Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-24
COMMON COUNCIL.

The common council, with President
Y mt in the chair, met in the City hall ct
halfpast eeven o'clock last night, COun-
cilmen Gay, SOlaTi and Moon (c0loTed)
being absent.
There being no quorum Ia the board
of aldermen the council took recess,
subject to the oalI OF the chairman.
The council WAS called to order aftsr q
recess Of fifteen minutes.
The resolution to lay q plank wagon
wSy on the fiatbOat landing, at cost
not exceeding eight hundred dollars,
passed second reading.
Councilman Elder said that since the
action upon the mandamus ordinance
another msndsmus had reached here
from the supreme court, and that the
city recommend its reference, % rs ITO
hsve an ordinance passed covering the
entire SUM, which would bo fifty Cents
on the one hundred dollars worth
OF taxable property. THIS In
cluded all the mandamus cases
reported. Councilman Elder then offered
the following ordinance;
Be 1t ordained, That q special tax of
50 cents on the $I00 worth of taxable
property be and the same is heIeby lev
led for the purpose Of paying to the per-
cons named in the within list the
amount set opposite the name OF each,
upon presentation by them or either of
them OF the Claims against the city,
upon which their mRudamu5 proceed
ings are based, and the said tax, as
fast as collected, will bepaid over to said
parties respectively, when pro rata
will be paid to each according TO the
amount due to him.
This ordinance passed fist Feading,
aud embraces the following list: w. t.
Walters, SI3, $50; P. G. Bethel. $4400;
Thomas Branch & Co, $2400; Zsli &
Sons, S2030; J. A. Willisme, $ll00;
Charles AbSrnsthy, S5250; w. J. P.
White, $4,000; I. A, Lsddln, $3.50; b.
Il. Wisdom, $500; total, SAB, ,55O
THE MAYORS SALARY.
The following is the report Of the COM
mittee:
Your committee to whom was referred
the matter Of fixing the sslsry Of the
mayor far ths forty-ninth and fiftieth
corporate years, respectfully report that
they have unanimously, with the eX-
csptiOn OF Colonel Vance, agreed to re-
commend to your honorable body that
the same shall be four thousand dollars
per anDum, payable monthly at the end
VI CdCA Cp4CAOAl AlOhbhs LAlJ
tee, in their deliberations, Vas not IN
mindful of the fact that the necessities
and requirements of their constituents,
the deplorable fiuspcial condition OF the
city, and The pressing demands OF cred
itors alike demanded rigid economy in
every item Of expenditure; and hence
they weighed this matter well be-
fore arriving at their conclusion.
The next administration will be called
upon to relieve the city of the heavy in
debtedness; to devise anc carry out some
policy by which this can be done with
honor and credit to all interested; TO
protect, repair and improve our river
front, that our commerce may be pre-
served and benefited; to repair and al
most to rebuild our streets and alleys; to
exercise the utmost vigilance over our
sanitary condition; to see that the un-
fortunate inmates Of our hospital sre
amply provided for; TO lend every aid 10
our member Of congress in his endeavor3
to secure the erection Of q customhouse
and marine hospital; and, last, to restore
t. our citizens and neighbors their al
most lost confidence in the future pros
perity and greatness Of Memphis. We
feel that to perform these duties,
fai Lhfully and well, will not only
entitle the incumbent OF the mayors
Office to the salary We sugK est, but to |
the lasting gratitude and affection OF
our peopls; aBd We therefore respect
fully submit this report, and the follow |
ing ordinance in conformity thereto:
Be Il Ordained 6y The General Council |
Of the City Of Memphis, That the Falary |
of the mayor to be elected FOX the forty |
ninth and fitieth corporate year, shsll |
be fixed at the sum Of four thousand dol |
lars per surum, payable monthly, at |
the end OF each calendar month.
Respectfully submitted,
). w. GREEN, Chairman Committee.
Councilman Vance, a member Of the |
committee, made minority report, fix- !
ing the salary OF the mayor at three |
thousand dollars per annum, and set |
ting forth his reasons therefor.
The minority report was rejected by |
the following vote:
Yeds-COuncilmen Kelly, Caro-, Hew- |
lit, Vance, Clouston (colored), Danbury
and Ryan.
NGys-CounciImen Elder, Tuther,
Green, Dougherty, Fisher, Carpenter,
Moores, Cochran and Grant.
Councilman Hewitt moved to amend !
the minority report so as TO make the
salary $500.
Councilman Vance said he would