor certainly has no power except
that which is derived from the several acts
of the General Assembly comprising the
charter of the city, and the municipal ordi
nanceS made in pursuance thereof, and as
no provision is made, either expressly or
by implication for such committees, their
appointment must be voluntary act on my
part, and hence IugatOry. | ask you to
take such action in this matter as will pre-
vent confusion and expedite business. 1t
is true that the appointment OF these COM
mittees is a custom of long standing, and
certain duties have been assigned to each
Of them by general consent, but am I'M
willing 10 make any assumptions, and. to
leave to mere custom and common consent
functions and powers which can and ought
to be clearly defined. Many Of thetroubles
which were brought upon US in former
years, the burdens of which still Cypress
US, were produced by the unregulated &C
ton of unauthorized committees. The
charter provides that the Mayor shall ap-
point all standing committees. l ask that
you will direct, by ordinance, what conf
mittees shall be appointed, in addition to
those expressly provided for, and that you
will fix the number of members of which
each shall be composed, and define their
duties.
The dispensing of public charity has
grown TO be a matter of such magnitude as
to demand attention. Judging by the ex-
perience of the Mayor during the past four |
days, proper investigation of such sppli- |
cations will occupy at least one-half of his |
time. They should not be improyidently |
granted, nor should they be hastily refused. |
To prevent imposition and to determine |
the amount Of relief required, each case |
should be carefully inquired into. If the |
distress is OF such a character rs to require /
continued assistance, the sufferers ought to |
be cared for at the County Asylum. II it |
is accidental and temporary, such restric- /
lions and limitations should be prescribed |
rs will prevent extravaganza and furnish /
all necessary aid without injury to the city. |
hope that before the cold weather ar
rives, you may have matuTed safe and ef- /
fectiye rule for the government of such
Eases. The regular and pressing duties of
he Mayor are too important to sdmi. of his /
giving them, in person, the attention they |
deserve.
Some of the citizens of the Tenth Ward /
who paid corporation taxes during the time
between April I, 1865, and IS7
nave instituted suits for the recovery of the
money so paid. refer you to the written
opinion of the City Attorney on this sub
ect, and recommend that you take imme-
AleAlC dlNAO4 VIII W
settlement. Propositions have been made
whereby the whole difficulty can be arrang-
d with comparatively small expense to the
;ity, and satisfaction to the claimants.
4 delay may incur vexatious suits and
leavy costs.
My election to the office of Mayor, va
,ates, l suppose, my position as a member
# the Board of Education. The law pro
-ides that vacancies shall be filed by cleo
ion of the City Council, at the first regu-
ar meeting of the Common Council, after
he occurrence thereof; the members so
elected to serve for the remainder Of the
term"
/ must not conclude without endeavOring
o impress upon you the magnitude and
of the interests committed to
'ur charge. We are to restore and MAIN
ain the credit of the city. We are to make
'rovision for the prompt discharge of all its
We are to continue all needed
and keep them even with
he advance of population and private en-
eTpriSe. We are to so conduct the admin
stratiOn of the corporation as to secure the
aspect and esteem of all good citizens.
The labor is great, but the reward is worthy
# every effort you can put forth. Let har-
nOny, good will, and an honest, intelli-
,ent purpose do all that can be done for the
,OOd of the people; characterize your ac-
ions, looking neither for praise nor blame,
,ut simply to the best interests of the city
# Nashville, and we may not unreasOnably
rope to accomplish all that has been ex-
,ected from us. Such a course will bring
o our aid the sympathy and support of all
hose whose favor we esteem, and with
his encouragement and assistance our sue
ess will be secured beyond doubt.
ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKS.