Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-21
COMMON COUNCIL.

The common council met in the City
nall at seven O'Clock last night, President
Zent ~ the chair, and Councilmen Kelly, E-
der, Vance, Clouston (eolored), Doherty, So
rol. call.
The account of Estes & Elicit, attorneys,
passed third reading.
NEW BUSINESS.
The report OF the light and lamp committee
reported on divers petitions, and also favored
the sum Of $50 10 Tim MMahon as a fnaI set
committee were adopted, but that recon-
mending the payment to MMahon was re-
The council concurred with the board of
aldermen in the resolutions and petitions act
ed upon by that body.
Councilman Moorss presented a resolution
TO make the mayors salary twenty-five hun.
dred dollars, payable monthly.
Councilman Tuther moved 10 refer to a spe-
cial committee OF three.
Councilman Green moved to make the SAL
aIy two thousand dollars.
The resolution and amendments were Ia
A reQuisitiop of the chief of police for coal
and ststonhouse supplies was allowed.
Petlnon from persons residing in the
vicinity OF the extension OF fernando street,
north Of Beales wes referred.
THAT FIyE-CENT POLL-TAX.
0KNTLKMKN-In response to your resolution
calling for my opinion whether 1t is neces-
valid" answer that thing there is no ne
cessity for such levy in order to the validity
OF the election. Section seventy-nve of the
new charter prescribes as one OF the quaIifica-
tions OF voters, that the person Offering to
vote shall have paid his poll tax TO the city
for al least one year next preceding the cleo
such poll-tax as the city may have levied up
on him. II none has been levied, the quaIif
cation falls 70 The ground; l nnd no law put
levy poll tax. II such had been the inten-
tion, 1t is fair to presume that a minimum of
poIl-tax to be levied would have been fixed BY
lGQialatur0. Qla
meaning anything else than that the voter
should have paid whatever poll-tax the city
council at viii to defeat a city election by
neglecting or refusing to levy a poll-tax.
such think was not the Intention of the
be, 10 say the least, exceedingly doubtful. l
think there is no necessity tor levying the
s.P. WALKER, City Attorney.
Ths report Of City-Attorney Walker was re.
TIE MAYORS SALARY.
councilman Green offered a resolution that
the council flx the mayors salary at four
thousand dollars per annum
Councilman Vance moved as an amend
ment that the mayors salary be two thou
sandsnye hundred dollars. This is Ave hun
dred dollars batter than this counciImanIs
last visa upon the subJect.l
Councilman Grant moved that the salary be
three thousand six bundled dollars per az
mum.
Councilman Fisher moved to refer the reso.
luton OF Mr.. Green 70 a special committee of
three. Adopted, and the chairman appointed
Counciimen Green, Vance and Fisher
The resolution Of the board of aldermen ap-
propriating three hundred dollars 10 ]. ]. Bus
By and II. Furstenheim passed first reading.
CHARGES AGAINST MAYOR LoAGUE.
President Zent stated that he held in his
hands q paper containing charges against
Mayor League. He wished to say that he
tZentl had nothing to do with these charges,
which were preferred by Andrew Davis, but
thai he presented the papers to the council
merely as an officer acting in otficial capacity.
DR.. Hewitt moved that the charges be read
and this was done.
The charges are seven in number. First
that Mayor League, IN his official capacity,
did steal or permit to be stolen three thonsa6d
or four Thousand doll ars of the paving scrip
bonds, second, that he made no effort to re-
cover this scrip, although informed where il
was. Third, that he is guilty of forgery, or has
used his position TO screen the guilty and pro-
sect the thief. Fourth, that he lDsvis) year
ago informed Mayor League where the scrip
was deposited and asked him TO have the thief
arrested, but ne refused. Fifth he (Davis)
had given him list of the stolen bonds, but
stolen oopds returned. sixth, he Mayor
Loaguel caused the entries on the financial
his ofaciaI position for promotion Of mis- indi-
vidual interests instead OF for the good of the
city.
Accompanying the above charges is a COM
upication from Andrew Davis, who among
other things says that he, being made seereta-
~ after the discharge OF Robert Z. League,
the once and ascertain how much had be u |
stolen. This he did, and informed the mayor,
who asked him 10 admit that he Davis) was
mistaken. he (DaYts) refused 10 do this, but |
when he had found about eleven hundred and |
nfty-four dollars missing, the mayor
stopped further invesLig alton. The
details the manner
in which ths alleged larceny OF the bonds |
was committed and the way he (Dsvis) made |
the discovery. he saw one OF the stolen bonds |
in the hands Of Major T. 3. Edgington, who |
being questioned admitted he had bought the |
bond at the Mechanic and Traders bank. He |
subsequently saw a lot of these stolen bonds |
IN the Mechanic and Traders bank and asked |
the mayor 10 have the officers OF the bank |
arrested until they told where they got the |
bonds. The mayor refused, and said This |
would never do" The iniormer also gives a |
list of the stolen bonds, their respective num- |
ber and denomination, and says that he had |
neglected 70 bring these charges against the |
mayor because OF illness. However he had |
previously tried to gel the papers presented, |
bat failed because the persons 10 whose hands |
be entrusted the same wished to screen the |
mayor. Now, ne Davis was sick and feeble, |
and being unable 70 60 before the council had |
empioye1 lawyer. They had to deal With 8 |
well and wiley man " no had 80 often filled |
thsir heads With messages and vetoes until
they hardly knew II they had a head. He did /
DOT wARt aAy money, sntf ntfsRsked that the city |
bear the expense Of the case and employ COL |
onsl 0sorEs esnu 20 prosecute IT BE l