The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-09-18

Z
tectcd against labor, capital being the
result-of labor. think the man should
be paid for his labor, and there should
nothing exempt from the laborer's
claim for services rendered. Now the
/ law Is, II a mechanic builds house he
holds lien on the house for his paw
| but the man who carries up the mortar
aud bricks holds no lien. DO YOU be.
lieve that i right? Should not the man
who does the cheap, hard work hold a
lien as well as the man that gets the big
paw? The la6orer is worthy OF his hire.
This law would be better for the far.
mer, the blacksmith, the shoemaker aud
all laborers, for they would work cheap
er when assured their paw was certain.
Labor notes would be good, and would
buy anything the laborer would want.
THE SCHOOL LAW.
am opposed 10 the present school
law, because IL has too MANY officers nj
big paw. am for dispensing with all
salaried officers, and To let the none,
be paid 10 the State Treasurer aud the
Treasurer pay il out TO the County Trus-
tee upon the warrant of the Compirol-
Ter, and the Trustee paw il to the teach
crs. Repeal tho provisions making the
County and State Superintendent. The
Trustee is a constitutional officer, and
would be the proper man in the county
to receive the money.
THE FUNDING BILL.
am opposed TO the funding bill. but
il passed aud the bonds have all been
funded. I don't well see how il could
be remedied now, or what particular
good can flow from re-opening the
question at this time.
REDUCING EXPENSES.
We ought 10 collect the taxes by the
constabes instead of Tax Collector.
The Tax Collector is not constitu-
Iiona officer, and the law can be chang
ed. | am in favor Of diminishing the
expenses Of the State by reducing the
salaries of all the officers in the State
down to the standard that existed be-
fore the war. Labor aud produce have
gone down in price 10 what ii was be-
fore the war, and believe the salaries
OF State officers should also come down.
| HE hAlLhpAliS.
am for taxing every railroad in the
State that can be taxed, and requiring
them TO hang up in every depot on their
lines printed tariff of rates, and when
any railroad charges more freight than
the law allows them they shall pay a
fine OF fifty dollars for every onensc
collectablo before any Justice of the
Peace of the county.
THE CHANCERY COURT.
! am for moving all the Chancery bu.
sness into the Circuit Court. and that
the Circnit Judge shall do all the Chan.
Gerry business when he is through with
the law business and so dispense with
the Chancery Judge altogether.
MISSING FUNDS AND ASSETS.
There is belonging to the State sixty
shares in .he East Tennessee aud Vir.
gia Railroad, and twenty-five thousand
dollars that the State appropriated 10 n
turnpike road from Kingston 10 Lou
don which never was expended and is
in the hands OF some persons and ought
to be hunted up. There IL also the sum
Of twenty-five thousand dollars which
Chattanooga owes the State, aud the
further sum of thirty thousand owed by
the city Of Memphis, making eighty
three thousand dollars which ought 10
be looked after, II the State had that
money it would help 10 paw the taxes
and if | am elected promise 10 give
the subject early and earnest attention,
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
1t has been reported that | am in "a
vor of the civil rights bill. The report
il untrue and without foundation. !
have always expressed myself against
that measure. Every man IN this coun-
try will bear witness that never was
afraid TO express my opinions freely on
all questions, whether popular or un-
popular. | was the first man in this
county 10 advocate universal suffrage,
and at time when the proposition was
exceedingly unpopular
IN CONCLUSION.
Fellow. Citizens: I have here given
YOU, in crude and hasty manner, my
views upon some Of the q uestions which
will engage the attention of the next
Legislature. There are Others TO which
| would like 10 refer, among them the
present assessment law, which believe
might be amended and improved. But
this circular is already sufficiently long.
If Won think my views are sound and
calculated TO benefit the masses, or that
my election will contribute TO the pro-
motion OF the public interests, ask you
for your suflrages, promising on my
part IL honored with your choice to la
Dor faithfully in discharge Of tho trust
committed to my hands.
Very Respectfully,
r. b. McELWEE.
SEPTEMBER, 1874.