Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-21
Concluded from first pare.l

prating of the press for general without
particular reform, and the empty thun-
~ders ofunworking legislatures and popu-
ilarity limiting politicians about como
my, while the number and perquisites of
supernumerary officials are not lessened;
and while a vicious system is continued
to furnish an excuse for the costs of
maintaining them. In such circumstan-
.ces what would you have-what will be
for the interest of the people2 Shall
" run on on the road to insolvency,
with constantly accelerating velocity on
the down grade? or shall we put on the
brakes, and have a single Receiver or
three Commissioners appointed2 Let
an intelligent people decide.
THREE COMMISSIONERS.
We have accomplished some impor-
ftant reforms in consequence of which
we now congratulate ourselves. But,
gentlemen of the association, very much
yet remains to be done, We are yet but
In the inception of a great undertaking.
If we we're to stop where we are we have
done nothing. Our reforms are but par
tiaI and insufficient. They are but pal
IIiatiyes, not reaching to the roots of the
evil; and with nothing further we are
already driven to a choice between an
inadequate system of economy and CON
sequent accumulation Of deot, and the
acceptance of a receiver. You will re-
member how we recently suggested the
placing OF the Memphis city government
in the hands Of three commissioners to
be selected by the Governor of the State
from among our Oldest and most reliable
and intelligent citizens, with the consent
of the Senate. Whether that is the best
suggestion which could have been made
we shall not discuss. But if hat should
be done, it does not appear that anybody
would be materially hurt BY it. We have
reliable authority THAT Of the City At
%torney) for saying this city is now six
and a half millions in debt, with interest
daily accommodating, and that it viii take
half. a million dollars to pay the annual
interest, and six per cent. taxes for this
and other purposes Of the government
next year, if we do not either reform aud
economist or ~repudiate, The issue is
vital to the city. The debt is likely to be
even larger, and all counted, to approx
mate seven millions. Without great re-
trenchment WI can never pay it, and
this it may be doubted, whether we can
ever have under our old system. Better
emigrate and build a new city lower
down on these bluffs than pay this debt
without vigorous measures of economy
we had almost said with them.
Now, in such a situation, does it be-
come us to sickle about trifes, and to
drop without discussion a proposition
looking to reform, seemingly feasible,
and coming from any intelligent source2
If three sensible, honest and sagacious
men are to be found among us, and their
services can be secured, it does not ap.
pear that the management OF the city
affairs would cost more money; but, on
the contrary, we may reasonably sup
pose tAe cost could and would be much
less. II does not appear hat the gov
erHment would be less fair, impartial or
efficient. On the contrary, it is most
reasonable TO believe it might be much
better in all respects. What harm then,
in the absence ofaBy better proposition,
would be done by the measured Nobody
has answered this question, and perhaps
no one can answer it. Nor has any one
suggested a better reformatory plan, or,
indeed, any plan at all.
THE OFFICIAL SLOGAN.
But the official slogan has sounded
taking away the rights Of the peoplel"
a nd lnl "a II uaaral oouwnwa mae ,.l
denly pslsied, there we're those who be-
gan at once to doubt, open advocates for
the moment grew fewer, backbone
seemed wanting, and a portion Of its
friends abandoned, without understand
ing the merits or dement's Of the plan
proposed, and. in the absence of advo.
cscy for the public interest, the officials
seemed to have gained the victory on the
outer skirmish line, so far as that was
concerned. But the real battle hc1 not
even begun. Collisions of reason in
public matters can never fairly take
place wAere the so called liberty of the
press is restrained by the irresponsible
will OF a despot emperor, or a despot ed
itor. Good people will be much misled
when they hear only the official trumpet,
aud not the arguments and tocsins of in-
teiigent freemen in their full liberty.
And so it may have been in this Ease.
But the people themselves never orig
mated the objection. Not a man Of
them, except some Office holders, but
would welcome a change lat the small
expense of yielding a direct vote for the
mayoralty) TO economical government,
from a system Of stupidity and misgov.
eminent, which has run US 10 debt seven
millions with little else than one Jail, six
per cent. taxes on full credit valuation,
officials turned lords and nabobs, and
rotten and Misunderstanding pavements
to show for it. We are now, with all our
little palliatives, getting more and more
unable to pay even the police and fire.
men and laborers of the city. What
good citizen would not willingly forego
the pleasure Of voting for a mayor once
in two years, if there is any great advan.
tage in it to be derived in the way of
escaping oppressive taxation, which keeps
down our landed, commercial, manufsc-
turing and laboring interests, all and alike
together.
THE ONLY ISSUE Is THE PEOPLE, INTEREST.
Let this subject have a candid
examination and a fair determination
be arrived at as to the question Of the
people, interest; for that is the only
nuumn har. III. -sl